WHO Africa and TDR Impact Grants 2026–2027: Call for Implementation Research for Regional Health Priorities

Overview

The 2026-2027 Joint WHO African Region/TDR Impact Grants support implementation research on public health priorities in Africa. The call is launched by the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) and TDR, the WHO-hosted Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases. It aims to build health research capacity in developing countries and back research that improves the delivery of high-quality, cost-efficient healthcare in resource-poor settings. TDR has focused on implementation research since 2014, working with WHO regional offices to identify regional priorities.

Implementation research examines how health interventions, policies and evidence can be put into practice, including how to deliver interventions in particular communities, overcome barriers to reaching people, make services more efficient and affordable, and adapt successful approaches to local settings.

Who can apply

The call is for health researchers, public health practitioners and institutions in developing countries working on implementation research tied to priorities of the WHO African Region. They may come from universities, research institutes, ministries of health, disease control programmes, nongovernmental organisations, professional societies and civil service bodies. Collaboration between researchers from different institutions, especially across more than one country, is strongly encouraged. Applicants should confirm detailed country and institutional eligibility in the official call documents.

Requirements

Strong proposals show a clearly defined public health problem, a sound implementation research question, relevance to regional priorities, a realistic methodology, potential to improve service delivery or outcomes, findings that health systems or policymakers can use, and suitable institutional capacity and partnerships. Proposals may be written in English, French or Portuguese.

How to apply

Applications are submitted electronically through the eTDR portal. Applicants should review the full call documentation, check eligibility, choose a project aligned with the priorities, prepare the proposal and supporting documents, and submit before the deadline.

Key dates

The deadline is 15 September 2026 at 17:00 CEST.