European Commission Call for Proposals: Strengthening Public Health Systems for Pandemic Preparedness and Response in Partner Countries

This European Commission Call for Proposals, 'Strengthening Public Health Systems for Pandemic Preparedness and Response in Partner Countries', is a landmark opportunity under the NDICI-Global Europe instrument. It acknowledges that many partner countries lack robust health systems capable of preventing, detecting, and responding to outbreaks. The call prioritizes equitable access to health services and aligns with the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) core capacities. Eligible actions include strengthening early warning surveillance, upgrading laboratory networks, training health workforce in infection prevention and control (IPC), and enhancing risk communication. The EU expects proposals to adopt a multisectoral One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health. The call has a budget of approximately €100 million for multiple grants, each up to €5 million. The deadline is August 31, 2026, offering ample time for thorough preparation. Applicants are encouraged to form consortia that include local government health authorities, international organizations, and civil society. The EU places strong emphasis on sustainability, requiring that project activities be integrated into national health strategic plans. Gender equality and human rights-based approaches are cross-cutting criteria. By responding to this call, organizations can contribute to global health security while building their own capacity. GSLI's training portfolio directly supports the technical and managerial needs of this call, from epidemiology to grant management.

This funding opportunity is designed for a diverse array of organizations operating in partner countries eligible for official development assistance (ODA). Primary recipients include non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with a proven track record in public health, international organizations such as WHO and UNICEF, government ministries of health, and regional health bodies. Additionally, academic and research institutions with expertise in epidemiology and health systems strengthening, as well as private sector entities offering innovative health technologies, are eligible. The call encourages consortia partnerships to leverage complementary strengths. Applicants must be legally registered in an eligible country and demonstrate financial stability. Local organizations are strongly encouraged to lead or co-lead proposals to ensure contextual relevance. The EU prioritizes gender equality and human rights-based approaches, so organizations with expertise in these areas are particularly suited. For NGOs, experience in managing EU grants and compliance with EU procurement rules is advantageous. The call explicitly welcomes applications from organizations that have not previously received EU funding, provided they meet capacity requirements. Overall, the target audience includes entities committed to strengthening health systems at the primary care level, with a focus on pandemic preparedness and response. GSLI's courses in Public Health & Epidemiology and Project Management for Development are ideal for building the necessary technical and managerial capacity.

The donor's overarching priority is to bolster global health security by addressing gaps in pandemic preparedness and response capacities in partner countries, as identified in Joint External Evaluations and National Action Plans for Health Security. Specific investment KPIs include: (1) Strengthening early warning surveillance systems to detect outbreaks within 48 hours, targeting a 30% improvement in reporting timeliness. (2) Upgrading laboratory networks to achieve at least 80% diagnostic accuracy for priority pathogens. (3) Training at least 500 health workers per country in infection prevention and control (IPC) and case management. (4) Enhancing risk communication and community engagement to achieve 70% awareness of public health measures. (5) Establishing multisectoral coordination mechanisms under the One Health approach. Alignment with the EU's Global Health Strategy is critical, so proposals should articulate how they contribute to universal health coverage and health security. The EU also emphasizes sustainability, requiring that funded activities be integrated into national health plans. Cross-cutting priorities include digital health innovation, gender equity, and climate-resilient health systems. Proposals must demonstrate a clear theory of change and results framework with measurable indicators. GSLI's courses in WASH and Procurement & Supply Chain directly support these priorities by addressing water sanitation in healthcare facilities and ensuring reliable supply chains for medical countermeasures.

Eligibility criteria encompass financial, spatial, and legal compliance requirements. Financially, applicants must have an annual turnover at least equal to the requested grant amount, with auditors' reports for the past three years. The EU requires co-financing of at least 5% of total eligible costs, which can be in-kind. The grant ceiling is typically €5 million per project, with a duration of 24-48 months. Spatially, activities must be implemented in one or more partner countries as per the OECD DAC list of ODA recipients. Cross-border proposals are encouraged if they address regional health threats. Legally, applicants must be a legal person established in an eligible country (EU member state or partner country) and have a valid registration. They must not be subject to any exclusion grounds such as bankruptcy, corruption, or fraud. Consortium lead partners must have a minimum of three years of experience in health systems strengthening. Additionally, applicants must comply with EU visibility requirements, stating EU funding in all communications. The call prohibits double funding from other EU instruments. For success, GSLI recommends enrolling in the 'Grants Management' course to master EU financial rules and 'Writing Winning Proposals' to craft compelling narratives that meet eligibility documentation standards.

To maximize chances of securing this grant, follow this strategic roadmap with GSLI integration: **Step 1: Contextual Analysis and Consortium Building (Months 1-2)** Begin by conducting a comprehensive needs assessment in the target partner country, aligning with the EU's priority areas. Identify gaps in the health system's pandemic preparedness using existing Joint External Evaluation (JEE) reports. Build a consortium that includes local health ministries, WHO country offices, and NGOs with on-ground presence. GSLI's 'Public Health & Epidemiology' course will equip your team with skills to analyze epidemiological data and design evidence-based interventions. Additionally, the 'Project Management for Development' course ensures effective consortium coordination and stakeholder mapping. **Step 2: Proposal Design and Capacity Strengthening (Months 3-4)** Design a theory of change that links outputs to outcomes such as improved surveillance timeliness and enhanced laboratory capacity. Develop a logical framework with SMART indicators (e.g., reduce outbreak detection time from 14 to 3 days). Integrate cross-cutting themes: gender, human rights, and climate resilience. Use GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' course to design a robust M&E plan with baseline data and data quality assurance protocols. Also, enroll in 'Financial Management for NGOs' to structure a compliant budget and avoid common errors in EU grant management. **Step 3: Writing and Submission (Month 5)** Craft a compelling narrative under each award criterion: relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and EU added value. Clearly describe the operational plan, risk matrix, and sustainability strategy. Leverage GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' course to master the EU application format (e.g., using the online Portal, understanding evaluation grids). Ensure all required annexes (consortium agreement, CVs, audit reports) are complete. Submit before the deadline with a checklist to avoid technical rejections. **Step 4: Post-Award Preparation (if successful)** Upon grant award, immediately conduct an inception workshop to refine the work plan and M&E framework. GSLI's 'Procurement & Supply Chain' course will help set up compliant procurement processes for laboratory equipment and medical supplies. The 'Fundraising & Resource Mobilization' course can assist in securing co-financing from other donors. Finally, 'Grants Management' ensures adherence to EU reporting and audit requirements.