The Frontier Health Markets (FHM) Annual Program Statement (APS), issued by USAID's Office of Population and Reproductive Health, seeks to improve local health markets by facilitating private sector engagement in achieving better health outcomes. The initiative is aligned with U.S. Government priorities, including preventing maternal and child deaths, controlling HIV/AIDS, and combating infectious diseases. The APS serves as an umbrella mechanism, under which multiple awards may be issued in different rounds, allowing applicants to submit concept papers for funding consideration.

Eligible applicants include U.S. and non-U.S. public, private, for-profit, and nonprofit organizations, as well as institutions of higher education and international organizations. The focus of FHM Round 1: Global Technical Assistance (FHM Round G1) is to strengthen health market systems and increase private sector contributions in areas such as family planning, maternal and child health, malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. The program aims to improve access, quality, and efficiency in health service delivery through systemic private sector inclusion.

Funding for the cooperative agreement under FHM Round G1 is anticipated to be up to $135 million over five years, with approximately 20% of the funds sourced from USAID's Global Health Bureau and 80% from USAID Missions and other operating units. A key aspect of this initiative is to provide technical assistance for market development and private sector engagement, ensuring sustainable improvements in health markets and leveraging private sector infrastructure and expertise.

Applicants are required to submit concept papers, detailing their approach to achieving two interrelated results: improving the market environment for private sector participation in health service delivery and enhancing equitable access to quality, consumer-driven health products and services. Concept papers should include a technical approach, organizational capability, and management structure. USAID will review these submissions and may invite selected applicants to submit full applications.

Evaluation criteria include technical merit, organizational capacity, and management approach. Concept papers will be assessed based on alignment with USAID’s strategic priorities, demonstration of technical expertise, proposed implementation approaches, and potential impact. The program also emphasizes local engagement, fostering sustainability, and incorporating learning and innovation into market-based health interventions.

Overall, FHM Round G1 aims to create a sustainable and inclusive health market system, leveraging public-private partnerships, financial and non-financial resources, regulatory improvements, and data-driven decision-making to improve global health outcomes.