USAID Global Health Security: Strengthening National Public Health Institutes and M&E Systems

The USAID Global Health Security (GHS) call for proposals titled "Strengthening National Public Health Institutes and M&E Systems" is a multi-year funding opportunity aimed at enhancing the capacity of partner countries to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. This initiative is part of the U.S. Government's broader commitment to the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) and the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005). The deadline for submission is July 30, 2026, with high urgency signaling timely preparation. The funding envelope is expected to range from $10 million to $50 million per award, over a period of up to five years. Eligible applicants include international and local NGOs, academic institutions, for-profit entities, and public international organizations. USAID emphasizes a strong technical approach focusing on institutional strengthening of National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) and robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems. The call seeks proposals that demonstrate a deep understanding of local health systems, a commitment to localization, and a clear path to sustainability. Additionally, USAID encourages innovative use of digital health technologies and community-based surveillance. The overarching goal is to build resilient health systems that can effectively manage outbreaks and other public health emergencies, thereby safeguarding global health security. This overview provides a comprehensive context for potential applicants, highlighting the importance of partnership, capacity building, and data-driven decision-making. The opportunity is strategically positioned to address persistent gaps in public health infrastructure that were exposed and amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic revealed that many countries lacked functional NPHIs, adequate surveillance systems, and trained workforce to respond to health emergencies. In response, USAID is channeling resources to strengthen these foundational elements. The call explicitly prioritizes countries with weak JEE scores, active conflict zones, and vulnerable populations. Geographically, focus regions include sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. USAID also encourages applications that integrate gender equality, climate resilience, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) components. The expected outcomes include improved detection timeliness, lab accreditation, and M&E maturity. Applicants must articulate a theory of change that logically connects activities to desired impacts. Furthermore, the call includes cross-cutting requirements for safeguarding, do no harm, and conflict sensitivity. The overview underscores that successful proposals will not only address technical requirements but also demonstrate strong management capacity, including financial probity, staffing plans, and sub-award management. This funding opportunity presents a significant chance for organizations with a proven track record in public health, capacity building, and M&E. It is particularly relevant for consortia that combine local presence with international expertise. The deadline, nearly two years away, allows ample time for building partnerships, conducting assessments, and crafting a compelling proposal. However, due to high competition, early preparation is critical. Potential applicants should start immediately with internal capacity assessments, partner outreach, and proposal conceptualization. GSLI training courses such as 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' and 'Writing Winning Proposals' can provide immediate value by strengthening staff skills and proposal quality. Organizations that invest in these preparatory steps are more likely to submit competitive proposals that meet USAID's exacting standards. The overview serves as a call to action for those committed to global health security.

Strategic Overview

The USAID Global Health Security (GHS) call for proposals titled "Strengthening National Public Health Institutes and M&E Systems" is a multi-year funding opportunity aimed at enhancing the capacity of partner countries to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. This initiative is part of the U.S. Government's broader commitment to the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) and the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005). The deadline for submission is July 30, 2026, with high urgency signaling timely preparation. The funding envelope is expected to range from $10 million to $50 million per award, over a period of up to five years. Eligible applicants include international and local NGOs, academic institutions, for-profit entities, and public international organizations. USAID emphasizes a strong technical approach focusing on institutional strengthening of National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) and robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems. The call seeks proposals that demonstrate a deep understanding of local health systems, a commitment to localization, and a clear path to sustainability. Additionally, USAID encourages innovative use of digital health technologies and community-based surveillance. The overarching goal is to build resilient health systems that can effectively manage outbreaks and other public health emergencies, thereby safeguarding global health security. This overview provides a comprehensive context for potential applicants, highlighting the importance of partnership, capacity building, and data-driven decision-making. The opportunity is strategically positioned to address persistent gaps in public health infrastructure that were exposed and amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic revealed that many countries lacked functional NPHIs, adequate surveillance systems, and trained workforce to respond to health emergencies. In response, USAID is channeling resources to strengthen these foundational elements. The call explicitly prioritizes countries with weak JEE scores, active conflict zones, and vulnerable populations. Geographically, focus regions include sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. USAID also encourages applications that integrate gender equality, climate resilience, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) components. The expected outcomes include improved detection timeliness, lab accreditation, and M&E maturity. Applicants must articulate a theory of change that logically connects activities to desired impacts. Furthermore, the call includes cross-cutting requirements for safeguarding, do no harm, and conflict sensitivity. The overview underscores that successful proposals will not only address technical requirements but also demonstrate strong management capacity, including financial probity, staffing plans, and sub-award management. This funding opportunity presents a significant chance for organizations with a proven track record in public health, capacity building, and M&E. It is particularly relevant for consortia that combine local presence with international expertise. The deadline, nearly two years away, allows ample time for building partnerships, conducting assessments, and crafting a compelling proposal. However, due to high competition, early preparation is critical. Potential applicants should start immediately with internal capacity assessments, partner outreach, and proposal conceptualization. GSLI training courses such as 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' and 'Writing Winning Proposals' can provide immediate value by strengthening staff skills and proposal quality. Organizations that invest in these preparatory steps are more likely to submit competitive proposals that meet USAID's exacting standards. The overview serves as a call to action for those committed to global health security.

