USAID: Global Health Security Activity (Guatemala)

Deadline: 6-Jan-25

The United States Agency for International Development is seeking applications for a Cooperative Agreement from qualified entities to implement the USAID/Guatemala Global Health Security Activity.

The Guatemala Global Health Security (GHS) Activity is designed to provide specialized and targeted technical support in critical areas to key stakeholders in Guatemala. This initiative aims to enhance health system capabilities, promoting resilience and autonomy in preventing, detecting, mitigating and responding to the health and economic impacts of emerging infectious disease outbreaks. The priority areas for technical support will be determined annually, following a collaborative and consultative process involving key stakeholders and USAID. This approach ensures that the Activity remains at the forefront of addressing evolving and emerging health security challenges across Guatemala.

The overarching goal of the flagship Guatemala Health Security Activity (hereinafter referred to as the Activity) is to provide tailored and targeted technical support in areas of highest need, in partnership with key government, civil society, private sector and community actors and entities across Guatemala to strengthen One Health systems capabilities to build resilience and self-reliance to prevent, detect, mitigate, and respond to the health and economic impacts of emerging infectious disease outbreaks.

Objectives

• The objectives of this activity are:
  • Objective 1 “Prevent” – Strengthen health systems capacity to build resilience against future health threats: Objective 1 aims to build long-term One Health systems resilience to prevent the negative impacts of future health threats. The following describes in further detail results to be achieved under Objective 1:
    • Strengthened Capacities to Prevent Antimicrobial Resistance
    • Strengthened Capacities to Prevention Zoonotic Disease Transmission in Human Populations in prevented
    • Biosafety and Biosecurity capacity is Strengthened
    • Strengthening Infection Prevention and Control Systems
  • Objective 2 “Detect & Mitigate” – Enhance Guatemalan health systems capacity to rapidly respond, control and mitigate the impacts of emerging infectious disease outbreaks: The prompt and accurate detection and reporting of infectious disease outbreaks are crucial for promoting health security through controlling their progression and preventing large-scale outbreaks and epidemics. The following describes in further detail results to be achieved under Objective 2:
    • Strengthening of National Laboratory Systems
    • Strengthening of Early Warning Surveillance Systems
    • A sufficient and adequately trained human resource strategy development, ready to be mobilized in response to health threats
  • Objective 3 “Respond” – Enhance Guatemala’s capacity to effectively respond to emergent health threats and public health emergencies:  These measures include coordination mechanisms, emergency operations centers, communications infrastructure, and agreements among multi-sectoral partners in animal and human health, environment, security, law enforcement authorities, and other sectors. The following describes in further detail results to be achieved under Objective 3:
    • Strengthening Health Emergency Management and Coordination Systems
    • Establishing and Operationalizing Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Strategy

Funding Information

• USAID intends to award one Cooperative Agreement pursuant to this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID intends to provide $40,000,000 in total USAID funding over a five year period.

Geographical Focus

• The Activity will be implemented primarily in under-resourced, high-need areas within Guatemala, including priority areas within the USAID portfolio, such as the Western highlands, Alta and Baja Verapaz, and the Peten/Biosphera Maya area. The Activity will focus on the national and subnational regions aforementioned and remain flexible to priority geographies for health security. The geographic target area may change as needs evolve over the course of the life of the Activity, including shifting of geographic focus within Guatemala. Depending on availability of funds and prioritization by USAID/Guatemala, the geographic scope may expand to include other countries in the region.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligibility under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is not restricted:
  • Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for federal financial assistance on the same basis as any other organization and are subject to the protections and requirements of Federal law.
  • Additionally, USAID welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received financial assistance from USAID.
  • The Recipient must be a responsible entity. The Agreement Officer (AO) may determine if a pre award survey is required to conduct an examination that will determine whether the prospective recipient has the necessary organization, experience, accounting and operational controls, and technical skills – or ability to obtain them – in order to achieve the objectives of the Activity and comply with the terms and conditions of the award. Applicants must have established financial management, monitoring and evaluation processes, internal control systems, and policies and procedures that comply with established U.S. Government standards, laws, and regulations. In accordance with ADS 303.3.9.1, the apparently successful applicant(s) may be subject to a responsibility determination assessment (Pre-award) by the Agreement Officer (AO).
  • The applicant is reminded that the U.S. Executive Orders and U.S. law prohibits transactions with, and the provision of resources and support to, individuals and organizations associated with terrorism. It is the legal responsibility of the Recipient to ensure compliance with these Executive Orders and laws.
  • Interested applicants may submit only one application in response to this notice. Multiple applications from the same prime applicant organization will not be accepted. Applications will not be accepted from individuals.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.