Webinar Recording/Answers to Questions Regarding TogetHER’s Cervical Cancer Grants Program 2025-2026 Funding Round

9 May, 2025

TogetHER’s Cervical Cancer Grants Program aims to provide small, highly targeted grants addressing demand and supply barriers that prevent access to the life-saving cervical cancer prevention services in low- or middle-income countries (LMICs). These catalytic investments directly improve the lives of girls and women and trigger systemic health improvements such as policy changes, regulatory approvals, and the development of tools and strategies adaptable across the health system.

TogetHER is currently accepting submissions for its newest round of funding through the Cervical Cancer Grants Program. Questions regarding the application process and the Request for Proposals were accepted by TogetHER until Friday, May 2nd, 2025, and a webinar was held on Wednesday, May 7th to provide more information. A recording of the webinar is below, and a PDF of the slides can be found here.

We have categorized submitted questions – and TogetHER’s responses to each – below.

Eligibility

Question	Response
In which countries can programs be located?	Only programs in countries designated as low- or middle-income countries (LMICs) by the World Bank are eligible. Click here to see the World Bank’s 2025 country categories.
Does the Grants Program prioritize any region or target population?	There is no priority region or target population, but programs that clearly articulate the need for improved demand/services among the chosen population(s) in the proposed geography will be evaluated more highly than those who do not.
Our organization’s non-profit certification is pending. Can we still apply?	Organizations must provide proof of non-profit certification by the application deadline of 6pm US Eastern on Friday, May 30th.
Can a consortium of organizations apply?	Yes, a consortium can apply provided that the lead organization is a not-for-profit organization, and the project is based in an LMIC. A consortium may include both not-for-profit and for-profit organizations, but the distribution of funding between organizations must be specified in the required budget and budget narrative.
Can a United Nations agency apply?	Yes, provided they are certified as an active not-for-profit organization in the country in which the program is active.
Can an organization registered as a private voluntary organization (PVO) apply?	Yes, PVOs working in LMICs are eligible for funding provided they can show proof of registration.
Can an individual apply as part of a PhD program?	This is not a barrier provided that the application is submitted under a certified not-for-profit organization.
Can a local (public) hospital or university qualify as an NGO?	Public hospitals and academic institutions that provide certification of not-for-profit status are eligible. Grants program funding can not be provided directly to government institutions.
Can a US-based academic institution submit a proposal for project based in an LMIC?	Yes, international academic institutions that provide certification of not-for-profit status are eligible provided the program takes place in an LMIC.
Does the proposal or application need to have been submitted to an IRB as part of a study?	No. While we do accept research studies, the need for an IRB will depend on the IRB guidelines developed by the applicant organization and the regulatory environment of country in which the program/study is located. As with any other IRB-approved study, the applicant will be expected to show IRB approvals before launching any activities.
Are there restrictions on procurement or vendor selection policies we should be aware of?	There are no restrictions on procurement or vendor selection, but strong proposals will include details in their budget and budget narrative.
Can an organization apply for itself and on behalf of another organization?	Organizations must submit proposals on their own behalf. If an organization is part of a consortium, it is limited to participating in one proposal per track for a maximum of two proposals.
Can Grants Program funding support salaries?	Our Grants Program only funds discrete projects, not general staff support. That said, proposals can include staff time provided it is outlined within a specific program and is clearly articulated in the proposal budget and budget justification.
Do you support proposals on innovative technologies that are being piloted that have not been prequalified or approved by WHO?	The Grants Program accepts proposals on innovative technologies provided they meet the regulatory requirements of the country in which the program is active. Any technologies that do not have WHO or other global approvals should provide clear evidence of their efficacy, ideally based on peer-reviewed literature.
Do organizations need to be members of TogetHER or prior partners to be eligible?	No prior affiliation with TogetHER is required.

