European Commission Global Health: Strengthening Health Systems for Universal Health Coverage – Call for Proposals 2026

The European Commission's Call for Proposals 'Global Health: Strengthening Health Systems for Universal Health Coverage' is a flagship initiative under the EU's Global Health Strategy, designed to support low- and middle-income countries in building resilient health systems. With a total indicative budget of €500 million, this call invites proposals from consortia of organizations to implement large-scale projects that address systemic weaknesses in health service delivery, health workforce, health information systems, and health financing. The call is structured around six thematic priorities: (1) primary health care strengthening, (2) health workforce development, (3) digital health and innovation, (4) health systems governance and financing, (5) pandemic preparedness and response, and (6) the One Health approach. Each proposal must focus on at least three of these priorities, with a clear emphasis on PHC. The call places a strong focus on sustainability, requiring that at least 30% of project activities be aimed at strengthening local institutions and policies. Gender equality and human rights are cross-cutting, with projects expected to use a human rights-based approach and collect sex-disaggregated data. The call also encourages the use of innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence for disease surveillance and blockchain for supply chain management. Implementation must be geographically focused on Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, or the Caribbean, with fragile states receiving priority. The project duration is typically 48-60 months, with start dates anticipated in early 2027. The application process is a one-stage procedure, with full proposals submitted via the EU's Funding & Tenders Portal. The evaluation criteria are weighted: relevance (30%), methodology (25%), sustainability (20%), budget/cost-effectiveness (15%), and team expertise (10%). The call has a high level of competition, with an average success rate of 15-20% in similar calls. Therefore, proposals must demonstrate exceptional quality, institutional capacity, and alignment with EU priorities. GSLI training courses offer a strategic advantage by equipping teams with the skills needed to meet these stringent requirements, from grant writing to financial compliance.

Strategic Overview

Who is it For?

This call is open to a diverse range of eligible applicants, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), academic and research institutions, international organizations, private sector entities (including for-profit organizations), and public sector bodies from EU member states and partner countries. Consortia are strongly encouraged, with a minimum of three partners from at least two different countries. Lead applicants must demonstrate at least five years of experience in health systems strengthening, with a proven track record in managing EU-funded projects (minimum €2 million in past projects). Specific eligibility criteria include legal registration in an EU member state or an eligible partner country, financial capacity verified through audit reports and annual accounts (minimum annual turnover of €1 million for lead applicants), and technical capacity evidenced by staff qualifications and past performance. Partner organizations must contribute at least 10% of the project budget in cash or in-kind. The call targets organizations with a strong local presence in the implementation region, with priority given to those that have field offices or long-term partnerships. Additionally, the donor expects a gender-balanced team and a commitment to human rights-based approaches. Organizations previously found in breach of EU financial regulations are excluded. For-profit entities must demonstrate that their participation is not for profit (i.e., no profit distribution). The call is particularly suited for large international NGOs with global health programs, research universities with health systems expertise, and public-private partnerships that can leverage innovative technologies. Applicants must have a clear governance structure, anti-corruption policies, and environmental sustainability practices. The European Commission will conduct a rigorous eligibility check, including verification of legal status, financial viability, and operational capacity. Ineligible entities include those from countries under EU sanctions, organizations with less than three years of existence, and those with unresolved audit queries from previous EU grants.

Priorities

The European Commission's global health priorities under this call are aligned with the EU Global Health Strategy (2022) and the WHO's Thirteenth General Programme of Work (2025-2028). The overarching goal is to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by strengthening health systems in LMICs. Specific investment KPIs include: (1) increasing the proportion of the population covered by essential health services by at least 10% in target areas; (2) reducing catastrophic health expenditure by 15% through financial risk protection mechanisms; (3) training and deploying at least 5,000 community health workers per project; (4) digitalizing health information systems in at least 100 health facilities; (5) achieving a 20% reduction in maternal and child mortality; (6) ensuring 80% of target health facilities meet minimum standards for pandemic preparedness. The donor emphasizes a primary health care (PHC) approach, with at least 60% of project activities directed at PHC strengthening. Cross-cutting priorities include gender equality (all projects must have a gender mainstreaming strategy), climate resilience (health facilities must incorporate green energy and waste management), and human rights (focus on marginalized populations). The call also prioritizes the 'One Health' approach, requiring integration of animal and environmental health surveillance. Investments must demonstrate alignment with national health plans and strategies, with evidence of government endorsement. The European Commission expects innovative financing mechanisms, such as performance-based financing or social impact bonds, to enhance sustainability. Additionally, projects should leverage digital technologies, including telemedicine, mobile health (mHealth), and electronic health records, to improve service delivery. The donor will prioritize proposals that include a strong research component, particularly implementation science and health systems research. Finally, the call encourages South-South and triangular cooperation, with partnerships involving organizations from the Global South leading or co-leading projects.

