EU Horizon Europe Call: Strengthening Public Health Preparedness and Response Capacities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

The 'EU Horizon Europe Call: Strengthening Public Health Preparedness and Response Capacities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries' is a flagship initiative under Horizon Europe's Cluster 1 (Health), specifically under the destination 'Improving and Protecting Citizens' Health'. This call is designed to address the critical deficiencies in public health systems that were starkly highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It recognizes that despite progress, many LMICs lack the infrastructure, workforce, and financial resources to detect and respond to health emergencies effectively. The call aims to fund transdisciplinary research and innovation projects that develop, test, and scale up solutions for early warning, risk assessment, surveillance, and rapid response. A distinctive feature is the emphasis on a One Health approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health to tackle zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance. The call also requires projects to align with and contribute to regional health security architectures, such as the Africa CDC and the WHO's International Health Regulations (IHR) framework. The total indicative budget for this topic is €50 million, with EU funding per project expected to range between €6 million and €10 million. Projects are expected to last between 36 and 48 months. The call is open to consortia comprising at least three independent legal entities from three different EU member states or associated countries, plus at least one LMIC entity. The LMIC partner(s) must be from countries on the OECD DAC list of ODA recipients. The deadline for submission is January 15, 2027, at 17:00 Brussels time. The evaluation criteria follow the standard Horizon Europe triple framework: Excellence (weight 40%), Impact (30%), and Quality and Efficiency of Implementation (30%). Proposals are assessed by independent experts and selected through a two-stage evaluation process (individual evaluation and consensus group). Given the strategic importance, the EU encourages proposals that include social innovation, gender analysis, and engagement with policy-makers. The call also requires a comprehensive data management plan adhering to FAIR principles. Applicants must demonstrate how their project will contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The call also includes provisions for ethical review, especially regarding research involving human subjects, animals, or personal data. In summary, this call represents a significant opportunity for organizations to contribute to global health security while advancing scientific knowledge and innovation.

Strategic Overview

The 'EU Horizon Europe Call: Strengthening Public Health Preparedness and Response Capacities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries' is a flagship initiative under Horizon Europe's Cluster 1 (Health), specifically under the destination 'Improving and Protecting Citizens' Health'. This call is designed to address the critical deficiencies in public health systems that were starkly highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It recognizes that despite progress, many LMICs lack the infrastructure, workforce, and financial resources to detect and respond to health emergencies effectively. The call aims to fund transdisciplinary research and innovation projects that develop, test, and scale up solutions for early warning, risk assessment, surveillance, and rapid response. A distinctive feature is the emphasis on a One Health approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health to tackle zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance. The call also requires projects to align with and contribute to regional health security architectures, such as the Africa CDC and the WHO's International Health Regulations (IHR) framework. The total indicative budget for this topic is €50 million, with EU funding per project expected to range between €6 million and €10 million. Projects are expected to last between 36 and 48 months. The call is open to consortia comprising at least three independent legal entities from three different EU member states or associated countries, plus at least one LMIC entity. The LMIC partner(s) must be from countries on the OECD DAC list of ODA recipients. The deadline for submission is January 15, 2027, at 17:00 Brussels time. The evaluation criteria follow the standard Horizon Europe triple framework: Excellence (weight 40%), Impact (30%), and Quality and Efficiency of Implementation (30%). Proposals are assessed by independent experts and selected through a two-stage evaluation process (individual evaluation and consensus group). Given the strategic importance, the EU encourages proposals that include social innovation, gender analysis, and engagement with policy-makers. The call also requires a comprehensive data management plan adhering to FAIR principles. Applicants must demonstrate how their project will contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The call also includes provisions for ethical review, especially regarding research involving human subjects, animals, or personal data. In summary, this call represents a significant opportunity for organizations to contribute to global health security while advancing scientific knowledge and innovation.

Who is it For?

This call is primarily intended for international consortia comprising legal entities from EU member states or Horizon Europe associated countries, in collaboration with institutions from low- and middle-income countries. Eligible applicants include universities, research institutes, public health agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private sector entities specializing in health technologies, diagnostics, or digital health. Specifically, the call targets those with expertise in epidemiology, virology, health systems strengthening, data science, and social sciences. LMIC partners must be from countries that are eligible for EU funding under Horizon Europe, as defined in the Horizon Europe Work Programme. The call encourages inclusion of local health authorities, community-based organizations, and international health networks to ensure contextual relevance and sustainable impact. Additionally, consortia should include stakeholders with experience in capacity building, training, and policy advocacy. The EU emphasizes gender equality and diversity, so consortia should demonstrate how these aspects are integrated. For-profit entities are eligible but must justify their involvement in terms of public health value and non-commercial orientation. Importantly, the call requires that the consortium's composition reflects a balance between research excellence and development relevance, with LMIC partners having significant roles in project design and implementation.

