Elimination of lymphatic filariasis and elimination and control of other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in an effort to improve the quality and coverage of local programs. | CDC RFA GH21 2104

Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA GH21 2104

This CDC cooperative agreement (RFA number CDC RFA GH21-2104; CFDA 93.084) focuses on helping countries and partners strengthen real-world, on-the-ground programs to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF) and to eliminate, eradicate, or control several other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The opportunity is rooted in the fact that NTDs affect more than one billion people worldwide, largely in the poorest settings, and that many of these diseases can be reduced dramatically with practical, tool-ready public health approaches rather than new scientific discovery. The grant is explicitly for non-research work; applications proposing research activities are not eligible for review under this announcement.

The diseases emphasized are six NTDs that CDC and global partners prioritize for large-scale public health action: lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, trachoma, soil-transmitted helminths, schistosomiasis, and Guinea worm. The core program methods include community-based mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns, plus other proven interventions such as water filters (especially relevant to Guinea worm), vector control, and improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). The overall intent is to improve the quality, reach, and performance of local and national programs so they can hit coverage targets, maintain gains, and prevent diseases from resurging after progress is made.

A major emphasis is lymphatic filariasis, a mosquito-borne parasitic disease that can cause lifelong disability, including elephantiasis and hydrocele. LF had a global elimination target of 2020; while that deadline was not fully achieved, notable progress has been made, including 16 countries that have eliminated LF as a public health problem, and many others that are close. The announcement highlights why finishing the job can be difficult, especially in challenging environments like densely populated urban areas, where achieving consistently high participation can be harder. Standard LF elimination strategy depends on delivering antiparasitic medicines through MDA with high community coverage (generally greater than 65 percent) for at least five years to interrupt transmission. Because coverage and adherence drive success, the funding prioritizes locally tailored strategies that raise participation, reduce systematic non-compliance (people repeatedly missing or refusing treatment), and improve campaign quality.

The opportunity also reflects newer operational guidance: in some settings, adding ivermectin to the traditional two-drug regimen of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) plus albendazole (often referred to as triple-drug therapy) can reduce the number of annual MDA rounds needed, but only if high community coverage is achieved. Beyond the MDA phase, the announcement stresses that programs must be able to decide when it is appropriate to stop MDA and must be ready to detect and respond if infection returns. That means building feasible, sustainable surveillance systems that can identify recrudescence (a rebound in transmission) and establishing clear procedures to manage hotspots or persistent transmission areas so spread is contained quickly.

For the other NTDs, the grant frames the end goals in a disease-specific way: Guinea worm has eradication potential, onchocerciasis and trachoma can be eliminated as public health problems in many settings, and schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths are typically targeted for control through repeated, high-quality campaigns. Across these diseases, the announcement underscores the same basic requirement: sustained, well-run community campaigns paired with strong monitoring, evaluation, and surveillance over time, including post-elimination surveillance where relevant. Integration is another theme, meaning NTD services and surveillance should be increasingly built into existing national health systems rather than operating as isolated vertical programs, which supports long-term sustainability.

The expected measurable outcomes are operational and performance-based. For LF, the outcomes include improved quality and access to MDA campaigns, higher community participation, and clearer insight into why people do or do not take treatment so programs can address barriers directly. The grant also aims to strengthen care and management for chronic LF-related disease in affected communities, improve decision-making around MDA stopping points, and build strong systems for monitoring, evaluation, and surveillance before, during, and after MDA, including targeted management of hotspots. For other NTDs, outcomes similarly focus on better MDA quality, better determination of when to start and stop campaigns (with onchocerciasis given as an example), higher-quality monitoring and surveillance including after elimination, and deeper integration of NTD activities into routine health services.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through CDCs Center for Global Health (CGH) and supported technically by the Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria (DPDM), which has long experience providing technical assistance alongside WHO and national ministries of health. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically signals substantial involvement and collaboration with CDC during implementation. Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based and other entities listed in the notice (governments, universities, nonprofits, for-profits, small businesses, tribal entities, and others as specified). The original posting dates indicate it was created December 18, 2020, with an original closing date of February 19, 2021, and an expectation of four awards; the award ceiling is listed as 0 in the source data, which generally means the ceiling was not specified in that field rather than implying no funding.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control - CGH in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Elimination of lymphatic filariasis and elimination and control of other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in an effort to improve the quality and coverage of local programs." and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.084.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 18, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 19, 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 4 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification), Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

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