EDCTP and Africa CDC collaborative initiative survey report
The EDCTP-Africa CDC ‘Epi-Biostat’ initiative was designed to build skills in epidemiology and biostatistics in sub-Saharan Africa to strengthen the capacity of countries to monitor and respond to the spread of infectious diseases and emerging outbreaks. A recent survey conducted by EDCTP and Africa CDC to gather insights from fellows and participating training institutions showed overall satisfaction with the programme and reported that fellows are making significant contributions to public health practice during and after the programme. The survey report also provides recommendations that are relevant for future programmes.
“Meeting the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 3 and Agenda 2063 of the Africa Union requires well trained and adequate workforces behind them. Sustainable and objective training programmes should be designed with the needs and aspirations of both trainers and trainees in mind. EDCTP is happy to be a partner of Africa CDC in this survey which will improve future funding modalities of such training programmes that bring research and disease control closer to each other.”
Dr Thomas Nyirenda, Strategic Partnerships & Capacity Development Manager and Head of Africa Office, EDCTP Association
“EDCTP and Africa CDC’s collaborative ‘Epi-Biostat’ initiative underscores the power of targeted, high-impact training programmes in strengthening Africa’s health systems. By equipping a new generation of epidemiologists and biostatisticians with critical skills, we are creating a skilled workforce that is essential for robust disease surveillance, timely outbreak response, and informed public health policy across the continent. The survey results confirm that this initiative is more than just training—it is a foundation for sustainable health security and resilience, empowering institutions and individuals to make a lasting impact in their communities.”
Dr Raji Tajudeen, Deputy Director General and Head, Centre of Public Health Institutions, Africa CDC
Following a competitive call for proposals, 10 international consortia, comprising 42 African and 9 European institutions, were funded to provide Master’s training in epidemiology and biostatistics to groups of promising professionals based in sub-Saharan Africa. The programme has trained a total of 150 epidemiologists and biostatisticians in sub-Saharan Africa over a period of 3 years.
A survey conducted by EDCTP and Africa CDC from 31 May to 30 June 2024 aimed to gather insights from both fellows and participating training institutions on the overall practice and impact of the initiative, and to inform future programmes to enhance public health capacity in sub-Saharan Africa.
The results of the survey show that among others:
- The majority of the fellows expressed satisfaction with in-class training, field activities, interaction with the university and faculty, communication with fellow participants, and the overall quality of training received.
- The fellows also reported actively applying the knowledge and skills gained from the training programme in various critical areas of public health practice.
- All institutions expressed satisfaction with the level of collaboration with EDCTP and Africa CDC and reported no challenges in communication with EDCTP and Africa CDC.
- The majority of the institutions mentioned that fellows would return to their duties after completing the fellowship, which underscores the programme’s role in enhancing the capacity of public health professionals across various institutions.
- The institutions acknowledged significant contributions from fellows to public health practice, with key areas being highlighted, including public health strengthening and outbreak investigation/response, capacity-building activities, and improving quality of surveillance data, which shows the programme’s effectiveness in preparing fellows to make meaningful impacts within their respective fields.