The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) and the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) have launched the 2026–2027 Joint WHO African Region/TDR Impact Grants for Implementation Research for Regional Priorities. The small-grants programme is designed to strengthen implementation research capacity and generate practical evidence that can help African countries improve health systems, increase access to health interventions, and address infectious diseases of poverty. Eligible researchers and institutions in the African Region can apply for up to US$15,000 per grant to support research projects lasting a maximum of 12 months. Applications must be submitted by 15 September 2026 at 17:00 CEST through the eTDR online platform. About the Impact Grants The grant programme responds to persistent weaknesses in health systems across the African Region, which continue to affect the delivery of effective and sustainable health services. Implementation research can help countries understand why proven health interventions are not reaching enough people, identify bottlenecks in service delivery, and develop solutions adapted to local contexts. The 2026–2027 call seeks research that generates actionable knowledge, context-specific solutions and practical implementation strategies that can strengthen health systems and improve responses to infectious diseases of poverty. The programme also promotes collaboration between researchers, national programmes, health authorities, communities, and international partners. Research Priorities Proposed projects must align with the objectives and scope of the call and should address one or more of three priority areas. 1. Person-Centred Service Delivery Across the Life Course This priority supports implementation research aimed at moving health systems away from fragmented and vertically structured programmes toward more integrated, person-centred primary health care models. Potential research areas include: Tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases. Referral systems and continuity of care. Quality improvement within integrated health services. Scalable and sustainable innovations for comprehensive primary health care. 2. Health Systems Strengthening, Innovation and Digital Transformation Research under this priority should address systemic barriers preventing health interventions from being scaled, sustained, or delivered effectively. Relevant areas include: Access to essential medicines and diagnostics. Laboratory systems and supply chains. Quality-of-care improvement. Digital health and health information systems. Data use for health decision-making. Appropriate AI-supported health tools. Innovative service delivery models. Emergency preparedness. Community systems and cross-sector collaboration. 3. Environmental Health, Climate Change, One Health and Emerging Threats This priority focuses on environmental, ecological and multisectoral factors affecting health and health-system resilience. Research may address: Climate-sensitive diseases and community-based adaptation. Water, sanitation and hygiene integration into primary health care. Antimicrobial resistance and responsible medicine use. One Health approaches to zoonotic and emerging diseases. Surveillance and preparedness for infectious diseases. Multisectoral collaboration for emergency response. Eligibility Requirements The call is open only to applicants conducting research in the African Region. The Principal Investigator (PI) and most members of the research team must be based at an institution in an African Region country or territory. Eligible institutions may include: Ministries of health. National tropical or communicable disease control programmes. Universities and academic institutions. Research institutes. Nongovernmental organisations. Applicants must demonstrate experience in operational and/or implementation research. This can include evidence of formal research training, such as completion of the TDR Implementation Research Toolkit, an implementation research MOOC, or another recognised research training programme. Applications are particularly encouraged from early-career researchers, women researchers, and researchers from least-developed countries. The proposed research must directly correspond to the objectives and priorities outlined in the call. Additional Institutional Requirements Where research implementation will take place in a health centre, applicants must provide an authorisation letter from the relevant public health manager or director. Proposals must also include an acknowledgement letter signed by the manager responsible for the relevant programme area or another authorised person within the public health or healthcare system. Depending on the project, applicants should ensure that the necessary ethical approvals are obtained from the relevant research ethics committees in the African Region and the target country. Grant Funding and Duration Successful applicants can receive up to US$15,000 per grant. Co-funding from domestic sources or other partners is encouraged, although the WHO/TDR grant remains subject to the terms of the programme. The maximum research period is 12 months, and projects must be completed by the end of 2027. The call specifies that no-cost extensions will not be permitted. Funding will depend on obtaining the required ethical approvals for the proposed research. Selection Process Applications will undergo a competitive review by external reviewers and representatives from WHO AFRO and TDR. Proposals will be assessed primarily on: Scientific excellence. Potential public health impact. Quality and feasibility of the implementation plan. Principal Investigators are expected to receive notification of the outcome within approximately three months after the application deadline. Application Requirements Applicants must submit a completed and appropriately signed research proposal together with the required supporting documents. The application package must include: Completed and signed research proposal form. One-page CV of the Principal Investigator. Project budget expressed in US dollars. Required ethical approval documentation. Acknowledgement letter signed by an appropriate programme or health authority representative. The PI’s CV must clearly state their institutional affiliation, full contact details, qualifications, nationality, gender, date of birth, and current and previous professional positions. All required documents must be combined into one PDF file using the applicant’s name followed by SGS2026. For example, an application from Dr John Smith should be submitted as SmithJ_SGS2026.pdf. How to Apply Applications must be submitted online through the eTDR Community Site by 15 September 2026 at 17:00 CEST. Applicants must be logged into the eTDR platform before submitting an application. Those using the system for the first time must create an account. Proposals and Principal Investigator information may be submitted in English, French or Portuguese. Applicants must use the prescribed application form and ensure that it is fully completed and signed, as incomplete applications will not be considered. For questions concerning the call, applicants can contact Dr Constance Assohou-Luty at assohoulutyc@who.int. Technical questions concerning the eTDR portal can be directed to Ms Elisabetta Dessi at dessie@who.int or etdr@who.int. Application Deadline The 2026–2027 Joint WHO AFRO/TDR Impact Grants provide African researchers and institutions with an opportunity to generate practical evidence for improving health systems and addressing major public health challenges. With funding of up to US$15,000, the programme is particularly relevant to researchers working on implementation research, infectious diseases of poverty, digital health, climate change, One Health, health-system strengthening, and community-centred health interventions. The application deadline is 15 September 2026 at 17:00 CEST. 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