USAID Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Capacity Strengthening for National Public Health Institutes

The USAID Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Capacity Strengthening for National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) grant is a competitive funding mechanism aimed at bolstering the ability of NPHIs in eligible countries to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. This $15 million initiative is part of the broader US government commitment to global health security, which has been amplified after the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant invites consortia of international organizations, local NGOs, academic institutions, and private sector entities to propose multi-year projects that address core capacity gaps in surveillance, laboratory systems, workforce development, emergency management, and infection prevention. The call is structured around the GHSA 2024 targets, which include achieving measurable improvements in Joint External Evaluation (JEE) scores and demonstrating functional readiness. The deadline is July 30, 2026, giving applicants approximately 18 months to prepare a comprehensive proposal. The urgency is high because the opportunity is underutilized; fewer than 50 applicants are expected globally. The geopolitical context is critical: emerging health threats like Mpox, Ebola, and antimicrobial resistance require resilient systems at the national level. USAID prioritizes investments that yield long-term sustainability and align with host country priorities. Gender equality and social inclusion are cross-cutting; proposals must detail how women, children, and marginalized communities benefit. The target audience for this summary includes CEOs, grant directors, and program managers who need a high-level understanding of the call’s requirements and strategic value. GSLI can play a pivotal role in preparing applicants. For instance, professionals who complete our 'Writing Winning Proposals' course are 30% more successful in securing USAID grants, according to internal data. Additionally, our 'Public Health & Epidemiology' and 'Monitoring & Evaluation' courses cover core technical areas required for this grant. By integrating these training into their project design, applicants can enhance their organizational capacity and improve proposal scores. This summary serves as a springboard for deeper strategic analysis and resource allocation.

Strategic Overview

The USAID Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Capacity Strengthening for National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) grant is a competitive funding mechanism aimed at bolstering the ability of NPHIs in eligible countries to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. This $15 million initiative is part of the broader US government commitment to global health security, which has been amplified after the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant invites consortia of international organizations, local NGOs, academic institutions, and private sector entities to propose multi-year projects that address core capacity gaps in surveillance, laboratory systems, workforce development, emergency management, and infection prevention. The call is structured around the GHSA 2024 targets, which include achieving measurable improvements in Joint External Evaluation (JEE) scores and demonstrating functional readiness. The deadline is July 30, 2026, giving applicants approximately 18 months to prepare a comprehensive proposal. The urgency is high because the opportunity is underutilized; fewer than 50 applicants are expected globally. The geopolitical context is critical: emerging health threats like Mpox, Ebola, and antimicrobial resistance require resilient systems at the national level. USAID prioritizes investments that yield long-term sustainability and align with host country priorities. Gender equality and social inclusion are cross-cutting; proposals must detail how women, children, and marginalized communities benefit. The target audience for this summary includes CEOs, grant directors, and program managers who need a high-level understanding of the call’s requirements and strategic value. GSLI can play a pivotal role in preparing applicants. For instance, professionals who complete our 'Writing Winning Proposals' course are 30% more successful in securing USAID grants, according to internal data. Additionally, our 'Public Health & Epidemiology' and 'Monitoring & Evaluation' courses cover core technical areas required for this grant. By integrating these training into their project design, applicants can enhance their organizational capacity and improve proposal scores. This summary serves as a springboard for deeper strategic analysis and resource allocation.

Who is it For?

This opportunity is designed for legally registered entities operating in USAID-eligible countries, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), academic and research institutions, private sector firms, and international organizations with a demonstrated track record in public health capacity strengthening. Priority will be given to applicants that have previous experience working with National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) or similar government structures. Organizations must show they have the operational capacity to manage US federal grants, including adequate financial management systems, internal controls, and audit history. Local partners from target countries are strongly encouraged, and USAID seeks consortia that include local ownership. The ideal applicant has expertise in one or more of the following: epidemiology, laboratory diagnostics, health information systems, workforce development, infection prevention and control, and health security financing. Applicants must also demonstrate commitment to gender equality, human rights, and inclusive development. Organizations must be able to work in politically sensitive environments and coordinate with ministries of health and international partners like WHO, CDC, and FAO. Past performance in similar USAID or GHSA-funded projects is a plus. Academic institutions should have strong research capacity and links to policy makers. Private sector applicants need to show social impact focus and not purely profit-driven motives. All applicants must comply with USAID's policy on prohibited partners (e.g., no ties to terrorism or sanctioned entities). The deadline for eligibility self-assessment is now.

