Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA IP21 2102
The grant opportunity titled "Surveillance and Response to Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza by Regional Offices of the World Health Organization" (CDC RFA IP21 2102) is a CDC-funded cooperative agreement designed to strengthen how countries and regions detect, track, and respond to influenza threats. The main idea is to support each WHO Regional Office in leading a coordinated regional plan that helps national governments and regional health authorities improve influenza surveillance systems and outbreak readiness. The focus is not on building brand-new systems from scratch, but on improving and connecting what already exists, with an emphasis on practical, scalable approaches that match country priorities and can be sustained through stronger public health infrastructure and partnerships.
A core part of the program is expanding and improving both laboratory surveillance and epidemiologic surveillance for seasonal influenza and for potential pandemic influenza. On the laboratory side, this means boosting the ability to test and characterize influenza viruses reliably, which is essential for identifying what strains are circulating and for detecting unusual or concerning viruses early. On the epidemiology side, it emphasizes stronger data collection and analysis, including better case reporting and the use of surveillance information to understand patterns of transmission and severity. The NOFO also highlights the need for "simple methods" to estimate the burden of influenza disease, using surveillance findings along with other routinely collected health data. In practice, this means helping countries translate surveillance numbers into actionable estimates of illness, hospitalization, and impact, so decision-makers can understand what influenza is costing their populations and health systems.
Another major emphasis is preparedness for novel influenza viruses with pandemic potential and similar respiratory threats. The grant is meant to help countries detect and respond to outbreaks caused by viruses such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, swine-origin influenza viruses, or other respiratory pathogens that could pose a pandemic risk. That includes strengthening systems that can recognize unusual events early, confirm them in the lab, and coordinate a rapid public health response. Because these threats can spread across borders, the regional angle is important: WHO Regional Offices are positioned to align approaches among neighboring countries, support cross-border coordination, and encourage consistent standards and reporting across the region.
The opportunity also supports work that informs national vaccine policies, specifically around introducing influenza vaccines where they are not widely used and increasing their use where programs already exist. The intent is to generate and apply evidence that helps countries decide whether to adopt seasonal influenza vaccination, which groups to prioritize, and how to scale programs based on local burden and risk. In other words, surveillance is not treated as an end in itself, but as a tool for better policy decisions and smarter prevention strategies.
From an implementation standpoint, CDC is looking for projects that strengthen public health capacity, leadership, and strategic collaboration across the region. The NOFO encourages integrated health programming, meaning influenza work should connect with broader public health systems rather than operate as a silo. It also stresses regional and national partnerships, signaling that successful proposals should show how WHO Regional Offices will coordinate with ministries of health, national public health institutes, laboratories, and other key stakeholders to build lasting capability rather than short-term activities.
Eligibility is tightly restricted: only WHO Regional Offices may apply, and only one application may be submitted per Regional Office. CDC anticipated up to six awards. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement by the funder in technical collaboration, performance monitoring, or joint planning compared with a standard grant. The opportunity falls under HHS/CDC (NCIRD) and is associated with CFDA 93.318. The NOFO was posted April 21, 2021, with an original application deadline of June 20, 2021 (electronic submissions due by 11:59 p.m. ET). The listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which usually indicates the ceiling amount was not specified in that field rather than implying no funding; applicants would normally confirm actual funding levels and budget guidance in the full announcement.
Finally, the NOFO is explicit that supported activities should be complementary to, and not duplicate, work funded under WHO's Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework (PIP) or other similar efforts already occurring in the region. That requirement shapes how proposals should be designed: they need to map existing initiatives, identify genuine gaps, and propose added-value activities that strengthen surveillance and response without repeating what is already funded elsewhere.Apply for CDC RFA IP21 2102
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - NCIRD in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Surveillance and Response to Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza by Regional Offices of the World Health Organization" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.318.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 21, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 20, 2021 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: Surveillance and Response to Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza by WHO Regional Offices (CDC RFA IP21 2102)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Surveillance and Response to Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza by Regional Offices of the World Health Organization" and is identified as CDC RFA IP21 2102.
Who is funding this opportunity?
This is a CDC-funded cooperative agreement under HHS/CDC (NCIRD).
What is the main purpose of the cooperative agreement?
The purpose is to strengthen how countries and regions detect, track, and respond to seasonal influenza and potential pandemic influenza threats by supporting WHO Regional Offices to lead coordinated regional plans.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is restricted to WHO Regional Offices only.
How many applications can each WHO Regional Office submit?
Only one application may be submitted per WHO Regional Office.
How many awards did CDC anticipate?
CDC anticipated up to six awards.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates substantial involvement by CDC in areas such as technical collaboration, performance monitoring, or joint planning compared with a standard grant.
Is the focus on building brand-new influenza surveillance systems?
No. The focus is on improving and connecting existing systems, using practical and scalable approaches that align with country priorities and can be sustained through stronger public health infrastructure and partnerships.
What kinds of influenza surveillance does the program emphasize?
The program emphasizes expanding and improving both laboratory surveillance and epidemiologic surveillance for seasonal influenza and for potential pandemic influenza.
What does laboratory surveillance strengthening involve under this NOFO?
It involves boosting the ability to test and characterize influenza viruses reliably so that circulating strains can be identified and unusual or concerning viruses can be detected early.
What does epidemiologic surveillance strengthening involve under this NOFO?
It involves stronger data collection and analysis, including improved case reporting and better use of surveillance information to understand patterns of transmission and severity.
Does the NOFO address estimating the burden of influenza disease?
Yes. It highlights using "simple methods" to estimate influenza disease burden by combining surveillance findings with other routinely collected health data to produce actionable estimates (such as illness and hospitalization impact) for decision-makers.
What kinds of threats beyond seasonal influenza are included?
The NOFO emphasizes preparedness for novel influenza viruses with pandemic potential and similar respiratory threats, including viruses such as highly pathogenic avian influenza and swine-origin influenza viruses, as well as other respiratory pathogens that could pose pandemic risk.
What outbreak readiness and response capabilities are expected to be strengthened?
Activities are intended to strengthen the ability to recognize unusual events early, confirm them in laboratories, and coordinate rapid public health responses, including cross-border coordination where needed.
Why is the regional approach important in this opportunity?
Because influenza and other respiratory threats can spread across borders, WHO Regional Offices are positioned to align approaches among neighboring countries, support cross-border coordination, and promote consistent standards and reporting across the region.
How does this opportunity relate to national influenza vaccine policy?
The opportunity supports work that informs national vaccine policies by generating and applying evidence relevant to introducing influenza vaccines where they are not widely used and increasing vaccine use where programs already exist.
What types of vaccine-policy decisions can surveillance evidence support?
Based on the NOFO description, evidence can support decisions about whether to adopt seasonal influenza vaccination, which groups to prioritize, and how to scale programs based on local burden and risk.
Is influenza surveillance treated as an end goal in this program?
No. Surveillance is positioned as a tool to support better policy decisions and smarter prevention strategies.
What implementation approach is CDC looking for?
CDC is looking for projects that strengthen public health capacity, leadership, and strategic collaboration across the region, with an emphasis on integrated health programming so influenza work connects to broader public health systems rather than operating as a standalone silo.
What partnerships are expected or encouraged?
The NOFO stresses regional and national partnerships and coordination with ministries of health, national public health institutes, laboratories, and other key stakeholders to build lasting capability rather than short-term activities.
Are applicants required to avoid duplicating other WHO-funded influenza efforts?
Yes. The NOFO specifies that supported activities should be complementary to, and not duplicate, work funded under WHO's Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework (PIP) or other similar efforts already occurring in the region.
What does "complementary, not duplicative" mean for proposal design?
Based on the description provided, proposals should map existing initiatives, identify genuine gaps, and propose added-value activities that strengthen surveillance and response without repeating activities already funded elsewhere.
When was the NOFO posted?
The NOFO was posted on April 21, 2021.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was June 20, 2021, with electronic submissions due by 11:59 p.m. ET.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 93.318.
What does the listing mean by an award ceiling of 0?
The listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates the ceiling amount was not specified in that particular field rather than meaning no funding is available. The actual funding levels and budget guidance would normally be confirmed in the full announcement.
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