Category: News

She sat and spoke before a packed room, her voice calm but resolute.

As one of the youngest panellists at the 2025 Annual Policy Forum held in Nairobi, Kenya, Merville Essetcheou sat alongside seasoned public health experts and leaders from institutions like the Africa CDC and Zambia’s National Public Health Institute to explore what it really means to be prepared for the next health emergency.

Discussions ranged from the critical role of domestic funding for research, to the importance of inclusive agenda-setting and the urgency of addressing capacity gaps. Panellists also called for a shift from a vaccine-centric preparedness model to a more comprehensive approach – one that embraces diagnostics, treatment, and innovation, including intellectual property reforms that support African-led solutions.

Reflecting on her experience as a young researcher, Merville gave voice to the struggles she has faced; the struggle to access quality data, the difficulty of being heard in policy spaces dominated by more experienced voices, and the constant balancing act of learning while leading. Yet, she also spoke of hope – the kind built on networks of support, mentorship and the unwavering belief that African researchers should be shaping African policy.

Hailing from Benin, Merville is a PhD biostatistics candidate specialising in infectious disease modeling at the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin. Her research focuses on non-vaccine interventions and malaria dynamics in West Africa, applying advanced statistical methodologies to inform disease control strategies.

“Practical relevance must be the focus for research by bridging national and regional priorities. Knowledge translation officers need to be empowered to bridge the research-policy gap,” mentioned Merville Essetcheou.

For many in the room, this was just another panel.

For Merveille, it was a defining moment.

Her story isn’t unique. It mirrors the experiences of other four young, talented and determined researchers from across the continent selected to take part in the first cohort of an Individual Policy Exchange Programme (iPEP) fellowship. The iPEP fellowship is an initiative of the Africa Pandemic Sciences Collaborative and seeks to enhance the adoption of evidence from science into policy by promoting cross-working of young researchers and policymakers from institutions across Africa that are engaged in the complete range of epidemic and pandemic-related research.

The panel wasn’t just about exchanging ideas. It was about recognition – recognition that young professionals like Merveille are not future leaders; they are leaders today.

Empowering for Influence and Growth
Hosted alongside the inaugural Evidence for Development (Evi4Dev) Conference, the Annual Policy Forum was an initiative of the Africa Pandemic Sciences Collaborative. The forum served as a vibrant platform to connect policy, science and leadership through a series of curated engagements designed to amplify African voices in pandemic preparedness.

At the core of the Collaborative’s efforts lies a deep commitment to mentoring and equipping Africa’s emerging generation of scientists and policy leaders. This is where the Individual Policy Exchange Programme (iPEP) shines. Merveille and her peers are part of this programme, which provides young researchers with opportunities to connect their work to real-world policymaking.

During the Annual Policy Forum, these five young researchers participated in breakfast mentoring sessions. Over coffee and conversation, the iPEP fellows presented their projects to senior scientists and policymakers from different professions, cadres and nationalities, before rotating across ‘speed tables’, receiving individualised appraisal of their projects. They received pointed feedback – not just about sharpening their research focus, but on changing their mindset from a research-oriented focus to a more strategic policy influencing approach – how to communicate effectively, tailor recommendations, and be strategic about policy influence.

The format was personal, inclusive, and practical – even allowing for French-speaking participants to present and engage in their preferred language.

More than a networking event, this session created a feedback loop between early-career researchers and decision-makers. The insights gathered here will inform the design of future iPEP cohorts, ensuring that the programme continues to meet the real needs of its participants and the policy spaces they aim to influence.

Looking Ahead
The Mastercard Foundation’s support for the iPEP programme is part of its broader Young Africa Works strategy, which aims to enable 30 million young Africans – 70% of them young women to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030. The Africa Pandemic Sciences Collaborative advances this goal by nurturing the next generation of scientists, innovators, and policy leaders to shape Africa’s public health future.

Merveille’s experience in Nairobi is a powerful example of how thoughtful investment in talent yields returns in policy, health, and long-term development.

