Improving regional capacity to respond to HIV, TB, and other global health priorities in Central America

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has announced a forecasted cooperative agreement opportunity aimed at enhancing regional capacity to address critical health challenges in Central America. The grant, titled "Improving regional capacity to respond to HIV, TB, and other global health priorities in Central America," is intended to bolster local efforts in combating HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and related public health threats. This funding opportunity is specifically aligned with CDC’s Division of Global HIV and TB (DGHT), which focuses on advancing the global HIV response through strategic partnerships and technical support to public health systems. This program targets five Central American countries—El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama—with the overarching goal of supporting these nations in achieving the global 95-95-95 targets for HIV, which involve ensuring that 95% of people living with HIV are diagnosed, 95% of those diagnosed are receiving treatment, and 95% of those receiving treatment achieve viral suppression. The CDC seeks to facilitate the transition of site-level service delivery responsibilities to local governments, while also improving data systems, healthcare workforce capacity, and the integration of services for HIV, TB, and opportunistic infections. Key areas of program activity include expanding access to HIV prevention for at-risk populations through the Sentinel Surveillance of STI and HIV Strategy (VICITS), strengthening early diagnosis via proactive case-finding approaches, and promoting the use of testing methods such as community outreach, self-testing, and social network strategies. Moreover, applicants will be expected to support the implementation of comprehensive care and treatment models and ensure continuous quality improvement across health services. Proposals should focus on sustainability and country ownership, helping national systems become more autonomous in their disease control responses. Emphasis is placed on improving health system efficiency and building global health security infrastructure. The CDC has identified the total expected annual funding for the first year as approximately $20,000,000, contingent on the availability of funds, although specific award ceilings and floors have not been published at this stage. This opportunity is classified as a cooperative agreement, meaning CDC will maintain substantial involvement throughout the performance period. It is forecasted to be posted by May 9, 2026, with a final application due date of June 19, 2026. Award notifications and project starts are expected by January 1, 2027. There are no pre-application requirements such as a letter of intent or concept note specified in the forecast. Interested applicants should submit proposals electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. Eligible applicants include a wide array of U.S.-based entities such as governments at all levels (state, city, county, tribal), nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), public and private institutions of higher education, housing authorities, and for-profit organizations, including small businesses. For inquiries, interested parties may contact the CDC's dedicated NOFO team at [email protected].