Deadline: 10-Jun-2026
Applications are now open for emergency Ebola response projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo aimed at strengthening health systems, improving outbreak response coordination, and ensuring the continuity of essential health services in affected areas.
Programme Overview
This funding opportunity supports humanitarian interventions focused on responding to Ebola outbreaks and strengthening emergency health response mechanisms in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The programme seeks to improve preparedness, response capacity, and coordination while ensuring vulnerable populations continue to receive critical healthcare services during health emergencies.
Priority areas include:
- Epidemiological surveillance systems
- Infection prevention and control
- Safe and dignified burial management
- Risk communication and community engagement
- Continuity of essential health services
- Logistics and supply chain management
- Transportation and distribution of essential supplies
- Gender equality and social inclusion
- Protection of persons with disabilities
- Child protection and safeguarding
- Environmental protection
- Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH)
- Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP)
Funding Available
The call supports two humanitarian health initiatives with a combined approved budget of €5.5 million.
Funding allocations include:
Lot 1 – AID 012982/01/0
- New allocation: €800,000
- Previously allocated: €1.7 million
- Total initiative budget: €2.5 million
- Maximum funding per project: €400,000
Lot 2 – AID 013323/01/0
- €350,000 allocated for intervention activities
- €100,000 allocated for third-party monitoring
- Previously allocated: €2.55 million
- Total initiative budget: €3 million
- Maximum funding per project: €350,000
Key Objectives
The programme aims to strengthen emergency Ebola response efforts through coordinated and evidence-based interventions.
Key objectives include:
- Strengthening disease surveillance and early detection systems
- Preventing and controlling Ebola transmission
- Improving infection prevention and control measures
- Supporting safe management of burials
- Ensuring uninterrupted delivery of essential health services
- Strengthening emergency logistics and transportation systems
- Enhancing community awareness and risk communication
- Promoting inclusive and gender-responsive humanitarian action
- Protecting vulnerable populations during emergency responses
Eligible Activities
Funding may support a range of emergency health and humanitarian activities.
Examples include:
- Disease surveillance and monitoring
- Outbreak investigation and response
- Infection prevention and control measures
- Community awareness campaigns
- Risk communication activities
- Health facility support
- Medical supply distribution
- Transportation of essential goods and equipment
- Safe burial operations
- Capacity building for health workers
- Monitoring and accountability activities
- Protection and safeguarding interventions
Project Requirements
Applicants must ensure that proposed projects are closely coordinated with national and provincial Ebola response structures.
Projects should:
- Align with national and provincial response priorities
- Complement existing emergency response activities
- Strengthen sustainability and effectiveness of interventions
- Avoid duplication of efforts
- Support coordination among humanitarian actors
The maximum project implementation period is:
- Four months
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations with proven humanitarian experience.
Applicants must:
- Be registered under Article 26 of Law 125/2014
- Operate as a non-profit entity
- Demonstrate experience in humanitarian assistance
- Have expertise in the health sector
- Possess operational capacity in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Be compliant with fiscal and legal obligations
- Have no outstanding debts to relevant authorities
- Not be subject to international sanctions
Joint applications involving multiple eligible non-profit organizations may also be considered under applicable funding rules.
Why This Funding Matters
The Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to face recurring public health emergencies that place significant pressure on healthcare systems and communities.
This funding initiative is important because it:
- Strengthens emergency outbreak response capacity
- Improves public health preparedness
- Supports vulnerable communities during crises
- Enhances disease surveillance systems
- Promotes inclusive humanitarian action
- Protects essential health services during outbreaks
- Improves coordination between response actors
Effective Ebola response efforts can help reduce transmission, save lives, and strengthen long-term health system resilience.
Tips for Applicants
Organizations preparing proposals should:
- Demonstrate strong Ebola or infectious disease response experience
- Clearly explain operational capacity in target areas
- Align activities with national response priorities
- Present realistic budgets and implementation plans
- Include protection, gender, and inclusion measures
- Show experience in humanitarian coordination mechanisms
- Develop practical monitoring and reporting frameworks
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Proposals that are not aligned with response priorities
- Unrealistic implementation timelines
- Weak coordination arrangements
- Incomplete organizational documentation
- Insufficient operational capacity evidence
- Budgets that exceed funding limits
- Lack of safeguarding and accountability measures
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the purpose of this funding opportunity?
The programme supports emergency Ebola response activities, health system strengthening, disease surveillance, infection prevention, and continuity of essential health services in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. - How much total funding is available?
The two initiatives have a combined approved budget of €5.5 million. - What is the maximum funding available per project?
Projects may receive up to €400,000 under Lot 1 and up to €350,000 under Lot 2. - How long can projects run?
The maximum project duration is four months. - Who can apply?
Eligible applicants are non-profit entities registered under Article 26 of Law 125/2014 with demonstrated humanitarian and health-sector experience in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. - Are joint applications allowed?
Yes. Single organizations and eligible joint non-profit entities may submit proposals where permitted under the funding rules. - What sectors and activities are prioritized?
Priority areas include Ebola surveillance, infection prevention and control, safe burials, risk communication, logistics, health service continuity, protection, inclusion, PSEAH, and accountability to affected populations.
Conclusion
This Call for Proposals provides significant support for organizations working to strengthen Ebola response and public health systems in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Through investments in surveillance, infection prevention, logistics, community engagement, and protection services, the programme seeks to improve emergency preparedness, reduce outbreak risks, and ensure vulnerable communities have continued access to essential healthcare during public health emergencies.
For more information, visit Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.