Priorities

The donor's global priorities for this call center on enhancing early detection and rapid response to health emergencies, particularly those with epidemic or pandemic potential. Key priorities include strengthening national and regional surveillance systems, improving laboratory capacity for pathogen identification and genomic sequencing, and developing interoperable data sharing platforms that adhere to FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles. Another priority is the advancement of digital health technologies, such as mobile health applications, artificial intelligence for outbreak prediction, and telemedicine for remote consultation in underserved areas. The call also emphasizes the integration of One Health approaches, requiring projects to address zoonotic disease transmission, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental health determinants. Capacity building is a cross-cutting priority, with expectations for training programs, knowledge transfer, and institutional strengthening at local and regional levels. The EU expects projects to contribute to the establishment of sustainable public health networks, such as the African Union's Africa CDC and regional centers for disease control. Innovation in governance and financing mechanisms for pandemic preparedness is also encouraged, as is the alignment with international frameworks like the WHO's International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005. Finally, the donor prioritizes projects that demonstrate clear pathways to impact, scalability, and long-term sustainability beyond the project period. Investment KPIs include the number of health workers trained, improvement in outbreak response times, and the establishment of multi-country data sharing agreements.

Eligibility

Financial eligibility requires that all participants have adequate financial capacity to manage EU funds, as assessed by the EU's funding body. For EU entities, this typically involves a standard financial viability check. LMIC partners must demonstrate sound financial management and may need to provide additional documentation. The call imposes specific geographic eligibility: LMIC partners must be from countries listed in the OECD DAC list of ODA recipients. Spatial eligibility includes the requirement that research activities must take place in LMIC settings, with direct involvement of local communities. Legal eligibility mandates that all partners be legal entities (public or private) with a legal personality. Consortia must include at least three independent legal entities from three different EU member states or associated countries, and at least one independent legal entity from an LMIC. The lead coordinator must be from an EU member state or associated country. Additionally, entities from certain third countries may participate under specific conditions, such as automatic eligibility or through additional funding agreements. For-profit entities must comply with state aid rules. The call also requires compliance with EU ethical standards, including data protection (GDPR), animal welfare, and informed consent for human subjects. Proposals must include a detailed budget plan, with a maximum EU contribution of €8-10 million per project (typical). Consortia must have a conflict of interest policy and a gender equality plan. The eligibility criteria are strictly enforced; non-compliance leads to rejection.

Path to Success

To win this Horizon Europe call, GSLI advises a four-step strategic roadmap. Step 1: Consortia Building and Needs Assessment (Month 1-3) - Identify and engage potential partners from EU and LMICs with complementary expertise in public health, epidemiology, data science, and health systems. Conduct a baseline assessment of current preparedness capacities in target LMICs to align project objectives with real needs. Use GSLI's 'Project Management for Development' framework to establish a governance structure, define roles, and set up communication protocols. GSLI's course also helps in developing a robust Theory of Change and logic model, which is critical for the proposal. Step 2: Proposal Co-Design and Writing (Month 4-8) - Organize co-creation workshops (virtual or hybrid) to refine the research questions, select methodologies, and define impact pathways. Use GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' course to ensure compliance with EU template and evaluation criteria (excellence, impact, implementation). Develop a comprehensive work plan with clear milestones, deliverables, and risk management. The course also provides tips on writing for non-experts, which is crucial for the evaluators. Step 3: Pre-Submission Quality Assurance (Month 9-10) - Conduct internal and external reviews of the proposal, focusing on scientific rigor, budget realism, and alignment with EU policies. Use GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' course to design a robust M&E plan that includes process, outcome, and impact indicators, as well as a sustainability plan. The course also helps in setting up a data management plan that meets FAIR principles. Step 4: Post-Award Inception and Capacity Building (Month 11-14) - Once awarded, use GSLI's 'Grants Management' course to set up financial and administrative procedures, including reporting, procurement, and audit trails. Simultaneously, initiate capacity building of LMIC partners using GSLI's 'Public Health & Epidemiology' course to strengthen their research capabilities. This step ensures that the consortium is ready to implement from Day 1 and reduces implementation risks. GSLI also cross-recommends the 'WASH' course if the project involves water and sanitation components, as this is often integrated in One Health projects.

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Deadline: 2027-01-15

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal