The Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence (CoRE) for Preparedness and Response to Pandemics and Shocks is one of the clusters set up by ARUA and The Guild. It was created to close important gaps in how we study, document, and share lessons from epidemics and other major shocks. The goal is to improve how we respond to future crises and build stronger, more resilient systems.
The CoRE will also support training and build a collection of useful tools and resources to deal with current and future public health threats. It will help shape policy by producing evidence and mentoring young researchers. The cluster will connect researchers in Africa and Europe, support innovation, and help share knowledge, technology, and resources.
In addition, the cluster will strengthen ties between universities, health agencies, and their partners. It will also work with the private sector and communities to test and grow new solutions for better preparedness and response.
All of these efforts aim to make countries in Africa, Europe, and beyond more resilient to epidemics and other serious challenges.
The cluster’s work supports all key areas of Africa’s New Public Health Order, led by Africa CDC. It also contributes to the African Union Agenda 2065 and the EU Global Health Strategy launched in 2022. In addition, the cluster aligns with the Africa–EU Innovation Agenda, which guides cooperation between the two regions.
The Cluster of Research Excellence in Preparedness and Response to Pandemics and Shocks is co-led by Makerere University School of Public Health in Uganda and the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) at Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium.
Other partner institutions include the University of Cape Town (South Africa), Cheikh Anta Diop University (Senegal), University of Oslo (Norway), University of Ibadan (Nigeria), Karolinska Institutet (Sweden), and University of Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo).
Objectives
The key objectives of the cluster are to;
- Develop capacity for research on pandemic and shock systems strengthening.
- Conduct research on pandemics and shock system strengthening.
- Develop resources and tools to inform policy, practice, and investments.
- Strengthen partnerships and collaborations for pandemic and shock systems and other threats.
The Cluster of Research Excellence (CoRE) has undertaken and is currently implementing several impactful projects, including
Mortality Surveillance Project – Status: Completed
This project aims to understand what helps or hinders death reporting in Uganda. It also works to improve systems that track deaths and vital statistics. So far, it has trained over 700 people—including local leaders, health workers, government staff, and Village Health Teams (VHTs)—on how to report and record deaths correctly in the island districts of Buvuma and Kalangala.
You can find more information about the project here:
- https://sph.mak.ac.ug/maksph-enhances-mortality-surveillance-in-kalangala-and-buvuma-through-targeted-training-for-local-leaders-and-health-workers/
- https://afenet.net/maksph-afenet-join-hands-to-strengthen-mortality-surveillance-systems-in-two-island-districts-in-uganda/
EM-DAT Project – Status: Ongoing
This project is a joint effort between the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) and the World Health Organization (WHO). It aims to improve global disaster data systems using the EM-DAT (Emergency Events Database). Prof. Niko Speybroeck, a CoRE co-leader, is spearheading the project. Its goal is to make disaster data more accessible and useful for informed decision-making.
More about the EM-DAT program: https://www.emdat.be/
COVID-EBOLA Project – Status: Ongoing
This study looks at how Uganda used lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to respond to the recent Ebola outbreak. It also compares how both outbreaks disrupted essential health services. The goal is to help improve future pandemic planning in Uganda and other low- and middle-income countries. The project is funded by the Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (MakRIF).
Mpox Response Assessment Project – Status: Ongoing
The Cluster of Research Excellence (CoRE) is studying how Uganda responded to the Mpox outbreak. The study is led by Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH). It covers both border and inland districts. The goal is to find what worked well, what didn’t, and what can be improved in how outbreaks are handled. The results will help shape better plans for dealing with future diseases. The project is supported by the Government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (MakRIF).
Prospective PhD Program – Status: In Development
CoRE is working with the University of Oslo on a new PhD training program. The program will be based at the University of Nairobi. It will focus on policy, politics, and social science research related to pandemic preparedness and strong health systems. The goal is to train a new generation of African scholars and professionals. These future leaders will be equipped with critical thinking, teamwork skills, and the ability to lead responses to health emergencies across the continent.
Contact the Secretariat
Email: corepreps@musph.ac.ug
Follow us on Twitter/x: https://x.com/corepreps
Website: coming soon
[1] Africa CDC. https://africacdc.org/news-item/the-new-public-health-order-africas-health-security-agenda/
[2] African Union. https://au.int/Agenda2063/popular_version
[3] https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/eu-global-health-strategy-better-health-all-changing-world_en [1] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/document/download/c9c4eb8e-df0f-41e7-a322-891786fef29b_en?filename=ec_rtd_au-eu-innovation-agenda-final-version.pdf