Eligibility

Financial eligibility requires lead applicants to have a minimum annual turnover of €1 million for the last two fiscal years, with audited financial statements. The total project budget must be between €5 million and €30 million, with co-financing of at least 25% from applicants' own resources or other donors. At least 50% of the budget must be allocated to activities in the implementation countries, with no more than 15% for administrative costs. Spatial eligibility focuses on LMICs in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Caribbean, with specific emphasis on least developed countries (LDCs) and fragile states. Projects must be implemented in at least two countries, with a clear rationale for geographic selection. Legal eligibility requires the lead applicant to be legally registered in an EU member state or an eligible partner country, with a statute of at least three years. Consortium members must sign a partnership agreement outlining roles, responsibilities, and financial contributions. The call prohibits double funding from other EU instruments. All applicants must register on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (PIC number required). Additionally, applicants must comply with EU public procurement rules for sub-contracting, with competitive tendering for contracts above €100,000. Environmental eligibility requires an environmental impact assessment for any infrastructure component, with a commitment to reducing carbon footprint. The donor also requires a risk assessment matrix covering financial, operational, and reputational risks. Applicants must disclose any conflicts of interest and ensure that no staff are involved in corruption or fraud. The European Commission will conduct a pre-award audit for budgets exceeding €15 million. Finally, the call requires that proposal documents be submitted in English, French, or Spanish, with an English summary for non-English proposals.

Path to Success

To secure funding under this call, organizations must adopt a strategic, phased approach that integrates GSLI's capacity-building resources. 1) **Strategic Alignment and Consortium Building (Months 1-6):** Begin by conducting a thorough analysis of the call's priorities and mapping them to your organization's strengths. Register on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and obtain a PIC number. Identify potential consortium partners from at least three countries, ensuring complementary expertise in health systems, digital health, and community engagement. Use GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' course to train your team on EU proposal structures, logframes, and budgeting. Simultaneously, enroll in the 'Public Health & Epidemiology' course to strengthen technical understanding of disease burden analysis and intervention design. 2) **Proposal Development (Months 7-14):** Draft a comprehensive concept note (5-10 pages) summarizing the project's rationale, objectives, and expected impact. Use the 'Project Management for Development' course to design a logical framework with SMART indicators. Develop a detailed budget using the EU's standard template, ensuring at least 25% co-financing. The 'Financial Management for NGOs' course will guide you in compliance with EU financial regulations, including eligibility of costs and audit requirements. Conduct stakeholder consultations in target countries to ensure local ownership and align with national health plans. 3) **Peer Review and Submission (Months 15-18):** Before final submission, conduct an internal peer review using the GSLI 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' course to refine the M&E framework and ensure data collection methods are robust. Submit the proposal via the EU portal by the deadline. Use the 'Grants Management' course to understand post-award requirements, including reporting schedules and procurement rules. 4) **Post-Award Preparation (After Submission):** While waiting for results, prepare for potential award by training staff on EU financial management (using GSLI's 'Financial Management' course) and procurement. Engage with GSLI's 'WASH' and 'Public Health' courses to enhance technical delivery. This roadmap ensures that the proposal not only meets donor requirements but also demonstrates institutional capacity, thereby increasing the likelihood of funding.

Recommended GSLI Courses

Public Health & Epidemiology
Project Management for Development
Writing Winning Proposals

Deadline: 2026-08-15

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal