Strengthening global cooperation and institutional capacities in sub-Saharan Africa to facilitate implementation of the GH EDCTP3 programme

Project Information

EDCTP Africa Office

Grant agreement ID: 101103640

DOI

10.3030/101103640

Project closed

EC signature date 20 December 2022

Start date 1 January 2023

End date 31 December 2025

Funded under

• Health

Total cost

€ 3 691 250,00

EU contribution

€ 2 953 000,00

Coordinated by

EUROPEAN & DEVELOPING COUNTRIES CLINICAL TRIALS PARTNERSHIP
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EDCTP Africa Office (Strengthening global cooperation and institutional capacities in sub-Saharan Africa to facilitate implementation of the GH EDCTP3 programme)

Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) Africa Office (AO) is part of the EDCTP Association and supports the implementation of the EDCTP programmes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The AO is located in in Cape Town and hosted by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). EDCTP is a public–public partnership between 15 European and 28 African countries, supported by the European Union.
This project is funded by the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking (EDCTP3). The main aims of this project are to support the implementation of the EDCTP3 programme; promote networking activities (South-North, South–South); ensure alignment of the GH EDCTP3 funded activities; strategic partnerships and increase visibility of the GH EDCTP3. The aims of the project will be achieved through several activities that include technical support for the design, implementation and monitoring of capacity developing activities, organising workshops, raising visibility and facilitating dialogue between African and European research entities and stakeholders.

This project’s deliverables are grouped under four work packages (WP): WP1, project management; WP2, capacity development and networking; WP3, strategic partnerships; and WP4, Conferences, forums, and meetings.

The significance of the expected impacts of this project include: providing support for the operation of the EDCTP Africa office, which ensures continuity by allowing the AO to retain the unique human resource skills and experience built over the years; creating the platform and avenue for GH EDCTP3 programme to build on the success of EDCTP1 and EDCTP2 programmes; building on the strong EU-Africa partnership that has already been established, which has EDCTP as the flagship programme with growing African participation at all levels; ensuring that the implementation of the GH EDCTP3 is closely aligned with Sub-Saharan Africa national research programmes and activities on target diseases and research & innovation (R&D); and addressing inequalities in Global Health.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The major activities performed during this reporting period are summarised below, conveniently grouped under the relevant work packages: -

Work Package 1: Project Management
Human Resources Management Manual of 7 core staff; and Risk Management Plan were completed. Hosting Agreement of the Africa Office beyond 2024 is at signature level by the parties (EDCTP Association and South African Medical Research Council).

Work Package 2: Capacity Development and Networking
EDCTP AO has facilitated engagements between Regional Networks of Excellence (NoE) and other partner initiatives in Africa including with industry. A strong foundation for EDCTP3 collaboration with third parties has been established through attendance of meetings and signing memorandum of understanding with partners. An EDCTP Fellows Day was also held at the Eleventh EDCTP Forum on 7 November 2023 in Paris. This activity facilitated continued interest and engagement of the EDCTP fellows with the GH EDCTP3 programme. A networking and collaboration plan was prepared which form the basis of fostering collaboration and achieving alignment and maximizing impacts of EDCTP.

2.3 Work Package 3: Strategic Partnerships
The project impacts include increased: engagements and dialogue (up to 75) between African EDCTP Association member states and other partner initiatives in Africa; increased number of new countries joining EDCTP Association for eligibility to receive GH EDCTP3 grants; number of memorandums of understanding (MoU) EDCTP has with like-minded organisations through renewal of old ones and new negotiations with agencies without outstanding MoUs with EDCTP.


2.4 Work Package 4: Conferences, forums and meetings
The EDCTP Africa Office participated fully in the planning and implementation of the EDCTP Forum in Paris, France, in October 2023. Some of the Africa Office staff were members of the Forum Organising Committee. This Forum attracted international stakeholders, especially those in Europe and Africa, to participate in the Forum and in the EDCTP programme. Furthermore, the EDCTP Communications Officer joined the GH EDCTP3 team in June 2024 to perform a Forum site assessment in Kigali, Rwanda.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The potential impacts of this project are summarised below, conveniently grouped under the relevant work packages
WP1: Project management
Support to AO Project by GH EDCTP3 sends the right signal to African Participating States and other stakeholders in Africa that the EDCTP continues to be in operational existence in the foreseeable future with neither the need nor the necessity to significantly curtail its staff numbers as it approaches the closing date of the EDCTP 2 programme.
WP2: Capacity development and networking
The networking meetings and linkages with partners' efforts to investments made by EDCTP in Africa build a strong foundation for EDCTP3 collaboration with third parties in SSA. This did not only create awareness of GH EDCTP3 programme but facilitated networking of African researchers, who are in various phases of their career, to achieve unity of purpose among them, consolidate existing and develop new collaborations, and to showcase their potential, achievements, and impact to the broader global community. Lessons learnt in ethics and regulatory space by EDCTP funded projects became cornerstone for regional trainings of WHO-AVAREF.
WP3: Strategic Partnerships
Six new African countries Benin, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, and Somalia joined the EDCTP Association in the period 2023-2024, increasing number of countries eligible for EDCTP3 grants. Increased understanding of GH EDCTP3 by like-minded organizations was enhanced through their interactions with the Africa Office.
WP4: Conferences, forums, and meetings
The presentations at the Eleventh EDCTP Forum in Paris include highlights of GH EDCTP3 strategies and opportunities. This is one of the most successful and largest conference ever; it brought together 960 in-person delegates from 64 countries, including stakeholders from Europe and Africa.