Strengthening Public Health Information Systems for Pandemic Preparedness in Sub-Saharan Africa

The African Union, through Africa CDC, has announced a landmark funding opportunity titled 'Strengthening Public Health Information Systems for Pandemic Preparedness in Sub-Saharan Africa.' This call for proposals seeks to address the chronic underfunding and fragmentation of health data systems that have left the region vulnerable to outbreaks. With a deadline of August 15, 2026, and a total fund pool estimated at $50 million, individual grants range from $1 million to $5 million. The initiative targets projects that enhance real-time surveillance, integrate laboratory data, and improve community health worker reporting. Priority is given to interoperable, open-source platforms like DHIS2, and alignment with WHO SMART Guidelines. The urgency is HIGH due to the competitive timeline and the critical need for robust systems ahead of the next pandemic. The African Union encourages consortia comprising government health ministries, academic institutions, NGOs, and private tech firms. Successful proposals must demonstrate technical expertise, financial stability, and a commitment to sustainability through government co-financing. This grant is part of the broader Agenda 2063 and contributes to SDG 3 (Good Health) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). GSLI recommends that applicants leverage its specialized courses to strengthen proposal quality and implementation capacity. The overview underscores the strategic importance of this funding and the need for immediate action. Potential applicants must start NOW to conduct needs assessments, build partnerships, and develop robust proposals. The deadline is non-negotiable, and late submissions will be rejected. Therefore, organizations should allocate resources for proposal writing and capacity building. GSLI's training programs can be integrated into the proposal as a capacity building component, making the application more competitive. This funding opportunity is not just about technology; it is about transforming health security in Africa. Strong health information systems are the backbone of effective outbreak detection and response. By investing in data infrastructure, the African Union aims to prevent future pandemics from devastating the continent. The call emphasizes equity, ensuring that marginalized populations are included in data collection. It also promotes innovation, such as using artificial intelligence for predictive analytics. The overview concludes that this grant is a game-changer for public health in Sub-Saharan Africa, and organizations that act swiftly and strategically will be best positioned to secure funding.

Strategic Overview

The African Union, through Africa CDC, has announced a landmark funding opportunity titled 'Strengthening Public Health Information Systems for Pandemic Preparedness in Sub-Saharan Africa.' This call for proposals seeks to address the chronic underfunding and fragmentation of health data systems that have left the region vulnerable to outbreaks. With a deadline of August 15, 2026, and a total fund pool estimated at $50 million, individual grants range from $1 million to $5 million. The initiative targets projects that enhance real-time surveillance, integrate laboratory data, and improve community health worker reporting. Priority is given to interoperable, open-source platforms like DHIS2, and alignment with WHO SMART Guidelines. The urgency is HIGH due to the competitive timeline and the critical need for robust systems ahead of the next pandemic. The African Union encourages consortia comprising government health ministries, academic institutions, NGOs, and private tech firms. Successful proposals must demonstrate technical expertise, financial stability, and a commitment to sustainability through government co-financing. This grant is part of the broader Agenda 2063 and contributes to SDG 3 (Good Health) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). GSLI recommends that applicants leverage its specialized courses to strengthen proposal quality and implementation capacity. The overview underscores the strategic importance of this funding and the need for immediate action. Potential applicants must start NOW to conduct needs assessments, build partnerships, and develop robust proposals. The deadline is non-negotiable, and late submissions will be rejected. Therefore, organizations should allocate resources for proposal writing and capacity building. GSLI's training programs can be integrated into the proposal as a capacity building component, making the application more competitive. This funding opportunity is not just about technology; it is about transforming health security in Africa. Strong health information systems are the backbone of effective outbreak detection and response. By investing in data infrastructure, the African Union aims to prevent future pandemics from devastating the continent. The call emphasizes equity, ensuring that marginalized populations are included in data collection. It also promotes innovation, such as using artificial intelligence for predictive analytics. The overview concludes that this grant is a game-changer for public health in Sub-Saharan Africa, and organizations that act swiftly and strategically will be best positioned to secure funding.

Who is it For?

