Enhancing Integrated Research And Healthcare In Sub-saharan Africa Through Digital Innovation And Artificial Intelligence
HORIZON JU Coordination and Support Actions
Basic Information
- Identifier
- HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2026-03-DIGIT-02
- Programme
- HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2026-03
- Programme Period
- 2021 - 2027
- Status
- Open (31094502)
- Opening Date
- January 14, 2026
- Deadline
- September 2, 2026
- Deadline Model
- single-stage
- Budget
- €18,000,000
- Min Grant Amount
- €2,250,000
- Max Grant Amount
- €2,250,000
- Expected Number of Grants
- 8
- Keywords
- HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2026-03-DIGIT-02HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2026-03Artificial intelligenceBig dataBioinformaticsData integrityDigital dataEpidemiologyGlobal healthHealth dataHealthcare systemInfectious diseasesInteroperabilityTechnological innovation
Description
Expected Impact
The actions funded under this topic should contribute to strengthening clinical human capital base in R&I, enhancing talent retention, knowledge sharing of best practices within the research and innovation landscape, accelerate integration of digital tools into health systems, expand and scale up validated innovations with tangible implementation at national and/or sub-regional levels.
Applicant consortium
If requested by the applicant consortia, the EDCTP Association may offer technical support for the preparation of their proposal, in particular because of the lump sum nature of the Grant Agreement. The applicant consortia may also decide to include the EDCTP Association as coordinator. In that case, the applicant consortia should contact the EDCTP Association to obtain the estimated amount of the Association’s contribution as well as any other relevant information. The EDCTP Association will timely provide the necessary information to all potential applicants.
Expected Outcome:Background
Digital health has the potential to reshape and enable the implementation of integrated research and healthcare delivery across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), especially in communities that are underserved or hard to reach. With tools such as mobile health platforms, electronic health records, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI), health services can become more efficient and accessible, responding to the needs of strengthening the research and development settings in SSA. Despite the ongoing rapid advances, SSA countries are still lagging behind, and there is an increasing gap with the developed world where digital innovation and machine learning is expected to deliver significant changes to healthcare. Digital tools currently in use are fragmented, incompatible with each other, and limited in their reach. In addition, the use of AI is creating more opportunities, but there is a need to ensure future technologies are based on models that include data from SSA countries.
Recent strategies, including the WHO’s Global Strategy on Digital Health (2020–2025), the African Union’s Digital Health Framework, and the Africa CDC’s Digital Transformation Strategy, call for urgent action. These frameworks emphasise the need to invest in people-focused, sustainable digital solutions that are locally informed and globally aligned.
This Coordination and Support Action (CSA) focuses on addressing these disparities. It aims to bring together national governments, regional institutions, researchers, healthcare providers, and private sector partners to better coordinate efforts, share knowledge, and build the infrastructure needed to support inclusive, scalable digital health systems.
By aligning with these strategic directions, this CSA promotes a shared vision: one where digital innovation strengthens local health systems rather than working in silos. The goal is not to create new technologies, but to make better use of what already exists by improving coordination, strengthening human capacity, and supporting evidence-based policies and investments that can unlock the true potential of digital health across the region.
Expected Outcomes
The proposals submitted under this topic should aim to deliver results contributing to at least two of the below:
- Scaled-up implementation of validated digital innovations at national or sub-regional level.
- Improved data interoperability and data harmonisation of electronic health records between different digital health systems according to international standards.
- Integrated comprehensive roadmap for the sustainable and scalable integration of digital health tools into clinical trials and public health systems in SSA, in line with international standards and local ethical standards, and in the context of sharing of best practices.
- Increased retention of skilled experts in digital health, epidemiology, bioinformatics, AI in SSA.
Scope
The proposals submitted under this topic should address the following points:
- Strengthen health systems, capacity and partnership to enhance the development and use of existing and new digital health records and tools, leveraging machine learning and AI, aiming to prevent, detect or treat infectious diseases in the scope of Global Health EDCTP3 in SSA, enabling health care workers, government, and policy makers to make informed clinical decisions or implement well-informed epidemic preparedness measures. Proposals should favour low-risk digital/AI approaches.
- Strengthen national and regional efforts across SSA with concrete demonstration of scale up of validated digital technologies for implementation at national or sub-regional level, and to align digital health strategies with applicable international best practices.
