Strengthening public health efforts to protect and improve health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has issued a forecasted Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled “Strengthening public health efforts to protect and improve health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).” This opportunity falls under assistance listing 93.318, which focuses on protecting and improving global health by building and strengthening public health impact, systems, capacity, and security. The CDC aims to continue and expand efforts previously funded under its Global Health Security (GHS) initiatives in the DRC, working closely with the Ministry of Health and other governmental institutions. The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to improve the prevention, detection, and response to public health threats in the DRC. The CDC seeks to support organizations that can implement effective strategies and programs aligned with three major outcomes: improving the prevention of avoidable epidemics (including natural outbreaks and releases of dangerous pathogens), enhancing the early detection and reporting of emerging threats, and strengthening the response capacity to public health threats of international concern. These goals reflect a comprehensive approach to enhancing national and regional health security, especially in areas with existing vulnerabilities in health infrastructure. Funding through this opportunity is intended to support a wide array of activities that can include disease surveillance, laboratory systems strengthening, workforce development, emergency preparedness and response systems, and risk communication. Because this is a cooperative agreement, the CDC will play a substantial role in program implementation and monitoring, including providing technical assistance and guidance throughout the project period. While total estimated program funding is $15.5 million, the specific award ceiling and floor amounts have not been disclosed, requiring applicants to tailor their proposed budgets according to programmatic needs rather than strict financial bounds. The expected number of awards is four, and eligible applicants include a wide range of public and private entities, including tribal organizations, higher education institutions, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and public housing authorities. The opportunity explicitly notes that cost sharing or matching is not required, which may encourage a broader range of applicants, including smaller institutions or those with fewer financial resources. This NOFO is currently forecasted, with an estimated post date of April 24, 2026. The application deadline is projected for June 25, 2026, and applications must be submitted electronically by 11:59 PM ET on the deadline. The estimated award date is August 31, 2026, with projects expected to start by September 30, 2026. As a forecasted opportunity, these dates may be subject to change. Interested applicants should monitor the official Grants.gov listing for updates and prepare accordingly. Inquiries about the opportunity should be directed to Broderick Yoerg, who can be reached by phone at 404.234.0666 or via email at [email protected]. Currently, there is no information on pre-application requirements such as letters of intent or concept notes, and no linked PDF of the NOFO document is available. Applicants are advised to review the opportunity regularly and prepare to act promptly once the NOFO is officially posted.