Sustaining life-saving HIV services in Ukraine by strengthening resilient health systems under the Ukraine Ministry of Health, Public Health Center

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a key agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is forecasting a cooperative agreement opportunity aimed at sustaining and improving critical HIV-related services in Ukraine. Through this program, titled "Sustaining life-saving HIV services in Ukraine by strengthening resilient health systems under the Ukraine Ministry of Health, Public Health Center," the CDC intends to support the Ukraine Ministry of Health and its Public Health Center (PHC) in strengthening health systems, with an emphasis on HIV prevention, testing, and treatment. This funding opportunity is released under Assistance Listing Number 93.067 – Global AIDS, highlighting its alignment with the broader goals of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The purpose of this forecasted Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to reinforce the capacity of Ukraine’s public health system to deliver life-saving HIV services, especially amid persistent health system challenges due to political and social instability. The NOFO outlines a strategic focus on ensuring broad access to high-quality HIV testing, treatment, and prevention services for key populations at high risk of HIV infection. Central to this strategy are community-based and mobile outreach methods that aim to improve identification and linkage to care for individuals living with HIV, along with sustained support for treatment adherence and management of complex cases such as those with advanced HIV or co-infection with tuberculosis (TB). The cooperative agreement prioritizes service delivery innovation, including the implementation of differentiated service delivery (DSD) models in medical facilities to improve patient retention and adherence. It further aims to expand the availability of targeted HIV prevention services, particularly focusing on the timely initiation and sustained provision of such services. Activities under this agreement are expected to include community-level engagement via social network strategies (SNS), mobile HIV case finding and treatment, as well as facility-based interventions that enhance service quality and accessibility. The opportunity forecasts a total estimated Year 1 funding amount of approximately $10,000,000, although this is subject to the availability of funds. While the Grants.gov listing indicates a zero-dollar award ceiling and floor, the narrative clarifies that this is a placeholder, with $10 million anticipated for the initial fiscal year. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement associated with this NOFO. The CDC anticipates awarding one cooperative agreement through this opportunity. Entities eligible to apply include a wide range of U.S.-based organizations, such as nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations, small businesses, educational institutions (both public and private), tribal organizations and governments, and state and local government bodies. The estimated posting date for the NOFO is March 6, 2026, with applications due by May 5, 2026. All applications must be submitted electronically no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. The anticipated award date is September 30, 2026, and projects are expected to start on the same day. There are no stated pre-application requirements such as a letter of intent or concept paper. The program is classified as discretionary and is expected to recur annually, which means applicants who miss the 2026 deadline may have opportunities to apply in subsequent years. Interested applicants can contact the program via the official inbox: [email protected]. As of now, no direct PDF of the NOFO is available, but applicants are encouraged to monitor Grants.gov for updates. The program aligns with U.S. government global health priorities, especially as implemented through PEPFAR, and underscores the continued commitment to global partnerships that address public health crises through resilient health system strengthening.