- Improved coordination between stakeholders promoting collaborative platforms and partnerships sharing data and knowledge between regions/countries in SSA and ideally with global partners.
Proposals should include sharing of knowledge between countries with advanced systems and those that have lower capacity in terms of digital tools and skills. Proposals should also use applicable international standards for data use and governance including data privacy and data ownership.
Proposals should consider addressing the societal impact and acceptability of the approach by the populations concerned and should demonstrate compliance with applicable ethics requirements for the use of digital technologies in involved SSA countries.
Proposals should address the audit of the bias of the AI system and address the sustainability of the project outcome beyond the project duration.
Proposals are encouraged to consider expansion of robust, user-friendly digital platforms to grow with the regional needs to reach a broad population of patients, health care workers, government, and policy makers.
Proposals should also ensure equity across involved countries in SSA and in relation to other countries where similar technologies are being developed and/or implemented.
Proposals should look into supporting national and regional (supranational) efforts to align digital health strategies with international best practices. Proposals are encouraged to include the sharing of knowledge between countries with advanced systems and less experienced countries having basic digital infrastructure.
Proposals are encouraged to include hands-on practical capacity-building activities preparing institutions and professionals to lead digital transformation efforts as well as digital health policy dialogues.
The applicants are also encouraged to align with the WHO AFRO and Africa CDC strategies for digital health.
Proposals should include a clear plan for how digital tools will be made accessible and affordable to users. Outcomes should be shared publicly, when possible, especially if they serve the public good or have broad regional relevance.
Proposals should engage communities and relevant stakeholders, most notably (local) key opinion leaders, researchers or clinical Investigators, health care professionals, policy makers, public health authorities and end-users. Applicants should provide methodologies for translating research findings into public health practice and policy guidelines and are encouraged to follow guidance provided in the EDCTP Knowledge Hub Research into Policy Toolkit.
Where possible, collaboration and coordination with the AU-EU Health Partnership’s Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, medicines and health technologies (MAV+) hub or similar African initiatives is encouraged. The applicants could show, for example, willingness to enter into technology transfer agreements with their counterparts - including the provision of patents, technical knowledge and know-how, or early engagement with regulators or with African manufacturers to support the translation into affordable products adapted to the regional market.
Applicants are reminded of the expectation that proposals should come from research consortia with a strong representation of institutions and researchers from SSA countries, including active participation of Franco/Lusophone countries, if possible. Collaboration with other international research groups with relevant experience is very much encouraged. Applicants are also reminded of the expectation of reaching out to institutions/organisations in countries with high disease burden but with relatively lower research capacities.
Eligibility & Conditions
General conditions
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
2. Eligible Countries
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
3. Other Eligible Conditions
The conditions are described in General Annex B except for the specific conditions for the Global Health EDCTP3 JU funding as regards entities eligible for funding and consortium composition, the specific rule for countries where the coordinator may be established and the obligation to designate a scientific project leader as below.
Specific conditions replacing the relevant sections in General Annex B to the Horizon Europe Work Programmes
A. Entities eligible for funding
This section applies to both Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA).
To become a beneficiary, legal entities must be eligible for funding. To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
- The Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden;
- The Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States: Aruba (NL), Bonaire (NL), Curação (NL), French Polynesia (FR), French Southern and Antarctic Territories (FR), Greenland (DK), New Caledonia (FR), Saba (NL), Saint Barthélemy (FR), Sint Eustatius (NL), Sint Maarten (NL), St. Pierre and Miquelon (FR), Wallis and Futuna Islands (FR);
- Countries associated to Horizon Europe[[The list is correct at the time of adoption of this work programme. Please see the Horizon Europe List of Participating Countries on the Funding & Tenders Portal for up-to-date information on the current list and on the position for Associated Countries: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/list-3rd-country-participation_horizon-euratom_en.pdf]]: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada (associated to Pillar II 'Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness', including for the institutionalised European partnerships, and for award procedures implementing Union budget for the year 2024 and onwards), Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo[[This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.]], Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand (associated to Pillar II 'Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness' as from the Work Programmes 2023 onwards, including for the institutionalised European partnerships), North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Republic of Korea (Pillar II only), Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom;
- Until association agreements start producing legal effects either through provisional application or their entry into force, transitional arrangements apply. The transitional arrangements apply, at the time of the adoption of this Work Programme, with regard to the following countries and legal entities established in these countries, with which association negotiations are being processed or where association is imminent): Egypt, Morocco, .
