Improving global health security in Cte d'Ivoire through collaboration with local partners

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has issued a forecasted cooperative agreement titled “Improving global health security in Côte d'Ivoire through collaboration with local partners.” The funding opportunity, numbered CDC-RFA-JG-26-0042, continues the CDC's international efforts to strengthen public health systems, particularly in countries vulnerable to epidemics. The CDC has a longstanding role in protecting public health both domestically and globally. Its Global Health Center (GHC) leads international collaborations to improve responses to disease outbreaks and enhance the capacity of health institutions. This forecasted Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) builds upon previous CDC-funded initiatives in Côte d'Ivoire, aiming to further develop health infrastructure and readiness through strategic collaborations with local entities, including the Ministry of Health and other government institutions. The initiative emphasizes strengthening systems to prevent epidemics, particularly those caused by natural outbreaks or accidental/intentional releases of dangerous pathogens. The scope includes bolstering early threat detection and improving rapid response capacities for infectious disease events that have international implications. The expected outcomes are clearly defined. First, the project aims to enhance Côte d'Ivoire’s ability to prevent avoidable epidemics. Second, it seeks to improve systems for detecting threats early—identifying, characterizing, and reporting emerging public health dangers quickly and accurately. Third, the project supports the development of efficient response mechanisms for national and international public health emergencies. These outcomes align with global health security priorities, especially in regions where health systems face systemic challenges. As a cooperative agreement, this funding mechanism suggests substantial involvement from the CDC during the project implementation. The expected number of awards is two, with a total program funding estimated at $5,000,000. However, specific figures for individual award ceilings or floors are not disclosed at this stage. The cost-sharing or matching requirement is explicitly stated as not required, reducing financial barriers for eligible applicants. The estimated timeline provided in the forecast sets the post date at January 19, 2026, with an application due date of March 20, 2026. Award notifications are anticipated by August 31, 2026, and project activities are expected to commence on September 30, 2026. Eligible applicants include a wide array of entities such as small businesses, for-profit and nonprofit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status), public and private institutions of higher education, tribal governments and organizations, independent school districts, and state, county, and city governments, among others. This inclusive eligibility criteria is aimed at fostering a diverse pool of applicants with the capability to support health security in Côte d'Ivoire. Submissions must be made electronically and completed no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the stated deadline. At this stage, no additional pre-application requirements or specific evaluation criteria are provided. The grantor contact listed is Broderick Yoerg, who can be reached at 404.234.0666 or via email at DGHPNOFOs@cdc.gov. No official PDF NOFO document is currently available, as this is a forecasted opportunity. Updates to the opportunity should be monitored as the estimated post date approaches to ensure complete and timely submission.