Through One Health Workforce – Next Generation (OHW-NG), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) seeks to work through university networks to strengthen workforce capacities in Africa and Southeast Asia to prepare for, prevent, detect, and respond to public health emergencies of greatest concern, including infectious disease with an emphasis on zoonosis and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) health threats. OHW-NG will build on more than 15 years of USAID investments in promoting a multisectoral, One Health capacities to address infectious disease threats before they pose an overwhelming pandemic threat. OHW-NG also will continue 10 years of USAID support for partnerships between universities in developed countries with universities in select African and Southeast Asian countries to implement long-term changes in how health workforces function.

For over 15 years, USAID has been a major leader in the global response to the dangers posed by emerging pandemic threats and has invested in programs with the dual goals of minimizing the impact of existing pandemic influenza threats, particularly from the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, and pre-empting the emergence and spread of novel pandemic and epidemic threats. The approach for achieving these goals was built around a suite of investments and targeted partnerships designed to give earlier insight into the emergence of new public health threats and enhance country-level capacities to mitigate their potential impact. The guiding principles for the Emerging Pandemic Threats (EPT) program have been to:
• build on the understanding that the future well-being of humans, animals, and the environment are inextricably linked, a concept known as One Health;
• promote a “One Health” approach that spans the animal health, public health, environmental, and conservation communities;
• target promotion of policies and strengthening of skills and capacities critical for both minimizing the risk of new disease emergence and the ability to limit their social, economic, and public health impact; and
• use a risk-based approach to target investments where the likelihood of disease emergence is greatest.

Eligibility for this NOFO is not restricted. Qualified U.S. and non-U.S. organizations may apply for award under this NOFO. All types of organizations, including colleges and universities, non-governmental organizations, not for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, small businesses, private voluntary organizations, local organizations, and faith-based organizations, are eligible.

United States government (USG) departments and agencies (at the federal, state, or local levels) are not eligible to apply.

Minority-serving institutions of higher education also are encouraged to apply. Applicants are encouraged to apply in a consortium. As a higher education activity, the consortium should include, but is not limited to, faculties and schools of public health, animal health, medicine, the environment, and public administration at tertiary higher education institutions in the United States and/or overseas.