Deadline: 22-Aug-25
The Pandemic Fund has opened its third Call for Proposals, making US $500 million available to help low- and middle-income countries close critical gaps in pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR).
This round is being rolled out in two stages. Phase I opened in March 2025 for single- and multi-country submissions and closed in June. Phase II began in June 2025 and now welcomes proposals from legally constituted regional entities until 22 August 2025.
Funding decisions for Phase II are expected in November, with project implementation slated to begin early in 2026.
Applicants must focus on at least one of three investment areas:
Early warning and disease-surveillance systems that integrate human, animal, and environmental data.
Laboratory systems—including regional reference labs—to speed detection and confirmation of threats.
Public-health and community workforce capacity, especially in rural or hard-to-reach areas.
Every proposal must also weave in the Fund’s cross-cutting priorities: a One-Health approach, community engagement, gender equity, climate resilience, and the strengthening of national public-health institutions and regional networks.
For Phase II, the lead applicant must be a regional organisation—such as a health, economic, or inter-governmental body—partnering with at least one of the Fund’s thirteen accredited Implementing Entities.
Both long-standing and newly established entities are eligible, provided they can demonstrate clear governance structures, technical expertise, and added value at the regional scale.
Proposals will be scored on public-health impact, additionality (how the grant complements other financing), sustainability, implementation readiness, and risk management.
Winning projects are expected to run for up to three years and to mobilise co-financing from domestic budgets, private investors, or other donors.
All applications must be submitted in English through the Fund’s online portal. The application package includes a detailed Guidance Note, an editable proposal template, a results-framework tool, and a scoring-and-weighting methodology.
The Secretariat is hosting live information sessions; recordings, slides, and FAQs are posted on the portal for applicants who cannot attend.
Implementation will flow through one of the accredited agencies—among them the World Bank, WHO, UNICEF, FAO, and several regional development banks—ensuring fiduciary oversight and technical support. Projects will undergo rigorous monitoring and evaluation, with quarterly progress updates and a mid-term review.
Countries that benefited from single-country grants in earlier calls may now participate only through regional or multi-country proposals, ensuring broad geographic reach and preventing duplication.
By marrying strong technical guidance with sizeable, multi-year financing, the Pandemic Fund’s third Call for Proposals seeks to accelerate the creation of resilient surveillance systems, modern laboratories, and a skilled frontline workforce—cornerstones of a safer global health architecture.
Interested regional entities should download the full application materials, assemble the required partnerships, and submit their proposals before the August 22 deadline.
For more information, visit The Pandemic Fund.