This funding opportunity is primarily designed for national and sub-national government agencies responsible for public health, such as Ministries of Health in Sub-Saharan African countries. It also targets regional bodies like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the East African Community (EAC), which can coordinate cross-border surveillance. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with proven experience in health systems strengthening, academic and research institutions that can develop and evaluate digital health tools, and private sector technology firms specializing in health informatics are also eligible. Partnerships are strongly encouraged, and consortia led by a public entity are preferred. The ideal applicant has a clear mandate to operate in the health information space, with at least five years of experience in implementing surveillance systems, laboratory information management systems (LIMS), or electronic medical records (EMRs). They must demonstrate the capacity to manage grants of up to $5 million, with audited financial statements for the past three years. Organizations must be legally registered in an African Union member state and have a physical presence in Sub-Saharan Africa. Start-ups and small organizations may apply but should partner with larger entities to ensure financial and technical stability. The donor seeks to empower local organizations, so international NGOs must have a substantial local affiliate with decision-making autonomy.

Priorities

The African Union's primary investment priority is to establish resilient, interoperable health information systems that can detect and respond to outbreaks within 48 hours. Specific key performance indicators (KPIs) include a 30% reduction in data reporting time from districts to national levels within two years, 80% of health facilities using electronic reporting tools, and integration of at least three disease surveillance systems (e.g., IDSR, lab, and community). Projects must demonstrate alignment with the Africa CDC's Digital Health Strategy 2025-2030, which emphasizes data standardization (using WHO SMART Guidelines), use of open-source platforms like DHIS2, and capacity building of health informatics workforce. Financial sustainability is crucial; proposals must include a plan for government co-financing or transition to domestic funding after the grant period. The donor prioritizes projects in countries with weak HIS maturity, such as the Sahel region and Central Africa, as well as those prone to cross-border outbreaks. Additionally, gender equity and inclusion must be addressed, ensuring that data collection disaggregates by sex, age, and disability. Innovation in mobile health (mHealth), artificial intelligence for predictive analytics, and use of satellite imagery for environmental surveillance are highly valued. The donor expects to see a clear theory of change linking improved HIS to faster outbreak response and reduced morbidity/mortality.

Eligibility

Eligibility requires organizations to meet stringent financial, spatial, and legal criteria. Financially, applicants must submit three years of audited financial statements, demonstrating sound fiscal management and no history of fraud. The grant size requires a minimum co-financing of 10% of the total budget from the applicant or partners, which can be in-kind. Organizations with annual budgets below $100,000 are considered high-risk and must partner with a larger entity. Spatially, the project must be implemented within Sub-Saharan Africa, targeting a defined geographic area (e.g., a region, province, or cross-border zone). Applicants must provide evidence of operational presence in the target area, such as office leases or MOUs with local health authorities. Legally, organizations must be registered as a non-profit, government agency, or for-profit health technology company with a clear social mission. For-profit entities must demonstrate that profits are reinvested into public health. All applicants must comply with anti-terrorism financing and sanctions lists. Additionally, they must adhere to the African Union's procurement policies, including competitive bidding for equipment and services. A certificate of good standing from the relevant national ministry is required. The donor may conduct site visits and financial audits. Any past non-compliance with AU or other donor grants will disqualify the applicant.

Path to Success

To secure funding and implement a successful project, GSLI recommends a four-step strategic roadmap. Step 1: Needs Assessment and Stakeholder Engagement (Months 1-3). Conduct a comprehensive gap analysis of existing health information systems using WHO's HIS maturity model. Engage with national ministries, district health offices, and community representatives to align priorities. GSLI's course in Public Health & Epidemiology equips teams with skills to conduct epidemiological assessments and stakeholder mapping. Step 2: Proposal Development and Capacity Building (Months 3-6). Draft a competitive proposal that includes a detailed work plan, budget, and logical framework. Integrate GSLI's Project Management for Development training to ensure robust planning. Enroll key staff in GSLI's Grants Management and Writing Winning Proposals courses to enhance proposal quality and financial compliance. Step 3: Implementation and Monitoring (Months 7-24). Deploy interoperable HIS platforms, such as DHIS2, and train health workers. Use GSLI's Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) course to set up real-time dashboards and track KPIs. GSLI's Financial Management for NGOs course helps maintain donor financial reporting standards. Step 4: Sustainability and Scale-Up (Months 24-36). Develop a transition plan to government ownership with co-financing. GSLI's Procurement & Supply Chain course supports efficient resource management. Throughout all steps, leverage GSLI's network of experts for technical assistance. This roadmap ensures technical excellence, compliance, and impact, increasing the likelihood of funding success.

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Deadline: 2026-08-15

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal