Strengthening Public Health Systems in Sierra Leone

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its Global Health Center (GHC), has forecasted a new cooperative agreement opportunity titled "Strengthening Public Health Systems in Sierra Leone." This initiative aims to reinforce the capacity of Sierra Leone's public health infrastructure to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. With an estimated total program funding of $125 million, this opportunity represents a significant federal investment in global health security and the resilience of public health systems in West Africa. This funding opportunity seeks to build upon previous efforts by CDC and its partners in Sierra Leone by continuing to support multisectoral collaboration and alignment with national priorities. The grant is intended to facilitate the transfer of essential public health capabilities to the country's National Public Health Agency and government authorities. Key focus areas include strengthening surveillance systems and data capabilities, improving laboratory diagnostics, enhancing workforce training and institutional leadership, and bolstering prevention and emergency response measures. The ultimate objective is to sustainably reduce the risk of infectious disease outbreaks through improved national preparedness and response mechanisms. The grant will be implemented as a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial involvement by the CDC in program design, monitoring, and technical support. While specific spending rules or detailed use of funds are not delineated in the forecast notice, the scope strongly implies that funding will support both direct health system strengthening and technical capacity development efforts in line with CDC's global health priorities. This includes building local infrastructure, developing human resources, and deploying disease surveillance technologies. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and inclusive. It extends to a wide range of U.S.-based entities, including public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, school districts, nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), and for-profit entities including small businesses. The forecast does not mention any geographic restrictions within the United States, indicating that applications are open to eligible organizations nationwide. The estimated application window opens on March 2, 2026, with submissions due no later than 11:59 PM ET on May 3, 2026. Awards are expected to be issued by August 31, 2026, with funded projects anticipated to commence by September 30, 2026. There is no pre-application requirement listed at this time, and no cost-sharing or matching requirement is associated with this grant. The opportunity is listed as recurring, suggesting that similar programs may be offered in future years. For further inquiries, interested applicants can contact Broderick Yoerg at 404-234-0666 or via email at [email protected]. As this is a forecasted opportunity, applicants should monitor Grants.gov and CDC announcements for updated guidance and the release of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).