Who is it For?

This opportunity is designed for a wide array of international and local organizations that possess the technical, operational, and financial capacity to strengthen public health institutions and M&E systems in USAID partner countries. Eligible applicants include international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic institutions, research institutes, for-profit firms (with restrictions on allowable fees), public international organizations (PIOs), and consortia led by a qualified entity. USAID particularly encourages applications from organizations that have a demonstrated track record in health system strengthening, epidemiology, laboratory systems, surveillance, and M&E. Partners must show experience working in fragile or resource-limited settings, as well as familiarity with USAID’s regulations, such as ADS 201 and 2 CFR 200. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and women-owned businesses are also eligible and may receive favorable consideration. For local organizations, USAID requires evidence of strong governance, financial management systems, and prior experience with U.S. government grants or contracts. The ideal applicant will have existing relationships with host-country ministries of health, NPHIs, and regional health bodies such as the Africa CDC or WHO regional offices. Additionally, organizations must demonstrate a commitment to localization, meaning they must actively involve local stakeholders in project design and implementation. This call is not open to individuals or entities without a registered legal status in the country of implementation. Consortia are advised to have a clear lead partner with administrative and fiscal responsibility, and all partners must submit a memorandum of understanding (MOU) detailing roles, governance, and financial arrangements. Lastly, applicants must not be suspended or debarred by the U.S. government and must comply with all anti-terrorism and anti-trafficking regulations.

Priorities

USAID's global health security priorities under this funding opportunity are structured around three interconnected pillars: (1) Strengthening National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) to serve as authoritative centers for disease surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, workforce development, and policy guidance; (2) Enhancing monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems to ensure data-driven decision-making and accountability; and (3) Promoting sustainability and local ownership through capacity building and institutional strengthening. Under the NPHI pillar, USAID seeks to support the development or enhancement of core functions such as epidemic intelligence, field epidemiology training programs (FETPs), and integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR). For M&E systems, the focus is on improving data quality, interoperability of health information systems, and the use of data for action, especially at the subnational level. Performance indicators will align with the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) targets, International Health Regulations (IHR) Joint External Evaluation (JEE) scores, and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Key metrics include reduction in time from outbreak detection to response, increase in percentage of health facilities reporting complete and timely surveillance data, and number of public health workforce trained and retained. USAID also emphasizes cross-cutting priorities such as gender equality, disability-inclusive programming, and climate resilience. Proposals must articulate a theory of change that links inputs to outputs, outcomes, and impact, with a robust M&E framework including baseline, mid-term, and end-line evaluations. Additionally, USAID prioritizes the use of digital health technologies, such as DHIS2, for real-time data reporting. Successful proposals will demonstrate alignment with host-country national health plans and coordination with other donors (e.g., World Bank, WHO, CDC) to avoid duplication and ensure complementarity. The donor expects applicants to have a clear sustainability plan that outlines how activities will continue after USAID funding ends, including co-financing mechanisms or integration into government budgets.