Financial Requirements

Question	Response
What are the parameters of your requirement for co-funding from other sources?	In order to ensure that programs are sustainable beyond the life cycle of our awards, TogetHER requires organizations to show proof of support for cervical cancer projects beyond our own potential funding. This should be reflected in the required budget attachment and budget narrative section. While there are no specific criteria for co-funding, applicants are encouraged to include financial and/or in-kind support from other funders, national stakeholders, or others actively supporting the program.
Is there a minimum amount of co-funding from other sources required?	There is no minimum required for co-funding, but we do wish to see elements of sustainability, including financial and/or in-kind support, beyond the life of the project being submitted.
Is there a maximum percentage or amount for indirect costs?	There is no formal indirect cost policy and/or proportional limit for indirect costs for budgets submitted to the Program. However, applicants are strongly advised to submit budgets that are reasonable and show value for money.
Is our organization eligible if a grant for cervical cancer prevention programming has recently ended?	The program must be able to show a demonstrated track record of success in cervical cancer prevention. If your program has recently ended, you may still apply as long as you are able to demonstrate prior achievements, skilled and experienced staff, etc.
Does co-funding need to be for the specific project, or can the funding be for larger indirect funding e.g. already have an office and staff, so most of these funds could be used directly for project implementation?	Co-funding can stem from existing general sources, but the proportion of that support that is applied to the proposed project must be clearly articulated in the budget document and budget narrative.
Do we need to mention the name of the donor providing co-funding?	TogetHER prefers but does not require the name of co-funding sources provided the amount of co-funding is specified in the required budget document and budget narrative field.
Does in-kind support qualify as co-funding?	Yes, provided that the amount or estimated value of in-kind support is specified in the required budget document and budget narrative field.
Would applying under a consortium be considered as co-funding?	Applying under a collaborative group does not in itself qualify as co-funding. Submissions from consortia must still specify external support (financial and/or in-kind) for the program in the required budget document and budget narrative field.
Would you fund a scale-up on already existing work?	Yes, with some limitations. All proposals must articulate a clear rationale for expanding the program and can demonstrate a unique purpose for the additional funding.
Can Grants Program funding be used to purchase supplies?	Yes, with some exceptions. Funding can not be used to purchase HPV vaccines.
Can our program be used to support wider uptake of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) or Pap smears?	No. Our program specifically focuses on more innovative and more scaleable screening interventions such as HPV testing. We will not consider programs focused on Pap smears or VIA.

Application

Question	Response
Can we preview the required fields?	All application requirements – including required fields and their word limits as well as required documents – are listed in the RFP.
What do you mean by “references” in the Grants Portal form?	This is a field in which to cite evidence and/or published research supporting inputs to other text fields. For example, in discussing the cervical cancer epidemiology in the program’s region, it would make sense to provide a link to the source of that information in the references field.
Is there a page limit for proposals?	Our new Grants Portal does not include a page limit, but it does have pre-set limits on the number of words for specific fields.
We forgot to attach a document. Can we email it to you?	All proposals and all documents must be submitted through the Grants Portal. In cases where an organization forgets to add some materials, we ask that the proposal be resubmitted in full before the deadline of May 30^th at 6pm US Eastern time.
How much of the information in the portal needs to be entered before it is saved?	The Portal is designed to save your progress in the browser window in which it is being completed, giving applicants the ability to stop and then resume filling out the form, but the browser window must be kept open throughout the application process as closing the window risks removing any completed fields and require starting over. TogetHER recommends drafting content for Portal fields in a separate text document and cutting/pasting text into the fields in case of any potential disruptions.
Is there a preferred monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework, or is flexibility allowed in choosing indicators and tools?	Given the diversity of programs, we do not prescribe a specific M&E framework, but M&E is an important element of the evaluation criteria.

Organizational Experience

Question	Response
Do organizations need to have specific expertise in cervical cancer?	A documented track record in cervical cancer prevention is a requirement for funding through the Grants Program. Programs that lack prior experience in this area are ineligible.
Can a new organization that has never received funding before apply?	Programs without a documented track record in cervical cancer prevention are ineligible for our Grants Program. Further, co-funding is a requirement for eligibility. Therefore, new organizations would be considered ineligible.
Would a proposal from an organization new to cervical cancer prevention but utilizing staff with said experience be eligible?	Grants Program funding eligibility requires a documented track record from the organization itself, not just its staff.

Award and reporting information

Question	Response
What is the length of the grant period?	The grants period is one year. Proposals should similarly reflect a one-year program.
What is the amount of the grant?	Each grant is US$ 30,000.
How many grants will be distributed?	At least two grants will be awarded. Additional grants may be awarded at TogetHER’s discretion.
How is funding distributed?	Awardees will receive the first tranche (US$ 15,000) upon signing the agreement. The second tranche is distributed at the six-month period, pending mid-year reporting.
What are the reporting requirements for organizations receiving funding?	TogetHER requires awardees to check in quarterly with our team, and to provide a mid-year (6-month) and final (12-month) report on the usage of funds and the status of the project.
Is there flexibility in modifying activities after the proposal if implementation challenges arise?	Our strong preference is to select programs that clearly articulate how they plan to implement the program within a one-year period. In past cycles we have worked with awardees to extend the grant period (but not the funding amount) where necessary.

Question	Response
Can we apply under both Track 1 and Track 2?	Organizations can submit a maximum of two proposals per RFP cycle, one under each track.
Your RFP notes that TogetHER member organizations are given a preference for funding in cases of a tied evaluation score. How can our organization become a member?	TogetHER for Health is not currently soliciting new members. Please note that TogetHER for Health is not currently soliciting new members. We would encourage interested individuals to join our Cervical Cancer Prevention Discussion Group on LinkedIn to connect with others working in cervical cancer prevention.
If our application is not chosen, can we receive feedback?	Due to our small team and limited capacity, TogetHER cannot provide any feedback on proposals.
Can we submit proposals in languages other than English?	We only have the capacity to review proposals in English.