EU Horizon Europe Call: Strengthening Climate-Resilient Health Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa
The EU Horizon Europe Call on Strengthening Climate-Resilient Health Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa is a landmark initiative that recognizes the profound impact of climate change on health outcomes in one of the world's most vulnerable regions. Climate change exacerbates existing health challenges such as infectious diseases (malaria, dengue, cholera), malnutrition, and heat-related illnesses, while also creating new threats like emerging zoonotic diseases. The call aims to support innovative, evidence-based interventions that enhance the capacity of health systems to anticipate, respond to, and recover from climate-related shocks and stresses. This includes strengthening disease surveillance and early warning systems, improving health infrastructure resilience, training healthcare workers, and engaging communities in adaptive management. The call is part of Horizon Europe's Health Cluster, which focuses on improving health and well-being across the life course. It aligns with the European Commission's priorities for a greener, more resilient Europe and its commitment to the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The total indicative budget for this topic is €50 million, with each project capped at €10 million. Projects must be implemented by consortia comprising at least three independent legal entities from three different eligible countries, with at least one from an EU Member State or associated country and one from a Sub-Saharan African country. The deadline for submission is September 15, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. Proposals must be written in English and submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. This call is highly competitive, with an expected success rate of around 15%. Therefore, early preparation, strategic partnerships, and strong capacity building are essential. GSLI offers specialized training courses that address key gaps in proposal development, financial management, and monitoring and evaluation, enabling applicants to submit high-quality proposals that meet the stringent requirements of Horizon Europe. By investing in the capacity of your team, you not only increase your chances of securing funding but also build long-term expertise for future grants.
Strategic Overview
The EU Horizon Europe Call on Strengthening Climate-Resilient Health Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa is a landmark initiative that recognizes the profound impact of climate change on health outcomes in one of the world's most vulnerable regions. Climate change exacerbates existing health challenges such as infectious diseases (malaria, dengue, cholera), malnutrition, and heat-related illnesses, while also creating new threats like emerging zoonotic diseases. The call aims to support innovative, evidence-based interventions that enhance the capacity of health systems to anticipate, respond to, and recover from climate-related shocks and stresses. This includes strengthening disease surveillance and early warning systems, improving health infrastructure resilience, training healthcare workers, and engaging communities in adaptive management. The call is part of Horizon Europe's Health Cluster, which focuses on improving health and well-being across the life course. It aligns with the European Commission's priorities for a greener, more resilient Europe and its commitment to the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The total indicative budget for this topic is €50 million, with each project capped at €10 million. Projects must be implemented by consortia comprising at least three independent legal entities from three different eligible countries, with at least one from an EU Member State or associated country and one from a Sub-Saharan African country. The deadline for submission is September 15, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. Proposals must be written in English and submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. This call is highly competitive, with an expected success rate of around 15%. Therefore, early preparation, strategic partnerships, and strong capacity building are essential. GSLI offers specialized training courses that address key gaps in proposal development, financial management, and monitoring and evaluation, enabling applicants to submit high-quality proposals that meet the stringent requirements of Horizon Europe. By investing in the capacity of your team, you not only increase your chances of securing funding but also build long-term expertise for future grants.
Who is it For?
This call is open to a wide range of legal entities established in EU Member States, including their outermost regions, and associated countries. Additionally, entities from Sub-Saharan African countries are strongly encouraged to participate, either as coordinators or partners, to ensure local ownership and context-specific solutions. Eligible applicants include but are not limited to: universities and other higher education institutions, research institutes, public health agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with health or climate expertise, private for-profit entities (SMEs, large enterprises), international organizations, and foundations. Consortia must include at least three independent legal entities from three different eligible countries, with at least one from an EU Member State or associated country and at least one from a Sub-Saharan African country. This requirement ensures transdisciplinary collaboration and North-South knowledge exchange. Additionally, individual researchers or teams can participate if hosted by eligible organizations. Specific eligibility criteria apply to entities from non-associated third countries, particularly regarding security and ethical compliance. The European Commission encourages gender-balanced teams and the inclusion of early-career researchers. Applicants must demonstrate prior experience in health systems strengthening or climate adaptation projects, and have the operational capacity to manage EU grants. Financial audits may be required for grants above €500,000. The call particularly welcomes proposals that involve national ministries of health, local communities, and regional bodies like the African Union or the East African Community.
