Africa Union/EDCTP Fellowship 2020 for outbreak and epidemic response in sub-Saharan Africa

The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is launching a call for proposals with a total call budget of EUR 5,000,000. 

Application Deadline: 30th July 2020

Eligible Countries: sub-Saharan African countries

About the Award: Proposals can be submitted by a single institution or consortium of institutions which provide Master’s training in epidemiology for 10 to 15 excellent, early- to mid-career researchers (“EPI Fellows”) based in sub-Saharan Africa and working in a relevant field.

The aim is to establish an African cohort of epidemiologists by supporting institutions in sub-Saharan Africa and Europe that provide master’s degree training in epidemiology and biostatistics, as part of Africa CDC’s framework for public health workforce development.

Reliable epidemiological data is often unavailable or severely limited in resource-limited settings in Africa. This knowledge gap is further aggravated by a shortage of skilled personnel in epidemiology and biostatistics to efficiently monitor, analyse and interpret epidemiological data to inform policy and decision-making. Training programmes are urgently needed to develop a cohort of epidemiologists across Africa and beyond, who can work in collaboration with their Ministries of Health or the National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs), as well as with relevant regional and international organisations, to collectively conduct routine surveillance and public health research and respond timely to disease outbreaks.

Type: Fellowship, Grants

Eligibility: Proposals should include institutions with a proven track record in the provision of high-quality master’s training with clear local and regional collaborations with NPHIs (or similar agencies), Ministries of Health and other academic institutions. Proposals must demonstrate the following:

• A high-quality master’s programme in epidemiology and biostatistics relevant to infectious diseases of importance in sub-Saharan Africa.
• An open, fair and transparent procedure for selecting EPI Fellows based in different geographical regions of Africa, and with appropriate gender balance, for entry into the master’s programme.
• Robust mentorship and supervision mechanisms to support EPI Fellows through to timely successful course completion.
• The master’s programme must include a research component, which must be conducted in a country in sub-Saharan Africa, in collaboration with local or regional NPHIs (and/or affiliated agencies) or Ministries of Health.

Proposals should also include support for meetings and conferences for the trainees to participate in an annual networking meeting organised by Africa CDC, as well as the biennial EDCTP Forum.  Tuition fees, enrolment fees or other types of university charges are not eligible for reimbursement by EDCTP.

Due to the extraordinary global crisis of COVID-19 that is also affecting African countries, this topic should also be considered by applicants.

The proposed action should start no later than 1 October 2021 and must be completed before the end of 2024.

Number of Awards:10-15

Value of Award: The total call budget is EUR 5,000,000 with up to EUR 50,000 per student (see call text for full details).

How to Apply: Go to the Call for proposals

• It is important to go through all application requirements in the Award Webpage (see Link below) before applying.
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Visit Award Webpage for Details