USAID Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Capacity Building for Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Systems

The USAID Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Capacity Building for Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Systems grant is a strategic opportunity to strengthen the backbone of health security: reliable data systems. This initiative, with a deadline of September 1, 2026, targets the critical gap in M&E capacities that limits countries' ability to track disease outbreaks, monitor interventions, and allocate resources effectively. The grant is part of the broader GHSA, a multilateral effort involving over 70 countries and international organizations, aiming to accelerate progress toward a world safe from infectious disease threats. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the necessity of real-time, high-quality data for decision-making; this opportunity is designed to build that capacity in partner countries. Over a projected three- to five-year period, grantees will work with national governments to assess existing M&E systems, develop tailored training programs, implement digital health tools, and foster a culture of data use. The overview should provide a clear understanding of the grant's objectives, scope, and expected outcomes. The call is highly competitive, requiring organizations to demonstrate deep technical expertise, a strong track record, and a commitment to sustainability. USAID's approach emphasizes local ownership: the goal is not to create parallel systems but to strengthen what exists, hand-in-hand with national institutions. The grant is expected to fund multiple awards, each in the range of $5 million to $15 million, covering multiple countries or regions. Partner organizations are encouraged to form consortia, combining forces to bring complementary skills such as health informatics, adult education, and policy advocacy. The overview must also address the integration of cross-cutting priorities, including gender equality, youth engagement, and climate resilience. By framing the opportunity within the global health security landscape, the overview positions the grant as a high-impact investment that will save lives and bolster global preparedness. Monitoring and evaluation is not only a technical function but also a governance tool. Robust M&E systems enhance accountability, transparency, and evidence-based policy making. This grant aims to build capacity at all levels: from health facility data entry clerks to national M&E directors. The project will emphasize the use of open-source platforms like DHIS2, interoperability with other health information systems, and the adoption of standards for data quality and privacy. Capacity building will include formal training (classroom and e-learning), on-the-job mentoring, and peer-to-peer learning exchanges. The ultimate outcome is a cadre of local M&E professionals who can independently manage data systems, analyze trends, and produce actionable reports for health authorities. The overview sets the stage for the detailed sections that follow, highlighting the transformative potential of this investment.

Strategic Overview

The USAID Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Capacity Building for Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Systems grant is a strategic opportunity to strengthen the backbone of health security: reliable data systems. This initiative, with a deadline of September 1, 2026, targets the critical gap in M&E capacities that limits countries' ability to track disease outbreaks, monitor interventions, and allocate resources effectively. The grant is part of the broader GHSA, a multilateral effort involving over 70 countries and international organizations, aiming to accelerate progress toward a world safe from infectious disease threats. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the necessity of real-time, high-quality data for decision-making; this opportunity is designed to build that capacity in partner countries. Over a projected three- to five-year period, grantees will work with national governments to assess existing M&E systems, develop tailored training programs, implement digital health tools, and foster a culture of data use. The overview should provide a clear understanding of the grant's objectives, scope, and expected outcomes. The call is highly competitive, requiring organizations to demonstrate deep technical expertise, a strong track record, and a commitment to sustainability. USAID's approach emphasizes local ownership: the goal is not to create parallel systems but to strengthen what exists, hand-in-hand with national institutions. The grant is expected to fund multiple awards, each in the range of $5 million to $15 million, covering multiple countries or regions. Partner organizations are encouraged to form consortia, combining forces to bring complementary skills such as health informatics, adult education, and policy advocacy. The overview must also address the integration of cross-cutting priorities, including gender equality, youth engagement, and climate resilience. By framing the opportunity within the global health security landscape, the overview positions the grant as a high-impact investment that will save lives and bolster global preparedness. Monitoring and evaluation is not only a technical function but also a governance tool. Robust M&E systems enhance accountability, transparency, and evidence-based policy making. This grant aims to build capacity at all levels: from health facility data entry clerks to national M&E directors. The project will emphasize the use of open-source platforms like DHIS2, interoperability with other health information systems, and the adoption of standards for data quality and privacy. Capacity building will include formal training (classroom and e-learning), on-the-job mentoring, and peer-to-peer learning exchanges. The ultimate outcome is a cadre of local M&E professionals who can independently manage data systems, analyze trends, and produce actionable reports for health authorities. The overview sets the stage for the detailed sections that follow, highlighting the transformative potential of this investment.

Who is it For?

This opportunity is designed for a diverse range of organizations including international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), local NGOs, universities, research institutions, private sector firms, and public international organizations that possess demonstrable expertise in health system strengthening, monitoring and evaluation, and capacity building. Specifically, USAID seeks entities that have a minimum of five years of experience implementing large-scale M&E systems in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in the context of global health security. Eligible applicants should have a proven ability to work collaboratively with host-country governments, especially ministries of health, and other stakeholders such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Organizations must have a physical presence or a well-established partnership network in at least two of the priority GHSA regions: Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate prior experience in training and mentoring local staff to conduct M&E independently, thus ensuring sustainability. Financial eligibility requires a minimum annual operating budget of $10 million with at least 40% of funding from U.S. government grants or equivalents. Legal eligibility includes registration in SAM.gov, active UEI number, and compliance with USAID's conflict of interest and terrorism financing regulations. The donor particularly encourages applications from organizations that promote local leadership, with at least 20% of the project budget sub-granted to local entities. Women-led organizations and those with inclusive governance structures are also prioritized. The wide scope allows for consortia applications, where one lead organization coordinates with several partners to cover technical, administrative, and regional expertise. Overall, the ideal applicant is one that not only has technical M&E expertise but also a deep commitment to strengthening local capacity and fostering sustainable health systems.