- The following countries which are constituent states of the EDCTP Association[[The list is correct at the time of adoption of this work programme. For an update, please check the EDCTP Association website www.edctp.org.]]: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Legal entities which are established in countries not listed above (including in low-and middle-income countries that are not members of the EDCTP Association) will be eligible for funding if provided for in the specific call topic conditions, or if their participation is considered essential for implementing the action by the granting authority.
B. Consortium composition
Unless otherwise provided for in the specific call conditions, for all actions, due to the policy objectives of Global Health EDCTP3, legal entities forming a consortium are eligible to participate in actions under the programme provided that the consortium includes as beneficiaries:
- At least three legal entities independent from each other and each established in a different country, where legal entities are eligible to receive funding;
- At least one independent legal entity established in a Member State, or in an associated country to Horizon Europe that is a member of the EDCTP Association; and
- At least one independent legal entity established in a sub-Saharan African country that is a member of the EDCTP Association.
This condition applies to both Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA).
For the two CSA (2) topics under call HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2026-03 in case the applicant consortia opt for including the EDCTP Association as coordinator, the EDCTP Association must not be counted as one of the three independent legal entities necessary to ensure the eligibility of the consortium composition.
Specific cases:
Affiliated entities — Affiliated entities are eligible for funding under the same conditions as beneficiaries.
Associated partners — Entities not eligible for funding and therefore not able to participate as beneficiaries or affiliated entities (i.e. entities which participate in the action without signing the grant agreement, and without the right to charge costs or claim contributions) are allowed, subject to any conditions regarding associated partners set out in the specific call conditions.
International organisations – International European research organisations are eligible to receive funding. Other international organisations are not eligible to receive funding unless their participation is considered essential for implementing the action by the granting authority. International organisations with headquarters in a Member State or associated country are eligible to receive funding when provided for in the specific call conditions.
Specific rules regarding legal entities that may be the coordinator of an indirect action
In accordance with Article 110(2) of the Council Regulation 2021/2085 establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe[[Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 of 19 November 2021 establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe and repealing Regulations (EC) No 219/2007, (EU) No 557/2014, (EU) No 558/2014, (EU) No 559/2014, (EU) No 560/2014, (EU) No 561/2014 and (EU) No 642/2014, p. 17–119.]], where entities established in a third country without an agreement to protect the financial interests of the Union participate with funding in an indirect action, the coordinator of the indirect action must be established in a Member State or associated country, or South Africa.
Scientific project leader
If the coordinator is not established in a country in SSA (please see previous paragraph), the designation of a scientific project leader established in a SSA country member of the EDCTP Association with the roles as described below is mandatory. A work package on ‘scientific project leadership’ must be included in the proposals and budget needs to be provided for this activity. The scientific project leader oversees the project scientific governance and leadership. For this purpose, proposals must include a work package where the details of scientific project leadership are laid down. The scientific project leader should indicatively perform the following tasks:
- During the call for proposals and selection process, coordinate meetings on and drafting of the full project proposal.
- Work with the coordinator and other beneficiaries on the drafting and negotiation of the consortium agreement and other legal agreements among the beneficiaries.
- Act as the key contact point for the Global Health EDCTP3 JU regarding all scientific action governance issues, steer and provide oversight in the development of the scientific actions, without prejudice to the tasks entrusted directly to the coordinator as per the Model Grant Agreement.
- Support and collaborate with the coordinator on its monitoring activities and the adoption of appropriate internal measures, to ensure that beneficiaries are fulfilling their obligations regarding budget, timeline, deliverables, and scientific quality.
- Review the action’s deliverables and reports before their submission by the coordinator.
- Lead the work packages(s) related to the tasks of scientific project leadership.
Annex 1 to the grant agreement and the consortium agreement should address the relationship of the scientific project leader with the coordinator regarding their respective tasks, for example sharing of the information received from or sent to Global Health EDCTP3 on all issues of interest for the proper scientific management of the action.
The applicant consortia may opt for including in their proposal the EDCTP Association as coordinator.
