Strengthening global health security in India to contain public health threats and accelerate outbreak response

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its Global Health Center (GHC), is forecasting a funding opportunity aimed at strengthening global health security in India. This initiative reflects the United States' commitment to enhancing international collaboration in public health, specifically by supporting India’s efforts to prevent, detect, and respond effectively to infectious disease threats. The funding is channeled through a cooperative agreement mechanism, enabling close coordination between CDC and selected recipients to build on existing efforts under the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA). This opportunity, titled "Strengthening global health security in India to contain public health threats and accelerate outbreak response," aligns with the broader goals of the GHSA and the International Health Regulations. Its objective is to empower the Indian government’s public health institutions—such as the National Centre for Disease Control, the National Health Mission, the Indian Council of Medical Research, and other key national entities—by enhancing their infrastructure and operational capabilities. The focus is on capacity building across five key technical domains: public health workforce development, disease surveillance, laboratory systems, emergency preparedness and response, and the mitigation of antimicrobial resistance. The cooperative agreement structure allows the CDC to maintain substantial involvement in the execution of the project, providing technical expertise and guidance. This partnership model is designed to ensure the sustainability of interventions by progressively transitioning responsibility to the Government of India. Additionally, the One Health approach will be used to integrate human, animal, and environmental health strategies in outbreak management and containment. The estimated total program funding is $5,000,000, to be distributed across up to two awards. However, no specific ceiling or floor amount has been indicated, suggesting that award sizes may vary based on project scope or negotiation. There is no matching or cost-sharing requirement, making it financially accessible to a broad range of eligible applicants. Eligible applicants include a wide spectrum of entities such as state and local governments, tribal organizations (both federally and non-federally recognized), public and private institutions of higher education, small and for-profit businesses, nonprofit organizations, and housing authorities. This broad eligibility reflects the CDC’s intention to attract a diverse array of potential partners capable of implementing technically complex public health programs. Applications will be submitted electronically, with an estimated submission window closing on June 25, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET. The estimated post date is April 24, 2026. Awards are expected to be announced by August 31, 2026, with projects commencing on September 30, 2026. There is no mention of pre-application requirements such as Letters of Intent or Concept Papers. For inquiries, interested parties may contact Broderick Yoerg at 404-234-0666 or via email at [email protected].