The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) has been in operation for about two decades. The programme generates valuable new evidence on medical interventions and how they can best be implemented in practice and enhances the capacity of countries in sub-Saharan Africa to undertake collaborative clinical research. The fellowships are part of the broader EDCTP funding strategy to support the development of African health research capacity, implemented with a long-term perspective in the spirit of sustainable development goals (SDGs) and leaving no one behind. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore the need for increased investments in such initiatives aimed at developing local scientific leadership enriched with international cooperation.

The Fellows Alumni Meeting is a unification of fellows supported by the first and second programmes of EDCTP. The overarching aim of this meeting is to bring together and facilitate the networking of African researchers who are in various phases of their careers, to achieve unity of purpose among them, consolidate existing and develop new collaborations, and showcase their potential, achievements, and impact to the broader global community.

The objectives of the meeting will be:

1. To provide an opportunity for the fellows to meet in person, network, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities to collaborate on initiatives in alignment with the EDCTP mission.
2. To showcase – among themselves and the broader global health community – their potential, achievements, and impact of their research and capacity development work. o
3. To foster a sense of African scientific excellence, leadership, and ownership
4. To encourage the alumni to contribute to the Global Health EDCTP3 agenda through grantsmanship, mentorship, collaboration, and attraction of additional resources from various public and private partners.
5. To provide a collaborative platform to initiate mentorship and inspire the personal and professional growth of fellows who are in various stages of their career trajectories
6. To inspire discussions on future collaborations, based on current challenges and opportunities, and draw practical strategies for building sustainable partnerships for global health research in Africa.

The Fellows Alumni Meeting will take place before the opening of the Eleventh EDCTP Forum. Fellows attending this meeting are required to register for in-person or online participation via the Eleventh EDCTP Forum registration.