Eligibility

Eligibility for this USAID Global Health Security opportunity requires a comprehensive assessment of organizational capacity across financial, spatial, and legal dimensions. Financially, applicants must demonstrate sound accounting systems, audited financial statements for the past three years, sufficient liquidity to cover initial costs (at least 5-10% of total budget), and no history of significant audit findings. The organization must be able to manage funds in multiple currencies and provide documentation of a single audit compliant with OMB Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200). For first-time USAID awardees, special pre-award surveys may be required by the Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA). Spatially, applicants must have a physical presence or a legally registered branch office in the intended country of implementation, or a formal agreement with a local partner that provides such presence. The project will likely span multiple regions within a country, requiring logistical capacity for remote field operations, supply chain management, and secure data transmission. Legal eligibility mandates that the entity is registered and in good standing in its home country, has a valid DUNS number (now replaced by Unique Entity ID (UEI) in SAM.gov), is current on all federal taxes (if U.S.-based), and complies with all sanctions and export control laws. Organizations must certify that they are not engaged in terrorism, money laundering, or human trafficking. Additionally, any organization that has been debarred or suspended by any federal agency is automatically ineligible. For local organizations, USAID may require proof of registration with the host-country government, tax clearance, and a memorandum of understanding if working in a consortium. There are no specific revenue thresholds, but applicants must show capacity to manage the funding amount requested. It is critical that the applicant’s mission aligns with USAID’s foreign assistance objectives and that the organization’s governing board has approved the proposal. All personnel must be eligible to work in the country of implementation, and key personnel must have qualifications in public health, epidemiology, statistics, or related fields. Sub-recipients must also meet eligibility standards, and a drawdown of funds will be contingent on signed agreements and pre-award clearance.

Path to Success

To maximize your chances of securing this USAID Global Health Security award, follow this strategic roadmap integrated with GSLI training courses. **Step 1: Deepen Institutional Capacity & Compliance Readiness (Months 1-3).** Begin by conducting a rigorous self-assessment of your organization’s financial management, procurement, and M&E systems against USAID’s 2 CFR 200 requirements. Enroll your finance and compliance teams in GSLI’s **'Financial Management for NGOs'** and **'Grants Management'** courses to ensure adherence to federal award regulations. Simultaneously, register or update your SAM.gov UEI and ensure no exclusions apply. Establish a dedicated bid team with experience in USAID health solicitations. **Step 2: Forge Strategic Partnerships & Local Ownership (Months 2-4).** Identify and formalize partnerships with host-country National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs), ministries of health, and local civil society organizations. Develop a consortium agreement that clearly defines roles, budget distribution, and governance. Take GSLI’s **'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)'** and **'Writing Winning Proposals'** courses to strengthen your M&E framework design and proposal writing skills. Engage in co-design workshops with local stakeholders to ensure the project logic reflects on-the-ground realities and localization imperatives. **Step 3: Design a Robust Technical Approach & Budget (Months 4-6).** Develop a detailed technical approach that aligns with USAID’s priority pillars: NPHI institutional strengthening, M&E system enhancement, and sustainability. Use a results-based framework with SMART indicators, such as “increase by 30% the number of district health facilities reporting complete surveillance data within 48 hours.” Employ the GSLI **'Public Health & Epidemiology'** course to refine epidemiological strategies and incorporate gender and disability inclusivity. Cost the budget using USAID’s SF-424 forms, ensuring indirect costs are negotiated with a cognizant agency. Build in cross-sell opportunities: a line item for GSLI training for project staff and local partners. **Step 4: Submit a Compelling Proposal & Prepare for Award (Months 6-7).** Write the proposal narrative following the objective, approach, and management structure format. Highlight previous USAID-funded successes, use data visualizations, and include letters of commitment from partners. Review the proposal using GSLI’s proposal checklists from the **'Writing Winning Proposals'** course. Before submission, conduct a peer review and final compliance check. Post-submission, anticipate a 2-4 month review period; if invited for a pre-award survey, be ready with audited statements and organizational charts. Once awarded, use GSLI’s **'Project Management for Development'** and **'Procurement & Supply Chain'** courses to ensure seamless implementation. This integrated approach demonstrates not only technical excellence but also a commitment to continuous learning and capacity strengthening, significantly boosting your evaluation score.

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Deadline: 2026-07-30

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal