Expanding Global Health Security through local partnerships in Senegal

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Global Health Center has issued solicitation CDC-RFA-JG-26-0048 to enhance Senegal's public health infrastructure for the prevention, detection, and response to infectious disease threats. This five-year cooperative agreement, with an expected start date of October 30, 2026, focuses on strengthening surveillance systems, laboratory networks, and workforce training in partnership with the Senegal Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene. The initiative aligns with the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) and emphasizes cross-sectoral coordination among human, animal, and environmental health sectors. Funding is structured across three components: core global health security priorities with a first-year ceiling of $500,000, and two rapid response components for public health emergencies with first-year ceilings of $1,000,000 and $2,000,000 respectively. Applicants must submit their proposals via Grants.gov by October 2, 2026, and must maintain active registrations in both SAM.gov and GrantSolutions. The evaluation process involves an initial review and a risk assessment for awards exceeding $250,000, followed by a merit review based on background and approach (50 points), evaluation and performance measurement plans (25 points), and organizational capacity (25 points). Required documentation includes a one-page project summary, a 30-page project narrative, and various appendices such as an organizational chart, financial capability statement, and cybersecurity plans for protecting personally identifiable information. Performance will be measured using the Division of Global Health Protection's FY 2026 standard partner-level indicators across technical areas including laboratory diagnostics, epidemiology, and emergency operations.