EU Horizon Europe Call: Strengthening Health Information Systems for Pandemic Preparedness in Sub-Saharan Africa

The European Commission's Horizon Europe call, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-PANDEMIC-01, invites proposals to strengthen health information systems for pandemic preparedness in Sub-Saharan Africa. With a total budget of €50 million, the call supports consortia that enhance digital health infrastructure, integrate surveillance systems, and build local workforce capacity. Activities should focus on interoperability with existing platforms (e.g., DHIS2), real-time data sharing, and training for health workers. The call aligns with the EU Global Health Strategy and the African Union's Digital Health Roadmap. Expected outcomes include improved early warning systems, faster outbreak response, and stronger national health authorities. The deadline for submission is June 30, 2026. Proposals must demonstrate sustainability, gender sensitivity, and local ownership.

Strategic Overview

The European Commission's Horizon Europe call, HORIZON-HLTH-2026-PANDEMIC-01, invites proposals to strengthen health information systems for pandemic preparedness in Sub-Saharan Africa. With a total budget of €50 million, the call supports consortia that enhance digital health infrastructure, integrate surveillance systems, and build local workforce capacity. Activities should focus on interoperability with existing platforms (e.g., DHIS2), real-time data sharing, and training for health workers. The call aligns with the EU Global Health Strategy and the African Union's Digital Health Roadmap. Expected outcomes include improved early warning systems, faster outbreak response, and stronger national health authorities. The deadline for submission is June 30, 2026. Proposals must demonstrate sustainability, gender sensitivity, and local ownership.

Who is it For?

Eligible applicants include legally constituted non-profit organizations, public sector entities, research institutes, and for-profit entities (with specific conditions) from EU member states and Sub-Saharan African countries. Consortia must include at least three partners from three different countries (at least one from EU and one from Sub-Saharan Africa). Local health authorities or ministries of health must be involved as partners or associated entities. International organizations may participate under specific conditions. The call emphasizes inclusion of women-led organizations and youth groups. Applicants must demonstrate experience in health systems strengthening, digital health, or epidemiology. Financial capacity must be proven through audits or previous EU grants. Ineligible are individual entities without consortium, or entities from countries subject to EU sanctions.

Priorities

The EU's priorities include strengthening health security through data-driven surveillance, enhancing local capacity for epidemic intelligence, and promoting digital transformation in public health. Key performance indicators (KPIs) are: 1) Number of health facilities with interoperable HIS (target: 500+ per country), 2) Percentage of reportable diseases detected within 24 hours (target: >90%), 3) Number of health workers trained in data analytics (target: 2,000+), 4) Reduction in time to outbreak response (target: 48 hours). The call supports the African Union's Agenda 2063 and SDG 3 (Good Health) and SDG 17 (Partnerships). Gender and equity mainstreaming are cross-cutting.

Eligibility

Organizations must be established in eligible countries (EU Member States, Horizon Europe associated countries, and Sub-Saharan African countries). Applicants must be legally registered for at least 3 years, with audited financial statements for the last 2 years. Budget range: €1-5 million per project (EU contribution up to 100% of direct costs for non-profit entities). No indirect costs cap. Entities with >50% profit orientation have reduced funding rates (70%). Specific exclusions: entities under EU restrictive measures, with conflict of interest, or with poor past performance on EU grants. Prior experience in EU-funded projects is preferred but not mandatory.

Path to Success

Step 1: Secure a strong consortium including a lead from an EU research institute and African ministry of health. Step 2: Clearly articulate the baseline of existing HIS and gaps, using data from WHO and Africa CDC reports. Step 3: Design a capacity-building plan that integrates GSLI's Monitoring & Evaluation, Public Health & Epidemiology, and Project Management courses to ensure robust data collection and team coordination. Step 4: Submit a proposal with detailed work packages, risk matrix, and sustainability plan. GSLI training can strengthen the consortium's capabilities in financial management (EU financial regulations) and proposal writing, which are critical for success.

Recommended GSLI Courses

Deadline: 2026-06-30

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal