Community based organizations (CBOs) play a vital role in the fight against sickle cell disease (SCD), especially at the grassroots level. The Consortium on Newborn Screening in Africa (CONSA) is committed to partnering with local CBOs to strengthen newborn screening, care, education, and advocacy in communities that shoulder the highest burden of disease.
OUR VISION WITH CBO COLLABORATION
Local engagement & ownership: CBOs bring trusted relationships, context-sensitive approaches, and sustained presence in their communities.
Capacity strengthening: Through grants, training, and technical support, CONSA seeks to help partner CBOs build stronger infrastructure, governance, and impact.
Sustainable programs: We aim for projects that are not just short-term but can be embedded into community systems, with ongoing funding, monitoring, and adaptation.
Equity & inclusion: We prioritize support for CBOs led by or working with historically marginalized populations, ensuring that voices from all sectors are part of planning and implementation.
WHO CAN APPLY
We welcome applications from CBOs that:
Operate in proximity to existing CONSA clinical sites (located on the map on this page)
Have demonstrated experience in health, community mobilization, advocacy, or related fields
Show governance structure, accountability, and capacity to manage grants
If you are unsure whether your organization qualifies, please reach out — we're happy to explore possibilities together.
TYPES OF SUPPORTED PROJECTS
Funding may be available for projects including (but not limited to):
Focus Area
Outreach & Education
Support Services
Advocacy & Awareness Raising
Possible Activities
Community awareness campaigns, school events, youth talks
Patient support groups, counselling, home visits
Community advocacy and awareness raising
Applicants are encouraged to propose creative, context-driven interventions that complement the work of CONSA’s clinical network.
Capacity building will also be a key aspect of these grants, and funding will be available to support the long term sustainability of CBOs working in SCD.
APPLICATION PROCESS
1. Application Process
Organizations to complete the below application survey via Google Forms.
2. Budget Note
Organizations should download and complete the budget forms and submit to azapfel@hematology.org.
3. Review & selection
A committee will evaluate proposals based on feasibility, relevance, sustainability, and alignment with CONSA goals.
4. Grant award & implementation
After agreement on terms, funds will be disbursed in phases tied to reporting milestones. Capacity assessments will also be conducted to develop strategic plans for capacity building activities.
5. Monitoring, evaluation & reporting
Grantees will submit periodic progress and financial reports. We also encourage learning exchanges and peer-to-peer sharing.
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Application Form—Start your submission here
Budget Form—Template to plan your project costs
(Links open in a new tab.)
CONTACT & SUPPORT
If you have any questions or need help preparing your proposal, please reach out to:
Email: azapfel@hematology.org
We welcome draft reviews, clarifying questions, or conversation about aligning ideas with CONSA’s strategy.