Priorities

USAID's global priorities for this GHSA M&E capacity building initiative are centered on achieving measurable improvements in health security outcomes through robust data systems. Key priorities include (a) strengthening the capacity of national health information systems (HIS) to collect, analyze, and use data for decision-making; (b) enhancing the quality, timeliness, and completeness of health data, particularly for priority diseases such as Ebola, influenza, and antimicrobial resistance; (c) building the skills of local M&E professionals through hands-on training and mentorship; (d) promoting the use of interoperable digital health tools that align with WHO and national standards; (e) ensuring gender equality and social inclusion both in data collection and in the M&E workforce; and (f) fostering south-south learning exchanges to share best practices. The investment KPIs include a 30% increase in the number of health facilities reporting timely data, a 50% improvement in data accuracy (as measured by internal validation checks), and a 40% increase in the number of local M&E staff certified in data management. Additionally, USAID expects grantees to contribute to achieving the GHSA overarching targets, such as at least 20 countries reaching Level 4 on the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) for M&E-related capacities. The grantee must also align with the U.S. National Biodefense Strategy and the Global Health Security Strategy, emphasizing the prevention of disease outbreaks and the strengthening of health systems. Cross-cutting priorities include climate resilience (ensuring M&E systems can withstand shocks like extreme weather events) and digital transformation (leveraging mobile data collection and cloud-based analytics). Furthermore, the donor prioritizes interventions that address the disproportionate impact of disease outbreaks on marginalized populations, requiring the inclusion of disaggregated data collection by sex, age, and disability status. The grantee must also demonstrate a clear plan for transitioning ownership of M&E systems to national institutions by the end of the project period, ensuring long-term sustainability beyond USAID funding.

Eligibility

Eligibility for this opportunity requires a comprehensive corporate, financial, and spatial audit. From a corporate perspective, the applicant organization must be legally registered and in good standing in its country of origin, with a valid registration in SAM.gov (System for Award Management) and an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The organization must have a governance structure that includes a board of directors, clearly defined management roles, and a conflict of interest policy. Non-compliance with U.S. anti-terrorism laws or any prior debarment from federal funding will result in immediate disqualification. Financial eligibility requires audited financial statements for the past three years, demonstrating a stable financial position with a minimum annual revenue of $5 million and a debt-to-equity ratio below 1.5. The organization must have a proven track record of managing U.S. government grants or cooperative agreements of at least $1 million, with at least two completed projects with similar scope in the last five years. A fiscal sponsorship arrangement is allowed only if the sponsor organization meets all eligibility criteria and provides a written commitment. Spatial eligibility requires that the organization has a physical presence (lawfully established office) in at least one GHSA-priority country, or a formal partnership with a locally based entity. The project activities must be conducted in low- or middle-income countries as defined by the World Bank, with a focus on countries that have signed the GHSA framework. The organization must demonstrate its ability to operate in complex environments, including conflict-affected or fragile states, with a security plan for staff and assets. Additionally, the applicant must have a strong reputation and no history of fraud, corruption, or sexual misconduct. All consortium partners must submit separate eligibility documentation, and the lead applicant must ensure that all partners meet the same standards. The eligibility verification process includes a review of past performance references, on-site visits (if necessary), and a check against the U.S. Treasury's list of sanctions. Finally, the organization must be willing to sign the USAID Standard Terms and Conditions and adhere to the regulations of the Foreign Assistance Act.

Path to Success

To secure this USAID GHSA M&E capacity building award, organizations need a structured approach that leverages GSLI's expertise and training programs. The following strategic roadmap outlines three key steps that align with the donor's priorities and enhance proposal competitiveness. Step 1: Conduct a thorough needs assessment and gap analysis. Before drafting the proposal, engage with USAID missions, ministries of health, and local partners in target countries to identify specific M&E capacity gaps and existing systems. This ensures that the proposed intervention is tailored to actual needs, increasing relevance and impact. GSLI can support this step through its course 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' which provides participants with the skills to design and implement such assessments using tools like the M&E Capacity Assessment Tool (ME-CAT). The course covers stakeholder mapping, data collection methods, and analysis techniques, enabling teams to produce evidence-based recommendations that strengthen the proposal's logical framework. Step 2: Design a comprehensive and sustainable M&E capacity building plan. Based on the assessment, develop a multi-year strategy that includes training, mentoring, and infrastructure development. The plan should incorporate digital health solutions, such as mobile data collection and cloud-based dashboards, and emphasize local ownership. GSLI's 'Public Health & Epidemiology' course is ideal for building the technical expertise of project staff in health data analysis and surveillance. Additionally, the 'Project Management for Development' course helps in structuring the capacity building plan with clear milestones, M&E indicators, and risk management strategies, aligning with USAID's results-based management approach. Step 3: Demonstrate organizational capacity and partnership strength. The proposal must highlight the team's experience, past performance, and commitment to local capacity. Include resumes of key personnel, letters of support from partners, and evidence of successful previous M&E system strengthening projects. GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' course can guide teams in effectively presenting this evidence, ensuring that the proposal meets all technical and narrative requirements. Furthermore, GSLI's 'Financial Management for NGOs' course helps in developing a compliant budget that allocates resources efficiently, including sub-grants to local partners, and aligns with USAID's cost principles. By following these steps and integrating GSLI trainings, organizations can build a strong, competitive proposal that addresses all donor priorities and demonstrates a clear path to achieving sustainable health security outcomes.

Recommended GSLI Courses

Deadline: 2026-09-01

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal