Surveillance and Response to Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza by Regional Offices of the World Health Organization | CDC RFA IP21 2102

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.

• 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).

Apply for CDC RFA IP21 2102

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