Engaging faith-based organizations to sustain lifesaving HIV and TB services in Ethiopia

The "Engaging Faith-Based Organizations to Sustain Lifesaving HIV and TB Services in Ethiopia" grant opportunity, issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is a forecasted cooperative agreement aimed at supporting health initiatives in Ethiopia. This funding opportunity, identified as CDC-RFA-JG-26-0136, falls under the discretionary category and is associated with the Global AIDS program (Assistance Listing 93.067). It aims to leverage the extensive community presence and influence of faith-based organizations (FBOs) to deliver critical public health services, particularly targeting HIV and TB, and to a lesser extent, cervical cancer prevention and treatment. The initiative focuses on engaging FBOs as trusted community entities to promote and deliver lifesaving HIV and TB services. It includes a range of HIV interventions such as testing, prevention (including prevention of vertical transmission from parent to child), and both adult and pediatric HIV care and treatment. Faith-based partners will serve high-risk individuals, people living with HIV who are undiagnosed or at risk of treatment interruption, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and those who face barriers to accessing conventional health systems. By using cost-efficient and integrated models, the program aims to improve diagnosis rates, enhance treatment adherence, and reduce the burden of disease across vulnerable populations. The scope of the cooperative agreement also extends to strengthening local health systems through integration with Ethiopia’s routine healthcare delivery infrastructure. This approach supports sustainability and country ownership, in line with broader CDC and PEPFAR goals. It allows for FBOs to contribute to national strategies and programs, including those addressing emerging public health threats beyond HIV and TB. The CDC emphasizes building long-term capacity and promoting resilience in Ethiopia’s healthcare landscape, with the expectation that faith-based implementers will align closely with country-led plans and priorities. Applicants must be able to demonstrate the capacity to work effectively with FBOs, understand the Ethiopian health context, and comply with U.S. government regulations governing foreign assistance. The CDC anticipates funding approximately $5,000,000 for the first fiscal year, with two awards expected. Although the award ceiling and floor are listed as zero in the Grants.gov forecast, the narrative clarifies that this is a placeholder, and actual awards will be based on available appropriations and determined amounts. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement associated with this funding opportunity. The forecast estimates an application posting date of April 10, 2026, with final applications due by June 12, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Awards are expected to be announced by September 30, 2026, which is also the anticipated project start date. The cooperative agreement is not recurring on a formally stated schedule, but applicants should monitor updates closely. The grant does not require a pre-application process such as letters of intent or concept papers. All submissions must be electronic and timely. For further information, applicants are encouraged to contact the issuing office through the designated program email: [email protected]. As this opportunity is still in the forecast stage, applicants should watch for updates and be prepared to act quickly when the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is officially posted.