Association of Schools of Public Health in Africa

Association of Schools of Public Health in Africa
Name	Association of Schools of Public Health in Africa
Formation	1960s–2000s
Type	Professional association
Headquarters	Accra, Ghana (historical meeting locations)
Region served	Africa
Membership	Schools and faculties of public health across African nations
Language	English, French, Portuguese

Association of Schools of Public Health in Africa is a regional network that brings together faculties, schools, and institutes focused on population health across the African continent. The association links academic institutions with international agencies, national ministries, and non-governmental organizations to coordinate training, research, and policy engagement.

History

Originating from collaborative meetings among faculties in West Africa, Southern Africa, and East Africa, the association grew from informal forums tied to events such as the Algiers Conference and gatherings linked to the World Health Organization regional offices. Early convenings involved representatives from institutions like the University of Ibadan, Makerere University, University of Cape Town, and University of Ghana and intersected with initiatives by UNICEF, United Nations, and bilateral partners such as the United Kingdom and France. During the late 20th century associations similar to the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region and the American Public Health Association influenced governance models; stakeholder meetings referenced frameworks from the Declaration of Alma-Ata and the Commission on Social Determinants of Health. Regional political changes involving the African Union and economic shifts in the Economic Community of West African States era shaped priorities, while academic reforms at institutions like Makerere University and University of Nairobi led to standardized curricula and accreditation discussions.

Mission and Objectives

The association promotes capacity strengthening by coordinating curricula development among members such as University of Lagos, Cheikh Anta Diop University, University of Pretoria, and Universidade Eduardo Mondlane; it aligns training priorities with policy needs articulated by the Ministry of Health (Ghana), Ministry of Health (Kenya), and the Ministry of Health (South Africa). Objectives include harmonizing competency frameworks influenced by the Global Health Workforce Alliance, supporting postgraduate programs modeled after Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and advocating research agendas responsive to outbreaks like the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa and the 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak. The association emphasizes partnerships with funders such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the World Bank to mobilize resources for institutional development.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprises schools and departments from universities across regions including North Africa, exemplified by Cairo University; East Africa, exemplified by Ethiopian Public Health Institute affiliates; Central Africa, including actors linked to Université de Kinshasa; and Southern Africa, represented by University of Zimbabwe. Governance structures mirror those of continental bodies like the African Union Commission and rely on elected executive councils, technical committees, and secretariats often hosted by member universities such as University of Ghana or Université Cheikh Anta Diop. Stakeholder representation includes deans, directors, and senior faculty who liaise with international consortia like the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership and regional networks including West African Health Organization and East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community.

Programs and Activities

The association organizes annual conferences, regional symposia, and capacity-building workshops frequently co-hosted with institutions like London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of Oxford, and Karolinska Institutet. Core activities include harmonized MPH curricula development influenced by the Tropical Health and Education Trust models, short courses on epidemic preparedness inspired by lessons from the 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, and faculty exchange programs modeled after partnerships with Tulane University and Johns Hopkins University. It runs accreditation support initiatives drawing on standards similar to those of the Council on Education for Public Health and manages collaborative research programs that have linked member schools to clinical trial networks such as the HIV Vaccine Trials Network and African Academy of Sciences projects.

Partnerships and Collaborations

The association has formal and informal collaborations with multilateral organizations including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the World Bank; philanthropic partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust; and academic partners including London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Regional collaborations involve the African Union, Africa CDC, West African Health Organization, and national research institutes like the Kenya Medical Research Institute and National Institute for Medical Research (Tanzania). Partnerships extend to professional associations including the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and networks such as the African Population and Health Research Center.

Impact and Achievements

Achievements include standardized MPH curricula adoption across multiple member institutions, enhanced research output on priority areas such as malaria control informed by trials like those coordinated with PATH, strengthened outbreak response capacity evident during the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa, and increased PhD training through collaborations with universities such as University of London and University of Bergen. The association contributed to policy briefs cited by ministries and influenced workforce planning efforts aligned with WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel. Its alumni hold leadership roles in organizations including the African Union Commission, Ministry of Health (Nigeria), World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, and non-governmental organizations such as Médecins Sans Frontières and Save the Children.

Category:Public health organizations