Strategic Training Hub for Infectious Disease Modelling in Sub Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces a critical shortage of modellers, limiting its ability to respond effectively to epidemics such as Mpox, Ebola, cholera, Marburg, and the growing threat of AMR. During outbreaks like COVID-19, many SSA countries, lacking local modelling expertise, adopted strategies developed in high-income settings, often resulting in interventions that were poorly suited to local health systems, population structures, and disease dynamics. Without trained personnel, SSA struggles to generate accurate forecasts, design targeted interventions, and inform evidence-based policies. This project addresses this gap by establishing a Strategic Training Hub for Infectious Disease Modelling (IDM-Africa) for early- and mid-career researchers across SSA. The project is structured into 10 work packages (WPs) with EDCTP Association acting as coordinator of the consortium made up of IDI, Africa CDC, USTTB and AIGHD. WP1 focuses on scientific leadership led by IDI working in partnership with Africa CDC, USTTB, and European collaborators (AIGHD) to coordinate regional capacity-building. WP2-WP6 implement five annual training cohorts through a transparent and competitive selection process, ensuring equitable geographic representation and gender balance. Across these cohorts, the program will deliver hands-on workshops to equip 35 researchers with foundational modelling skills and a 1-year fellowship with mentorship for 12 advanced modellers to design and implement local projects. WP7 focuses on dissemination, exploitation, and communication to ensure broad visibility, uptake of outputs, and long-term sustainability. WP8 ensures translation of outputs into actionable policy recommendations through workshops and briefs. WP9 evaluates program effectiveness, relevance, and sustainability. WP10 focuses on coordination by EDCTP. The proposed training offers advantages over traditional 2-year master's programs: provides practical skills in a compressed timeframe, is tailored to regional health challenges, is cost-effective and flexible, and includes mentorship. Sustainability is ensured through integration of modelling into university curricula, development of open-access resources, and fostering a professional network of African modellers.