Summary of the Requirement
The Africa PGI invites you to submit a Proposal to develop a policy framework for pathogen genomics in Africa to be used by African Union (AU) Member States to help them formulate strategies and policies that inform public health decision making. The detailed description of the Technical Requirement can be found in Part 2 of this RFP.
ASLM background
The African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) is a Pan-African professional body working to advocate for the critical role and needs of laboratory medicine and networks throughout Africa. Africa is rapidly growing but faces major health challenges including epidemics of HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, and new priorities such as COVID-19, Ebola, and other global health security threats. Strengthened laboratory capacity and surveillance in Africa are critical to overcoming the burden of disease and ensuring a healthy future for the continent. ASLM addresses these challenges by working collaboratively with governments, local and international organizations, implementing partners, and the private sector. ASLM collaborates with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to implement the key objectives of the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI).
Africa CDC background
The Africa CDC was officially launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on January 31, 2017. The Africa CDC is Africa’s first continent-wide public health agency and envisions a safer, healthier, integrated, and stronger Africa, where Member States are capable of effectively responding to infectious disease outbreaks and other public health threats. The agency's mission is to strengthen Africa’s public health institutions’ capabilities to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease outbreaks and other health burdens through an integrated network of continent-wide preparedness and response, surveillance, laboratory, and research programmes. Strengthening laboratory network systems and integrated disease surveillance are the core mandates of Africa CDC. As part of these mandates and owing to the benefits of genomic-based surveillance, Africa CDC launched the Institute of Pathogen Genomics (IPG) in November 2019. IPG was launched with a vision to integrate of pathogen genomics and bioinformatics into public health surveillance, outbreak investigations, and improved disease control and prevention in Africa. In seeking to achieve this vision, the IPG is intending to strengthen its capacity to deliver by, among others, the reinforcement of its organizational structure and expertise.
