Announcement of Availability of Funds for the Female Genital Cutting (FGC) Community-Centered Health Care and Prevention Project | WH AST 16 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for WH AST 16 002

The Announcement of Availability of Funds for the Female Genital Cutting (FGC) Community-Centered Health Care and Prevention Project is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), specifically through the Office on Women's Health (OWH) within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health. The purpose of the funding is to strengthen how communities in the United States respond to female genital cutting by improving access to appropriate, culturally responsive health care for survivors and by supporting primary prevention efforts to reduce the likelihood of FGC occurring in the first place.

OWH positions itself as the central hub for women's health work across HHS, combining national leadership with on-the-ground coordination through its Washington, D.C. headquarters and a network of ten Regional Women's Health Coordinators. Through this structure, OWH aims to move women's health forward by shaping and advancing policy, educating the public, educating professionals, and supporting model programs that can be replicated or adapted elsewhere. This particular funding opportunity fits within that broader mission by focusing on a serious and often under-addressed health issue that affects certain immigrant and refugee communities and intersects with cultural norms, gender dynamics, and health inequities.

The grant is grounded in the recognition that FGC is associated with significant short- and long-term health consequences. The opportunity description highlights documented medical links between FGC and complications such as urinary tract and bacterial infections, sexual dysfunction, pelvic inflammation, infertility, miscarriage, and in severe cases death. It also emphasizes that community support for and the specific forms of FGC can vary widely depending on cultural background and geographic origin. Adding to the challenge, the opportunity notes that the prevalence of FGC among immigrant and refugee populations in the U.S. is not well established, which can make it harder for health systems and public health organizations to plan services, train providers, and design prevention strategies that actually fit local needs.

This project is framed as "community-centered," meaning the work is expected to be rooted in the realities of the affected communities and carried out in ways that prioritize cultural competence, trust, and effective outreach. OWH underscores the importance of gender-sensitive approaches and practical service pathways, including appropriate referrals, education, and follow-up. In practice, that focus signals an expectation that funded efforts will not only raise awareness, but also strengthen the capacity of health and social service systems to respond respectfully and effectively to survivors, while also engaging communities in prevention in ways that are credible and sustainable.

Key administrative details are clear. The funding opportunity title is Announcement of Availability of Funds for the Female Genital Cutting (FGC) Community-Centered Health Care and Prevention Project, with Funding Opportunity Number WH AST 16 002. It is a grant under the health funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 93.088. The application closing date listed for the original announcement was April 15, 2016, and the opportunity was created on January 20, 2016. The award ceiling is $333,000, and the agency anticipated making about six awards.

Eligibility is broad and includes multiple types of public and private entities. Eligible applicants include county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts. Higher education institutions are also eligible, including public and state-controlled institutions and private institutions. Tribal governments (federally recognized) and other tribal organizations are eligible as well. The opportunity also allows nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), and it extends eligibility to for-profit organizations other than small businesses and to small businesses. This wide eligibility range suggests OWH was aiming to attract proposals from organizations that may already be embedded in affected communities, including health providers, community-based nonprofits, local public health entities, academic partners, and other organizations positioned to deliver culturally grounded care improvements and prevention programming.

Overall, the opportunity reflects a public health and women's health approach that treats FGC as both a health care issue and a prevention issue. It acknowledges the complexity of FGC in the U.S. context, where affected populations may be diverse, prevalence may be uncertain, and effective solutions depend heavily on culturally competent engagement. The grant is intended to support model efforts that improve health outcomes for women and girls who have experienced FGC while also helping communities and professionals prevent future harm through education, outreach, and better-connected services.

• The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Announcement of Availability of Funds for the Female Genital Cutting (FGC) Community-Centered Health Care and Prevention Project" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.088.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-01-20.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-04-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $333,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for WH AST 16 002

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