Mérieux Foundation Small Grants Program

Mérieux Foundation Small Grants Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Mérieux Foundation
Amount: Up to €5,000
Last Updated: November 15, 2025

Summary

The Mérieux Foundation Small Grants Program aims to enhance the living conditions of vulnerable populations by improving access to diagnostics and healthcare in developing countries. The program supports local organizations dedicated to combat infectious diseases affecting mothers and children, including HIV/AIDS and malaria. By fostering partnerships and providing training, the foundation strengthens health systems while promoting research and public health initiatives. Projects must align with the foundation's mission and demonstrate tangible benefits for target populations.

Overview

What We Do We work on the ground with local partners, to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable and build the infrastructure and knowledge that underpin surveillance and clinical diagnosis. Our work is founded on historic expertise in clinical biology and a comprehensive approach to addressing public health challenges. Our objective: fighting against infectious diseases on the ground in developing countries and improving living conditions for mothers and children. We focus on four priorities: Increasing vulnerable populations’ access to diagnostics We are committed to improving the access to diagnostics in developing countries because a rapid and reliable diagnosis and high-quality monitoring are essential steps in patient care. Yet, diagnostics remain the weak link in health systems in developing countries. We strengthen the clinical laboratory sector in national health systems through a comprehensive approach: we renovate and equip facilities, we provide technical training, we implement new tests and quality, biosecurity and biosafety standards, taking into account laboratory management, cost recovery systems and building networks among the labs. We always work in partnership with the health authorities to harmonize approaches and to share resources and expertise across regions, countries or sub-regions. We strengthen the practice of clinical diagnostics and train personnel, both in capital cities and in the surrounding regions as part of a long-term engagement. Our goal is to build the capacities of our local partners to offer quality services to the population, for surveillance and clinical diagnostics and monitoring. Enhancing local applied research capabilities To fight the diseases that affect developing countries, we aim to build and increase the quality of applied research capabilities. We train scientists, develop collaborative applied research programs to address local infectious disease challenges. Our research focuses on four main disease areas: respiratory infections, foodborne (enteric) diseases, emerging diseases, and antimicrobial resistance. We also build laboratories of excellence in regions prone to infectious disease outbreaks in developing countries: the Rodolphe Mérieux Laboratories. They meet the most exacting international standards and are transferred to local partners. Encouraging knowledge-sharing and public health initiatives Dr. Charles Mérieux strived to make medical and scientific innovation accessible to the greatest number of people. We uphold that tradition and organize high-level scientific symposia and conferences, which disseminate medical advances internationally. We also offer courses for public health decision-makers from developing countries to strengthen their skills and expertise. We do this through Les Pensières Center for Global Health, our conference center located near Annecy, less than an hour from Geneva, which offers a unique environment for work and discussion. In parallel, we support global innovative public health initiatives. These collaborations between international public and private stakeholders can make us more responsive and effective in the midst of a health crisis. Improving conditions for mothers and children Epidemic risks have never been higher in a world affected by wars and climate change, which favor the spread of infectious disease. We cannot, however, address public health challenges by looking uniquely at medical care, which remains central to our action. We believe that healthcare requires a global approach and must be adapted to realities in the field. Working with Fondation Christophe et Rodolphe Mérieux and local partners to provide housing, access to safe food and drinking water, better nutrition, education and employment, in addition to healthcare, we strive to sustainably improve the health and quality of life of the most vulnerable populations in low income settings: mothers and children. NFondation Mérieux's Small Grants Program The Mérieux Foundation's grants program contributes towards financing projects that aim to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligibility criteria for organizationsOnly projects implemented by local organizations will be studied (projects must be submitted by the local structure responsible for the project).Exclusive mission of public interest in connection with the Mérieux Foundation’s mandate: fight against the infectious diseases the affects the most vulnerable populations in developing countries, especially mothers and children Not convicted (the organization or one of its member) of acts contrary to the principles stated above Not in bankruptcy or receivershipNonprofit and independent management Registered with the authorities of the country for at least three years Respect and sign the ethical principles of the Mérieux Foundation’s Charter: transparency, professionalism, quality, independence, non-discrimination, respect Status of association under the law of 1901 or recognized as a public utility or equivalent status for foreign structuresEligibility criteria for projects:Harmonization with existing initiatives in the concerned location Objectives and activities related to and consistent with the Mérieux Foundation’s mission and focusing on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis, neglected tropical diseases and other infectious diseases representing significant public health issues Projects based on a local needs assessment Projects proposing concrete solutions, beyond education and raising awareness Projects taking a global approach to health, including physical, social and psychological aspects Projects that are adapted to the population that is targeted and are long-term in nature Projects with a direct impact on the mother and / or child Respect of ethical principles and gender equality in the implementation of the project Strong local involvement: links with local authorities, local associations and beneficiaries Project takes place in one of the following countries:AFRICAAlgeria Benin Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo Djibouti Egypt Equatorial Guinea Gabon Guinea Ivory Coast Madagascar Mali Mauritania Morocco Niger Rwanda Sao Tome & Principe Tunisia Senegal TogoAMERICASBrazil HaitiASIABangladesh

Cambodia
Iraq
Iran
Laos
Lebanon
Myanmar
Tajikistan
VietnamOCEANIAVanuatu

Ineligibility

Student associations and individual applications (scholarship projects) are not eligible for this program.Projects that only include research activities, with no impact on mothers and children, are not eligible.