Partnership and Collaboration Resources for Global Health Researchers

During the inaugural gathering of the Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) collaborators, many presenters discussed additional resources that could be incorporated into the network to strengthen and expand its impact.

U.S. Government-supported Global Health Programs and Collaboration Opportunities

• Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAP) - The Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program’s mission is to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS among uniformed personnel in selected African nations and beyond by assisting in developing and implementing military-specific HIV prevention programs; integrating with other US government, nongovernmental organizations, and United Nations programs; and supporting the mission of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

• National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• National Institutes of Health Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) - The Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Initiative - a partnership comprised of the African Society of Human Genetics, the National Institutes of Health and the Wellcome Trust - aims to facilitate a contemporary research approach to the study of genomics and environmental determinants of common diseases with the goal of improving the health of African populations. To accomplish this, the H3Africa Initiative aims to create and support the development of the necessary expertise among African scientists, and to establish networks of African investigators. It is envisaged that studies performed in the H3Africa Initiative will inform subsequent strategies to address more broadly health inequities in both communicable and non-communicable diseases eventually leading to health benefits in Africa.

• NIH Intramural Principal Investigators work extensively with scientific colleagues nationally and internationally. Search the directory of NIH IRP PIs by name or by scientific focus area.

• Nursing Education Partnership Initiative (NEPI) - The Nursing Education Partnership Initiative is a partnership project designed to increase nursing capacity in sub-Saharan Africa funded by the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration in collaboration with Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, South Africa’s University of Fort Hare School of Health Sciences, Columbia University School of Nursing, and the International Council of Nursing.

Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) Programs

• African Development Bank - The African Development Bank (AfDB) provides its regional member countries with technical and financial assistance. Of specific interest are the following sectors:

• African Development Bank: Health Sector

• African Development Bank: Education Sector

• African Society of Human Genetics - The African Society of Human Genetics provides a forum for scientists interested in Human Genetics in Africa to meet, interact, network and collaborate. The Society's aim is to equip the African scientific community and policymakers with the information and practical knowledge they need to contribute to the field of genetics research and to attract global attention to the efforts of African scientists.

• College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa - The College of Surgeons in East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) is an independent body that fosters postgraduate education in surgery and provides standardised surgical training throughout the region of East, Central and Southern Africa. COSECSA is a non-profit making body that currently operates in 9 countries in sub-Saharan region: Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. COSECSA delivers a common surgical training programme with a common examination and an internationally recognised surgical qualification.

• MedEdPORTAL (AAMC) - MedEdPORTAL is a free peer-reviewed publication service and repository for medical and oral health teaching materials, assessment tools, and faculty development resources. All copyright and patient privacy issues are addressed during the submission process so users around the globe can download and utilize any and all of the published resources for educational purposes without legal infringements.

• Open Education Resources (OER) Africa - Open Education Resources Africa is an innovative initiative established by the South African Institute for Distance Education (Saide) to play a leading role in driving the development and use of Open Educational Resources (OER) across all education sectors on the African continent.

• South African Institute for Distance Education (Saide) - South African Institute for Distance Education is committed to the process of transformation of education and training. It is guided by its mission to increasing equitable and meaningful access to knowledge, skills and learning through the adoption of open learning principles and distance education methods.

• Surgical Society of Ethiopia

• Wellcome Trust African Institutions Initiative - Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation dedicated to achieving extraordinary improvements in health by supporting the brightest mind, is working with institutions from all over Africa to strengthen research capacity on the continent.

• World Health Organization (WHO) Health Workforce Information - Over a billion people worldwide lack access to quality health services - in large part because of a huge shortage, imbalanced skill mix, and uneven geographical distribution of health workers. WHO estimates that an additional 4.3 million health workers are needed worldwide. The health workforce crisis has disastrous implications for the health and well-being of millions of people, yet not enough health workers are being produced to close this shortfall.

Other Resources

• Clinical Care Options (CCO) - Clinical Care Options creates innovative, interactive continuing medical education programs that anticipate and meet the needs of healthcare professionals. CCO's expertise in CME, technology solutions, and clinical knowledge allows it to rapidly deliver the highest quality content simultaneously online, in print, and at live meetings, in the service of improving patient care.

Updated January 2017