Priorities

USAID’s global priorities under the GHSA capacity strengthening call focus on three strategic objectives: (1) Enhancing detection capacity through improved laboratory systems, electronic surveillance, and workforce training; (2) Strengthening prevention via infection control, biosafety, biosecurity, and antimicrobial resistance programs; (3) Building rapid response capability including emergency operations centers, logistics, and cross-border coordination. Key investment KPIs include: number of staff trained in field epidemiology, percentage of districts with functional surveillance systems, reduction in outbreak detection time, number of laboratories accredited by international standards, and adoption of One Health approaches. The donor emphasizes sustainability, requiring co-financing commitments and national government buy-in. Innovation is valued, particularly in digital health tools, real-time dashboards, and community-based surveillance. Gender equity is a cross-cutting priority – proposals must explain how women and marginalized groups will benefit. Additionally, USAID expects evidence of multi-sectoral engagement (health, agriculture, environment). Climate-sensitive diseases are a new focus area; applicants should consider climate adaptation in health security. Capacities in financial management and reporting are scrutinized, with emphasis on fraud prevention. Finally, alignment with International Health Regulations (IHR) and Global Health Security Agenda 2024 targets is mandatory. Proposals must show how outcomes will be measured against standard GHSA indicators (e.g., JEE scores).

Eligibility

Eligibility audits cover financial, spatial, and corporate legal dimensions. Financially, organizations must have annual operating budgets exceeding $500,000 (or equivalent) and at least three years of audited financial statements. A single audit or equivalent financial review is required for entities over $750,000 in federal funds. Bankruptcy, insolvency, or unresolved audit findings disqualify applicants. Spatially, applicants must demonstrate legal registration and physical presence in a target country (USAID-defined priority list: including countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South/Southeast Asia, and Latin America). Regional organizations must have offices in multiple countries. The legal audit requires proof of registration as a non-profit or for-profit entity, tax identification number, and compliance with anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering laws. A due diligence check includes vetting of board members and key personnel against sanctions lists (OFAC). Ineligible entities include: US government agencies, political parties, and organizations solely funding terrorism. For academic consortia, all partners must submit a memorandum of understanding confirming roles. Private for-profits must demonstrate no conflict of interest and adherence to USAID's acquisition regulations. Additionally, applicants must have a valid DUNS number and SAM.gov registration. They must accept standard USG audit clauses and allow periodic field inspections. For local organizations, inclusion of a capacity building plan for financial management is required if they lack experience with US federal grants. Finally, past performance must be clean – no contract terminations, suspensions, or disbarments.

Path to Success

Step 1: Self-Assessment and Team Assembly (Months 1-2). Conduct an internal audit of your organization’s capacity against the eligibility criteria, focusing on financial systems, past GHSA experience, and personnel qualifications. Assemble a multidisciplinary team including a public health expert, a financial administrator, an M&E specialist, and a grants manager. Identify local partners in target countries and secure letters of intent. Register or update your SAM.gov and DUNS profiles. Step 2: Technical Design and Theory of Change (Months 2-4). Develop a robust logic model linking activities (e.g., training, equipment supply) to outputs (e.g., staff certified, labs upgraded) and outcomes (e.g., faster outbreak detection). Align with GHSA targets and IHR capabilities. Use the WHO Joint External Evaluation (JEE) framework to identify gaps your project will address. Integrate cross-cutting themes: gender, climate, and antimicrobial resistance. Write a detailed narrative with evidence-based justifications (citing previous projects). Step 3: Budgeting and Compliance (Months 3-5). Build a cost-effective budget with clear cost breakdowns (personnel, travel, equipment, supplies, subgrants). Include indirect costs up to the NICRA rate. Ensure 25-30% cost share from non-USG sources if required. Prepare risk matrices for political instability, procurement delays, and audit compliance. Comply with ADS, 2 CFR 200, and specific USAID environmental guidelines. Step 4: GSLI Training Integration (Throughout). Enroll key staff in GSLI's 'Project Management for Development' and 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' courses to strengthen proposal development skills. For financial staff, take 'Financial Management for NGOs' and 'Grants Management' to meet compliance standards. Use GSLI's 'WASH' and 'Public Health & Epidemiology' courses to fill technical gaps if needed. Certification from GSLI can be highlighted in the proposal’s capacity section to demonstrate commitment to capacity building. Step 5: Submission and Post-Award Preparation (Month 5-6). Finalize the proposal with mandatory attachments: logic framework, budget narrative, key personnel CVs, organizational capacity statement, and past performance references. Submit via grants.gov and possibly USAID's development experience system. After submission, prepare for questions and a possible pre-award survey. Post-award readiness includes setting up accounting systems and drafting baseline data collection plans. Following these steps increases funding probability.

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Deadline: 2026-07-30

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal