Developing Africa’s next generation of epidemic modellers through TIMERA
The Training Initiative for Modelling Epidemic Response in Africa (TIMERA) has been awarded a €1.3 million grant under the Global Health EDCTP3 programme to strengthen mathematical and statistical modelling capacity across sub-Saharan Africa. The project aims to enhance public health event detection, scenario planning, and outbreak response through advanced epidemiological modelling and data-driven decision-making.
Funded for 36 months, from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2029, TIMERA is implemented by a six-partner consortium coordinated by the EDCTP Association, with Addis Ababa University serving as the Scientific Project Lead.
Strengthening Africa’s mathematical and statistical modelling workforce
TIMERA is the first initiative of its kind dedicated to building a continent-wide cadre of mathematical and statistical epidemic modellers embedded within Africa’s National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs). The consortium brings together leading academic and public health institutions from across the continent, including Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone African countries.
Consortium partners include Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia), Réseau Africain de Recherche sur le Sida/Institute de Recherche en Santé, de Surveillance Épidémiologique et de Formation (IRESSEF, Senegal), and Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (Mozambique), as well as two European institutions from the Netherlands, the Radboud University Medical Center, internationally recognised for its expertise in biostatistics and mathematical modelling, and the Koninklijke Nederlandse Centrale Vereniging (KNCV) Tuberculosis Foundation, which has extensive experience in collaborating with and strengthening the capacity of NPHIs and supporting evidence-based public health decision-making.
Over the three-year project duration, the consortium will train 50 fellows recruited from NPHIs across Africa, equipping them with the advanced skills required to become highly competent mathematical and statistical epidemic modellers capable of supporting national and regional public health priorities in sub-Saharan Africa.
A unique training model for epidemic preparedness and response
At the heart of TIMERA is an innovative, practice-oriented fellowship programme that combines advanced epidemiological modelling, artificial intelligence (AI)-supported analytical approaches, and continuous mentorship. Designed to address identified capacity gaps within the NPHIs and research centres in Africa, the core programme will provide high-quality short-course training tailored to the needs of public health professionals working on infectious disease surveillance and outbreak response.
Training will be delivered through a blended learning approach, combining face-to-face and online instruction. Fellows will engage in two intensive two-week in-person training blocks, complemented by online modules, thematic workshops, and sustained specialised mentoring throughout the project.
“The TIMERA Consortium is a unique opportunity in the process of realising Africa’s imminent needs to address its Public Health challenges through robust data and advanced analysis and modelling for informing Policy at the national and continental levels. Trainings and mentorships will be provided by seasoned African and European faculty members for 50 African fellows, who will be working on a range of emerging and re-emerging health problems. Member institutions of the consortium will also closely work with respective MOHs and NPIs as well as AFENET and ACDC. We do hope TIMERA fellows will contribute towards resilient public health systems, including during their trainings.”
Dr Adamu Addissie MD MPH MA PhD, Scientific Project Lead, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Addressing critical epidemic detection, response, and modelling gaps across Africa
Working in partnership with participating universities and public health institutions, TIMERA will also contribute to the timely transformation of epidemic detection, preparedness and response capabilities across the continent. Building on the extensive networks and experience established through Africa’s Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FELTP), TIMERA aims to empower Africa-based public health professionals and researchers with the knowledge, skills and tools required to conduct infectious disease modelling and generate evidence to respond in a timely and effective manner to outbreaks and pandemics.
“By strengthening modelling expertise within Africa’s national public health institutions, TIMERA will strengthen the continent’s capacity to anticipate, assess and respond to outbreaks and pandemics using locally generated evidence and African-led, context-specific analyses. As project coordinator, the EDCTP Association is committed to ensuring that the project is managed efficiently and transparently, creating lasting value for public health institutions, their professionals and the communities they serve.”
Dr Montserrat Blázquez-Domingo, Senior Project Officer at the EDCTP Association for the TIMERA project, Netherlands
Advancing continental public health priorities
TIMERA is closely aligned with the Africa CDC 2023–2027 Strategic Plan and contributes to the broader vision of the African Union Agenda 2063, “The Africa We Want.”
Through targeted institutional capacity strengthening and the training of a new generation of African epidemic modellers, TIMERA will contribute to ensuring that African institutions are better equipped and prepared to anticipate, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats using innovative data-driven approaches.
Background
The EDCTP Association acts as the Coordinator of several projects under Global Health EDCTP3 actions that use lump sum funding. As Coordinator, the Association is responsible for facilitating communication between the consortium and Global Health EDCTP3, financial administration by ensuring prompt distribution of payments to beneficiaries, submitting required reports and deliverables, and overseeing effective project management with the Scientific Project Lead.
The TIMERA project is supported by Global Health EDCTP3 and its members.