In such a case, the eligible costs of the EDCTP Association in the actions funded under this topic will not be reimbursed by the JU and may be used as a basis for in-kind contributions to operational activities (IKOP). The in-kind contribution of the EDCTP Association will cover the coordination activities of the project. In case applicant consortia decides to include the Association as coordinator, they should contact the EDCTP Association in order to inform the Association on their decision and obtain the estimated amount of the Association’s contribution as well as any other relevant information. The EDCTP Association will timely provide the information to all potential applicants.
The EDCTP Association must not be counted as one of the three independent legal entities necessary to ensure the eligibility of the consortium composition, as requested in the Call conditions, "Specific conditions to Global Health EDCTP3 JU - B. Consortium composition".
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
Specific conditions related to Scores and weighting
Replacing the scores and weighting section in General Annex D to the Horizon Europe Work Programmes as regards second stage of two-stage evaluations, for Research and Innovation Actions (RIA). Evaluation scores will be awarded for the criteria, and not for the different aspects listed in the table. For full applications, each criterion will be scored out of 5. The threshold for individual criteria 1 (Excellence) and 2 (Impact) will be 4 and for criterion 3 (Quality and Efficiency of the implementation) will be 3. The overall threshold, applying to the sum of the three individual scores, will be 12.
Proposals that pass the individual threshold and the overall threshold will be considered for funding, within the limits of the available call budget. Other proposals will be rejected.
Nota bene: for the CSAs and the first stage of the two-stage evaluation of RIAs, the scores and weighting as indicated in Annex D of the General Annexes of the Horizon Europe work programme 2023/2025 apply.
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Specific conditions
JU right to object to transfer/exclusive licensing
Global Health EDCTP3 may, up to four (4) years after the end of the action, object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5 of the Model Grant Agreement. In addition, in accordance with Article 24(3) of Council Regulation 2021/2085 establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe[[Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 of 19 November 2021 establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe and repealing Regulations (EC) No 219/2007, (EU) No 557/2014, (EU) No 558/2014, (EU) No 559/2014, (EU) No 560/2014, (EU) No 561/2014 and (EU) No 642/2014, p. 17.]] and the Model Grant Agreement, the right to object applies also to participants that have not received funding from the JU.
Information sharing regarding the proposals and the evaluation results
Applicants should be aware that the following information regarding their proposals may be shared with the members of the JU Committee of the EDCTP Association:
- Following eligibility check of the applications: aggregated country level data i.e. number of applicants, funding requested, organisation type;
- For successful proposals, following Global Health EDCTP3 Governing Board decision on the call evaluation results: number; acronym; title; duration; role; country; legal name; PIC; legal type; total cost; requested JU contribution;
- Regarding project information following Grant Agreement (GA) signature: signature date of the GA; number, acronym, title, and duration of projects; role, country, legal name, PIC, legal type, URL, total cost, requested JU contribution, FC received, FC given, and IKOP of participants;
- Under specific conditions and following Global Health EDCTP3 Governing Board approval of the request of EDCTP Association, for proposals on the reserve list and unsuccessful proposals: number; acronym; title; duration; role; country; legal name; PIC; legal type; total cost; requested JU contribution.
Access to information and involvement of contributing partners
Evaluation
To promote transparency and accountability, Global Health EDCTP3 may invite any contributing partners providing financial contributions under a certain topic to propose one representative as observer to participate in the evaluation process under confidentiality safeguards. This possibility does not apply to contributing partners that are part of a consortium submitting a proposal under the relevant topic.
Documents and information
By applying under any topic, participants consent that the JU reserves the right to share information and documents relevant to their application and where applicable their grant agreement and its implementation with contributing partners as identified and providing financial contributions under the relevant topic. This information and documentation will only be shared under confidentiality safeguards for policy and monitoring purposes. They include:
- Project proposals;
- Project results;
- Project reports;
- Project deliverables;
- Audit reports.
Global Health EDCTP3 may consult the relevant contributing partners for the purpose of assessing the project reports and deliverables.
Other requirements
For all projects under this topic, if the coordinator is not from a country in SSA, the designation of a scientific project leader with the roles as described in the introduction is mandatory. A work package on ‘scientific project leadership’ must be included in the proposals and budget needs to be provided for this activity.
Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE CSA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE CSA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 4. Health
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Frequently Asked Questions About Enhancing Integrated Research And Healthcare In Sub-saharan Africa Through Digital Innovation And Artificial Intelligence
Support & Resources
Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant.
Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe.
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The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment – consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers.
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