For Merveille and her fellow iPEP researchers, the 2025 Annual Policy Forum was more than just a conference. It was a launchpad. A proving ground. A powerful example of how thoughtful investment in young talent yields returns in policy, health, and long-term development of cross-generational leadership. A space where their voices were heard, their ideas refined, and their leadership affirmed.

As Africa strengthens its pandemic preparedness, it will need not just better systems – but bolder minds. Minds like Merveille’s, ready to lead.

Written by Alex Kandie and Janet Wesonga

The Surveillance Platforms and Immunology for Zoonotic Viruses with Pandemic Potential in Africa (SPIL-OVA) programme has officially launched, marking a major step toward proactive pandemic preparedness on the continent. The initiative focuses on identifying and characterising high-risk viruses circulating in African bat populations before they spread to humans or domestic animals.

SPIL-OVA will collect bat samples from East, West, and Southern Africa and use advanced laboratory and computational techniques to analyse viral diversity and assess spillover risk. By comparing newly identified bat viruses with known human and animal pathogens, the programme will flag viruses with pandemic potential for further laboratory testing. Where a high likelihood of human infection is identified, prototype vaccine components—known as immunogens—will be designed to support rapid outbreak response.

Reflecting on the kick-off meeting, Prof Charles Sande described the programme as a milestone for African-led science, “It was a coming of age moment, where the continent’s scientific priorities were defined by Africans, led by Africans and managed by Africans.”

For Dr Constantinos Kurt Wibmer, the launch signalled the start of discovery-driven science: “SPIL-OVA kicked off a thrilling hunt for hidden viruses… decoding every fold and helix, spilling viral secrets one crystal blueprint at a time.”

The kick-off meeting brought partners together for in-depth planning and scientific exchange, setting the foundation for long-term collaboration. Dr Jinal Bhiman noted that the discussions highlighted the strength of the consortium, “The meeting was an excellent prelude to the next five years of collaboration as we drive next-generation innovation and strengthen Africa’s pandemic preparedness.”

Looking ahead, Dr Chinedu Ugwu emphasised the programme’s broader impact, “From elucidating Africa’s bat virome to creating immunogen libraries, we are building the foundations for future vaccines and global health resilience.”

By combining virus discovery, risk analysis, and vaccine preparedness, SPIL-OVA aims to create an early-warning system that shifts pandemic response in Africa from reactive to preventive.

The Prevention and Response to Emerging Viruses with Pandemic Potential in Africa (PREPARE) Network officially launched with a virtual inception meeting held on 14 July 2025, bringing together project teams from Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The meeting marked the start of a five-year programme aimed at strengthening Africa’s capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to emerging and re-emerging viral threats.

Led administratively by the Africa Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) and scientifically by Wits University, the inception meeting focused on introducing country teams, aligning on governance and administrative processes, and outlining the programme’s scientific and capacity-strengthening priorities. Partners endorsed a governance structure that includes a Management Committee and an independent Scientific Advisory Board to guide scientific quality and oversee capacity-building awards.

PREPARE is establishing key regional nodes across South, East, and West Africa, with a focus on clinical disease surveillance, multi-pathogen diagnostics, genomics and pathogen discovery, prototype vaccine development, and capacity strengthening. Clinical sites will use retrospectively collected samples alongside expanded prospective syndromic surveillance in humans, animals, and the environment to detect both known and unknown pathogens.

Capacity strengthening is a core pillar of the programme. Partners reviewed planned investments, including PhD positions, fellowships, exchange awards, and catalyst grants, alongside discussions on monitoring, evaluation, and communications. Country teams also shared existing surveillance platforms and laboratory capabilities, confirming strong foundations for implementing the programme’s One Health approach.

The meeting concluded with agreement on immediate next steps, including finalising contracts, constituting the Scientific Advisory Board, onboarding research staff once funds are released, and establishing regular check-ins to support coordinated implementation across the network.

• A groundbreaking research initiative is set to enhance Africa’s preparedness and response to future health crises.
• The partnership will nurture and equip young African scientists to address epidemics and pandemics and support a thriving research ecosystem on the continent.
• The Africa Pandemic Sciences Collaborative is a multi-year partnership between the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation), the Pandemic Sciences Institute (PSI) at the University of Oxford, and the Mastercard Foundation.

