Request for Proposals: Sustainable Integration of Female Genital Schistosomiasis

Deadline: 26-Aug-2026

The Coalition for Operational Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases (COR-NTD) is inviting proposals for operational research that integrates female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) into sexual, reproductive, and primary healthcare systems in schistosomiasis-endemic countries. Grants of up to US$175,000 are available, with research activities required to conclude by 1 December 2027. What Is the Female Genital Schistosomiasis Operational Research Call? Female genital schistosomiasis is a chronic manifestation of schistosomiasis that affects the reproductive and sexual health of women and girls, particularly in endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa. FGS can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms and clinical presentation may overlap with sexually transmitted infections and other reproductive health conditions. Misdiagnosis can contribute to delayed treatment, stigma, social exclusion, and broader health inequities. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 56 million women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa are living with FGS. This COR-NTD funding opportunity seeks to generate practical evidence on how FGS diagnosis, treatment, and care can be sustainably incorporated into existing health services. Why Does Integrating FGS into Health Systems Matter? FGS should not be treated as an isolated neglected tropical disease issue. Integrating FGS services into established healthcare systems can help women and girls access appropriate diagnosis and treatment through services they already use. An integrated approach can also reduce duplication, improve healthcare efficiency, strengthen provider knowledge, and support more sustainable delivery of FGS interventions. What Research Does the Call Support? The funding opportunity is focused on operational research, meaning research that addresses practical implementation challenges and generates evidence that can improve health programs and services.

Eligible research areas include:

Integration of FGS diagnosis and treatment into sexual and reproductive health services. Evaluation of integrated in-service training programs. Cost and efficiency analyses of FGS integration. Pilot testing of FGS service-delivery models. Delivery systems for donated praziquantel. Strategies to maintain sustainable praziquantel availability. Community engagement approaches that increase awareness and uptake of FGS services. Approaches for integrating FGS into cervical cancer or HPV screening. Integration with HIV, STI, fertility, or family planning services. Projects should demonstrate how their findings could be applied within existing national or sub-national health systems. Key Objectives of the Research Funded projects are expected to contribute to practical improvements in FGS prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care.

Key objectives include:

Developing sustainable models for FGS integration. Applicants must include a co-investigator from a relevant sexual and reproductive health or related field. The co-investigator must come from an area such as: Sexual and reproductive health. Family planning. Cervical cancer or HPV. HIV. This requirement is intended to strengthen collaboration between neglected tropical disease programs and existing health-service systems. Required Ministry of Health Support Applications must include a letter of support from a non-NTD Ministry of Health program. This is an important requirement because the proposed research should demonstrate genuine integration into broader health systems rather than operate solely within an NTD program. Applicants should therefore establish collaboration with the relevant Ministry of Health program before submitting their proposal. Funding Available

The maximum project budget is:

US$175,000 per project. The call expects approximately three to five projects to be funded. Funding should support the operational research activities necessary to test, evaluate, and improve FGS integration approaches. Applicants should ensure that their proposed costs are directly connected to the research objectives and implementation plan. Project Duration and Deadline All funded research activities must be completed by: 1 December 2027 Applicants should therefore develop a realistic implementation schedule that allows sufficient time for: Research preparation. Stakeholder engagement. Implementation or pilot activities. Data collection. Analysis. Knowledge sharing. Final reporting. What Is a Theory of Change? A Theory of Change explains how the proposed research activities are expected to produce specific outputs and ultimately contribute to improved FGS services and health outcomes. A strong Theory of Change should connect: Research activities → Outputs → Outcomes → Longer-term impact

For example:

Train healthcare workers in integrated FGS diagnosis. Improve provider knowledge and diagnostic capacity. Increase accurate identification of FGS cases. Improve access to appropriate treatment and care. Contribute to better sexual and reproductive health outcomes for women and girls. Applicants should ensure that their Theory of Change clearly reflects the project’s research questions and intended health-system impact. Required Application Documents Applications must contain all required supporting documents. Applicants are specifically required to submit: A complete research proposal. A co-investigator from the sexual and reproductive health, family planning, cervical cancer/HPV, or HIV field. A letter of support from a non-NTD Ministry of Health program. A Theory of Change. A detailed project budget. The required NTD-SC budget template. Applications that are missing the required documents will not be considered. How to Prepare a Strong Proposal

1. Define the Health-System Problem

Clearly explain the current challenge affecting FGS diagnosis, treatment, care, drug availability, training, or community uptake. Use evidence from the proposed country or health-system setting where possible.

2. Explain th