Enhancing Understanding of and Preparedness for Public Health Threats Through Research in Kenya | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the purpose of the "Enhancing Understanding of and Preparedness for Public Health Threats Through Research in Kenya" opportunity?

This CDC cooperative agreement is intended to fund research, implementation science, and public health evaluations that strengthen Kenya's ability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats. The work is expected to generate practical, real-world evidence that improves preparedness in Kenya and reduces the risk of diseases spreading across borders.

Who is the funder and what type of award is this?

The funder is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically involves substantial involvement and collaboration with CDC during implementation.

What is the opportunity number and CFDA number?

The opportunity number is RFA JG 26 034. The CFDA number is 93.326.

When is the application deadline?

The application deadline listed for this opportunity is 2026-06-22.

How much funding is available and what is the award ceiling?

The anticipated award ceiling is up to $6,000,000.

How many awards does CDC expect to make?

The program anticipates making a single award.

Where and how is the application submitted?

The opportunity is issued through the ERA system, and applications are submitted through that system.

What is a central feature of how the work will be carried out?

A central feature is that the awardee will carry out the work through the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). The opportunity emphasizes building and sustaining local research capacity while also producing actionable public health findings.

What are the required priority areas the funded program must address?

The funded program must address four required priority areas: (1) influenza and other respiratory pathogens, (2) vaccine-preventable diseases, (3) drug-resistant infections, and (4) global and emerging health threats.

What activities are expected under the influenza and other respiratory pathogens priority area?

Expected activities include surveillance in high-risk groups, monitoring human and avian influenza and other respiratory pathogens, and evaluating vaccine and treatment effectiveness and how they are used in practice. The intent is to improve understanding of respiratory disease burden and translate findings into improved vaccination and prevention strategies.

What activities are expected under the vaccine-preventable diseases priority area?

Activities focus on measuring disease burden, assessing vaccine effectiveness, and studying sociocultural and behavioral factors that influence immunization decisions and uptake. The expected result is stronger immunization systems and higher vaccination coverage informed by evidence about performance and real-world acceptance and access barriers.

What activities are expected under the drug-resistant infections priority area?

This area includes tracking antimicrobial resistance (AMR) trends, using and evaluating novel diagnostics, and identifying drivers of resistance (such as prescribing practices, healthcare-associated transmission, or community factors). The intended outcome is improved AMR mitigation and preparedness in Kenya, with relevance to global health security due to cross-border spread.

What topics can be included under the global and emerging health threats priority area?

Research and evaluations may include high-burden and emerging risks such as malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, schistosomiasis, and other emerging infections. The goal is to understand disease dynamics, determine intervention effectiveness, and identify cross-border and regional risks that could escalate into wider outbreaks.

Is this opportunity limited to research only, or are operational and evaluation activities also expected?

It is not limited to research only. The opportunity explicitly includes research, implementation science, and public health evaluations, with a focus on producing practical evidence about what works in real-world settings.

What administrative and coordination responsibilities are included in the scope of work?

Beyond technical research, the awardee is expected to provide coordination, oversight, and administrative functions for U.S. government-funded public health research in this context. This includes managing and overseeing research activities, ensuring financial stewardship, meeting ethical and regulatory requirements, and strengthening organizational systems and infrastructure to support compliant, high-quality research operations.

Why are management capacity and compliance emphasized in this program?

The program is structured so that improved management capacity and adherence to federal funding and ethics standards are considered outcomes in their own right, not just supporting tasks.

What kinds of results is the program aiming to produce?

The program aims to produce actionable evidence that strengthens public health practice in Kenya, improves surveillance, supports better-targeted prevention strategies (including vaccination), and strengthens research and administrative systems. It also aims to support U.S. and global preparedness goals by reducing cross-border infectious disease risk.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including those without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), small businesses, and other eligible entities.

Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. Foreign organizations are eligible, defined as public or private entities (nonprofit or for-profit) located outside the United States and its territories and subject to the laws of the country where they are located, regardless of staff citizenship or where project activities occur.

What is the overall geographic and public health focus of the work?

The work is focused on strengthening preparedness and public health practice in Kenya, while also contributing to broader global health security by reducing the risk of infectious diseases spreading across borders.

How does the opportunity connect Kenya-focused work to cross-border and global risks?

The opportunity emphasizes that infectious disease threats (including respiratory pathogens and drug-resistant infections) can spread across borders. By improving surveillance, prevention strategies, and preparedness in Kenya, the work is intended to reduce regional and global outbreak risk.