Strengthening and Developing of Sustainable Global Public Health and Epidemiological Workforce Capacity through Collaboration, Program Development, and Implementation

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its Global Health Center (GHC), has announced a forecasted funding opportunity under opportunity number CDC-RFA-JG-26-0059. This opportunity is titled Strengthening and Developing of Sustainable Global Public Health and Epidemiological Workforce Capacity through Collaboration, Program Development, and Implementation. It is issued as a discretionary cooperative agreement to support global health efforts, with a projected funding availability of one hundred million dollars. The estimated posting date for this opportunity is November 3, 2025, and applications will be due by January 2, 2026. Award announcements are expected by August 31, 2026, with funded projects anticipated to begin on September 30, 2026. The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity is to strengthen the capacity of public health workforces worldwide to detect, prevent, and respond to disease threats. The CDC highlights the importance of public health workforce development as a global priority, noting lessons learned from recent outbreaks of COVID-19, Ebola, and other emerging diseases. The program places emphasis on supporting Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETP) and other workforce development initiatives that can enhance country and regional capabilities to respond effectively to health emergencies. Key goals include building sustainable epidemiological capacity, creating standards for accreditation and credentialing, and improving collaboration among public health programs and regional networks. Funding is intended to be used for a range of activities that advance workforce strengthening. These include workforce assessments, development and expansion of training programs, implementation of standards for public health workforce accreditation, and support for scientific meetings and conferences that promote knowledge sharing. Awardees will be expected to work closely with the CDC and other international partners to ensure that workforce development activities align with country-specific needs while also contributing to a stronger global response infrastructure. Funding cannot be used for purposes outside the stated scope and will be governed by the cooperative agreement mechanism, which includes significant involvement by the CDC. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and inclusive, allowing for applications from state and local governments, public housing authorities, Native American tribal governments and organizations, nonprofits, institutions of higher education, independent school districts, special district governments, for-profit organizations including small businesses, and other eligible entities. This wide eligibility framework ensures that a diverse range of institutions can participate in strengthening global public health systems. The opportunity is nationwide in scope and does not limit eligibility to specific states or regions. Applications must be submitted electronically by the published deadline of January 2, 2026, no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time. The estimated open date for applications is November 3, 2025. While no pre-application deadlines such as letters of intent are specified in the forecast, applicants are expected to follow Grants.gov procedures for electronic submission. As this is a forecast, details such as evaluation criteria and specific application questions will be published in the finalized Notice of Funding Opportunity. Based on standard CDC processes, applicants can expect to provide detailed narratives on proposed workforce development activities, collaboration strategies, and evaluation plans. The primary point of contact for this opportunity is Broderick Yoerg, who can be reached by telephone at 404-234-0666 or by email at DGHPNOFOs@cdc.gov. This contact will serve as the official channel for applicant inquiries. The forecasted notice indicates no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The estimated total program funding is one hundred million dollars, with up to three awards anticipated, though the award ceiling and floor have not yet been specified in dollar terms. The official listing appears under Assistance Listing 93.318, Protecting and Improving Health Globally: Building and Strengthening Public Health Impact, Systems, Capacity and Security. Applicants are encouraged to monitor the CDC and Grants.gov websites for updates once the full solicitation is released. Interested organizations should begin internal preparations ahead of the estimated posting date to align their proposed activities with CDC priorities and global health workforce needs. Since this is a forecasted opportunity, the details provided may be subject to change in the final notice, but the objectives clearly align with long-term CDC priorities in strengthening sustainable global public health and epidemiological workforce capacity through collaboration and structured program development.