Priorities
The European Commission's global priorities for this call center on enhancing climate resilience of health systems in Sub-Saharan Africa through innovative, evidence-based, and scalable solutions. Key investment KPIs include: (1) Improved capacity for climate-sensitive disease surveillance and early warning systems, aiming for at least a 20% reduction in response time to disease outbreaks; (2) Strengthened health infrastructure resilience, with at least 30 health facilities upgraded to withstand extreme weather events; (3) Enhanced workforce capacity, including training for at least 1,000 health workers on climate-health linkages and adaptation strategies; (4) Integration of climate data into health policy and planning in at least 5 target countries; (5) Increased community engagement and awareness, reaching at least 100,000 individuals through participatory approaches; (6) Development of sustainable financing mechanisms for climate-resilient health interventions; (7) Promotion of digital health solutions, such as telemedicine and mobile health platforms, for remote and vulnerable populations; (8) Contribution to the UNFCCC's health adaptation goals and the Paris Agreement. The donor prioritizes proposals that demonstrate a clear theory of change, measurable outcomes, and a plan for scaling and replication. Additionally, proposals should address cross-cutting issues such as gender equality, human rights, and environmental sustainability. The call also encourages the use of open data and open science practices to maximize impact and transparency. Proposals that involve public-private partnerships or innovative financing blends (e.g., with the Green Climate Fund) are viewed favorably.
Eligibility
Eligibility for this Horizon Europe call requires careful financial, spatial, and corporate legal audit. Financially, applicants must have stable and sufficient resources to carry out the project, typically demonstrated through annual accounts or audit reports for the last two closed financial years. The EU funding rate is up to 100% of eligible direct costs plus a flat rate of 25% for indirect costs, with the possibility of a lower rate for certain profit-oriented entities. The maximum EU contribution per project is €10 million. Co-funding is allowed but not mandatory. Spatially, projects must be implemented primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa, with activities possibly extending to EU countries for research coordination or capacity building. Legal entities must be registered in an eligible country and have a valid Participant Identification Code (PIC) in the EU's Funding & Tenders Portal. Consortia must include at least three entities from three different eligible countries, including at least one EU Member State or associated country and one Sub-Saharan African country. Affiliated entities, such as branch offices or subsidiaries, may also participate. Corporate legal audits involve verifying that the organization has not been excluded from EU funding due to bankruptcy, conflict of interest, or fraud. Additionally, entities must not be subject to EU restrictive measures (sanctions). Projects must comply with Horizon Europe's ethical standards, including research integrity, data protection, and environmental sustainability. Specific ethics checks apply for interventions involving human subjects or personal data. For African partners, special attention is given to ensuring they have the legal capacity to receive and manage EU funds, which may require capacity building or pre-financing arrangements. The European Commission may carry out ex-ante audits for grants above certain thresholds.
Path to Success
To maximize chances of securing funding, follow this strategic roadmap integrating GSLI training: Step 1: Consortium Building & Capacity Assessment (Months 1-2): Identify and engage potential partners from EU and Sub-Saharan Africa. Use GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' course to train your team on EU proposal formats and evaluation criteria. Conduct a capacity needs assessment using GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' framework to identify gaps in your consortium's technical and managerial capabilities. Step 2: Proposal Co-Design & Stakeholder Engagement (Months 3-5): Host a co-design workshop with local stakeholders including health ministries, community leaders, and climate experts. Leverage GSLI's 'Project Management for Development' course to structure the project lifecycle and ensure inclusive participation. Develop a robust theory of change and logical framework. GSLI's 'WASH' course can be cross-sold here to address water-related health risks, which are a key component of climate resilience. Step 3: Financial & Compliance Pre-Audit (Months 6-7): Conduct a thorough financial audit using GSLI's 'Financial Management for NGOs' and 'Grants Management' courses to ensure your budget aligns with Horizon Europe's cost eligibility rules. Prepare a detailed budget justification, verifying all costs are eligible and reasonable. Use GSLI's 'Procurement & Supply Chain' course to design a compliant procurement plan for health equipment and supplies. Step 4: Final Submission & Quality Assurance (Month 8): Write the full proposal ensuring all sections are concise and evidence-based. Utilize GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' course for peer review and editing. Include a comprehensive risk mitigation plan and M&E framework. Submit before the September 15 deadline. After submission, continue capacity building with GSLI's 'Public Health & Epidemiology' course to prepare for implementation. This integrated approach not only strengthens your proposal but also builds lasting capacity for your organization and partners.
Recommended GSLI Courses
- Public Health & Epidemiology
- Project Management for Development
- Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)
- Grants Management
Deadline: 2026-09-15
Persona: General
Urgency: Normal