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EuropeAid Funding for Health Systems Strengthening and Universal Health Coverage

EU funding for health system strengthening, universal health coverage and global health projects. EuropeAid grants and NDICI health calls for health organisations worldwide.

Global health and universal health coverage are increasingly central to EU development cooperation, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. Through NDICI-Global Europe, the EU Institutions Mechanism, Team Europe Health Flagships and bilateral EU Delegation calls, the EU funds projects strengthening health systems, improving primary health care, supporting pandemic preparedness, addressing antimicrobial resistance and reducing maternal and child mortality — in Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean and the Western Balkans.

EU funding landscape

  • NDICI Global Health Thematic Calls

    Health system strengthening, universal health coverage and pandemic preparedness calls under NDICI.

  • EU Delegation Health Grants

    Country-level health calls for primary health care, maternal and child health and disease control.

  • EU4Health External Dimension

    Some EU4Health programme components extend support to non-EU partner countries.

  • ECHO Health Humanitarian Assistance

    Emergency health assistance in crisis contexts — medical supplies, health facility rehabilitation, emergency health teams.

Typical project types

  • Primary health care strengthening
  • Universal health coverage policy reform
  • Maternal and child health
  • Infectious disease control
  • Health systems governance
  • Health workforce development
  • Nutrition and food-health nexus

Typical applicant types

  • International health NGOs
  • Public health institutes and universities
  • Health systems consulting firms
  • Hospitals and healthcare providers
  • Ministries of health in partner countries

Relevant EuropeAid regions

  • Africa
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Mediterranean
  • Western Balkans
  • Eastern Neighbourhood

How INTERALTER supports Health Systems projects

  • Health Sector Proposals

    We write health sector grant proposals and tender offers with knowledge of EU global health frameworks, WHO health system pillars and universal health coverage indicators.

  • Team Europe Health Positioning

    We advise on how organisations can position themselves within Team Europe health flagship initiatives, which represent a major new channel for EU health funding.

  • ECHO Health Application Support

    We support applications for ECHO humanitarian health funding in emergency and chronic crisis contexts.

Common questions

Can hospitals and healthcare providers apply for EU health grants?
Yes, in many calls. Healthcare providers, hospitals and clinical research organisations are eligible for EU health development grants, though the specific eligibility varies by call and instrument.
What is One Health in EU External Action?
One Health is an integrated approach recognising the interconnection of human, animal and ecosystem health. The EU has made One Health a cross-cutting priority in global health funding, increasing grant opportunities for organisations with expertise at this nexus.

Related sectors

  • migration-displacement
  • gender-equality
  • local-authorities