Unitaid has launched a new funding opportunity to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer, with proposals due by 9 April 2026 and a webinar scheduled for 12 February 2026 to provide further details. Cervical cancer, though preventable and curable with timely intervention, remains one of the most common cancers among women globally, with 90% of new cases and deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries due to gaps in preventive care.
Since 2018, Unitaid has led global efforts to eliminate cervical cancer by driving innovation, shaping markets, and expanding access to life-saving tools, with a focus on secondary prevention, which involves screening and treating early signs of the disease. Currently, Unitaid supports programs in 26 countries, lowering the cost of screening and treatment tools and introducing thermal ablation devices in over one-fifth of low- and middle-income countries. These initiatives work alongside national governments to integrate cervical cancer programs into health systems and financing strategies, ensuring sustainable and high-quality care for millions of women.
The new funding opportunity aims to build on these achievements by supporting countries ready to accelerate elimination. Projects should integrate proven tools, pioneer new solutions, embed cervical cancer prevention into routine care, and ensure program sustainability even amid declining aid. Proposals are expected to align with national priorities, promote equity, deliver long-term impact, and generate actionable insights to accelerate global cervical cancer elimination.
Innovation is central to Unitaid’s mission, with a focus on affordable, high-impact solutions for low-resource settings. This includes new technologies, digital solutions, shared laboratory models, point-of-care diagnostics, and cost-effective approaches to expand access to HPV testing. Proposals are encouraged to involve community and civil society organizations strategically and demonstrate meaningful engagement with women with lived experience in program design and implementation from the outset.