Nairobi, Kenya | Toronto, Canada | Oxford, UK, March 27, 2025 – The Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation), the Pandemic Sciences Institute (PSI) at the University of Oxford, and the Mastercard Foundation today announce a new partnership to strengthen Africa’s resilience against future health threats.

The Africa Pandemic Sciences Collaborative will nurture and equip young African scientists – with the support of senior scientists – to address the current and future challenges of epidemics and pandemics. The goal is to create pathways for dignified and fulfilling careers in life science and to help build and retain a critical mass of high-calibre young scientists on the continent, ensuring knowledge continuity between generations of researchers while strengthening Africa’s resilience to emerging health threats.

The world, and Africa in particular, continues to experience outbreaks of infectious diseases with epidemic and pandemic potential, triggered and intensified by climate change, biodiversity loss, migration, displacement, and conflict. Increased and routine interactions between humans and animals – often driven by livelihood dependencies – create conditions for the spillover of pathogens.

In February 2025, there were 54 active outbreaks and 82 ongoing public health events across the continent. On average, Africa faces over 100 disease outbreaks annually, underscoring the urgency for scientific collaboration, health workforce development, stronger linkages with decision-makers, and coordinated preparedness and response. But despite representing approximately 17 percent of the global population, the continent produces only one-to-two percent of global health research publications, and there is an urgent need for sustainable funding to support career development.

Over the next six years, the Africa Pandemic Sciences Collaborative will strengthen partnerships between higher education and research institutions and policymakers in Africa and beyond to develop a thriving research ecosystem. The Collaborative will support institutions in conducting world-class, innovative research and in translating findings into impactful, locally relevant solutions that contribute to shaping and strengthening pandemic resilience and the broader health ecosystem.

The Africa Pandemic Sciences Collaborative will deploy an innovative structure based on networks of excellence called Epidemic and Pandemic Sciences Innovation and Leadership Networks (EPSILONs), each led by outstanding African scientists.

The Collaborative combines the Science for Africa Foundation’s extensive experience in strengthening and promoting science and innovation across Africa with the scientific expertise of the University of Oxford’s Pandemic Sciences Institute, which has a mission to discover, create and enable practical solutions for infectious disease threats worldwide.

The Collaborative is supported by the Mastercard Foundation in alignment with its charitable purpose of youth education and relief of poverty. Its Young Africa Works strategy aims to enable 30 million young Africans, particularly young women, to access opportunities for dignified and fulfilling work by 2030.

Professor Tom Kariuki, Chief Executive Officer of Science for Africa Foundation, said: “At the SFA Foundation, we are both honoured and energised by the transformative work that this Collaborative will drive in strengthening the preparedness and resilience of African nations, and beyond, against current and future pandemics. Africa is home to brilliant young minds with the talent and ingenuity to develop science-driven solutions that can safeguard and improve the lives of over 1.37 billion people across the continent. However, realising this potential requires the right mentorship, support systems, and resources. Our strategic partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and PSI forms a critical step in turning these innovations into impactful, real-world solutions.”

Professor Sir Peter Horby, Director of the Pandemic Sciences Institute at the University of Oxford commented: “COVID-19 showed us the vital importance of scientific research and innovation in developing and testing vaccines, treatments and diagnostics, ultimately saving lives and livelihoods. But it also exposed the fragility of global solidarity and the deeply ingrained inequity in who is empowered to generate new scientific knowledge and who benefits from that science. Five years on, it’s more important than ever that we support African-led, science-backed solutions to infectious disease threats. This partnership will nurture and train the next generation of African scientists, ensuring African priorities inform both regional and global solutions.”

Peter Materu, Chief Program Officer at Mastercard Foundation, said: “These investments will accelerate locally driven research, expand scientific leadership, and strengthen Africa’s ability to prepare for and respond to emerging health threats. By supporting a new generation of African researchers and institutions, this initiative will help shape a more resilient and self-sustaining health ecosystem across the continent.”