1. 4/23/2017
The Africa Centre of Excellence for Infectious Diseases of Humans and Animals (ACEIDHA)
Professor Aaron Mweene, Centre Leader
ACE II Technical and Advisory Meeting
May 9-10, 2018
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA

2. Establishment of ACEIDHA
4/23/2017
Establishment of ACEIDHA
The ACEIDHA has been established at the University of Zambia through
the World Bank Project for Eastern and Southern Higher Education
Centers of Excellence initiative
Is a loan to the Government and a grant to UNZA
It is hosted at the School of Veterinary Medicine

3. African highly dangerous pathogens
4/23/2017
Increased emergence and re-emergence of disease such as Ebola virus infections, pneumonic plague, anthrax, trypanosomiasis and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Africa including in new geographic areas
High health and socio-economic impacts, and pose serious biosafety and biosecurity challenges
Ironically, Africa has least capacity for their risk management and control

4. ACEIDHA – Steps to effectiveness
Project approval: 26 May 2016
End date: 31 Dec 2022
Total amount: US$ 6.0m
Zambia ACE II Launch: 26April, 2018
ACEIDHA effectiveness - 26 October, 2017
Disbursement US$1.1m for DLI#1 achievement - February, 2018
Designated ACEIDHA US$ Account has been opened at BOZ
ACEIDHA bank accounts at Standard Chartered Bank ($ & ZMW)
Signatories -
Panel A - UNZA Bursar’s Department
Panel B - ACEIDHA members and Dean, Veterinary Medicine

5. ACEIDHA Educational and Research goals
PhD (20) and MSc (80) levels training to develop critical mass of skilled human resources to both the private and public sectors
Strengthen network/linkages with local, regional and international institutions
Produce qualified manpower as future teaching and research faculty
Develop advocacy programs for community and policy formulation
Develop infectious disease counter measures
Elucidate the ecology of the pathogens

6. ACEIDHA – Project Management Team
Centre Leader, Deputy Centre Leader, X5 Theme Coordinators
Financial Management: Office of UNZA Bursar - X2 Accountants
Procurement: UNZA Purchase and Supplies Unit - X2 Procurement officers
Audit: UNZA Audit Department
Communication: UNZA Public relations & International Liaison Officers
have been designated as ACEIDHA Communication Officers

7. ACEIDHA Implementation arrangement National Steering Committee
UNZA
Vice Chancellor
Center Leader-Prof. Aaron Mweene
Deputy Center Leader-Prof. Bernard Hang’ombe
Thematic Leaders and other members of Project Management Team
ISAB
Industry partners
National Academic partners
International teaching institutions
International diagnostic laboratories
Faculty
Students
Admin staff
Learning/research
infrastructure
Regional diagnostic laboratories
Regional teaching institutions

8. ACEIDHA Training and Research Themes
Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases of viral origin and Zoonosis
Bacterial zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance
Vector borne emerging diseases
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)

9. ACEIDHA Program of Activities
Partners
Curriculum development
PhD, MSc training
Pathogen surveillance
Pathogen isolation
Pathogen detection
Serologic
Genomic-based
Identification of reservoirs
Risk assessment
PhD, MSc training
Molecular analysis
Biological characterisation
Improvement of existing diagnostic procedures
Next generation sequencing
Development of novel diagnostic tests
Discovery of novel pathogens
Human resource exchange/Information sharing

10. ACEIDHA – on going activities
Development of new MSc courses and review of existing ones
One Health Food Safety
One Health Analytical Epidemiology
One Health Infectious Diseases
Eco Health Systems
Infectious Disease and Zoonosis
One Health Laboratory diagnostics
Accreditation of MSc programmes – Higher Education Authority
Recruitment of students (local and regional) -overwhelming (80 PhD and over 200 MSc applications from 14 countries)
Establishment of joint International Scientific Advisory Board
(ISAB) with SACIDS ACE in Tanzania

11. ACEIDHA – on going activities
Recruitment of ACEIDHA staff -Centre Manager,
-Senior Administrative
-Officer, Driver
Rehabilitation of centre infrastructure
Procurement of motor vehicles (x2)
Consolidation of partnerships - local,
- regional,
- international
Grant applications (jointly with partners)

12. Partnerships – Universities
Intra
School of Medicine
School of Public Health
School of Nursing
School of Biomedical Sciences
Local
Copperbelt University, School of Medicine
Regional
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
International
Hokkaido University
University College Dublin

13. Partnerships – Research Institutions
Local
Tropical Diseases Research Centre (TDRC)
Central Veterinary Research Institute (CVRI)
Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI)/
Regional Collaboration Centre of Africa CDC – (in progress)
Regional
Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease of Humans and Animals (SACIDS)
International
Research Centre for Zoonosis Control (CZC)
Global Virus Network (40 CoEs and 07 Affiliates in 25 countries)

14. ACEIDHA has been approved as a
New Affiliate Member of Global Virus Network 
4/23/2017
ACEIDHA’s membership is sponsored by two GVN Centers of Excellence, Hokkaido University and University College Dublin
A novel collaborative model whereby a GVN Affiliate
member in Africa has been ‘twinned’ with GVN
Centers in Japan and Ireland, to maximize Synergies
and Mobility of Scientists
ACEIDHA’s status at the GVN, enables it to better train
virologists at MSc, PhD and post-doctoral levels. 
ACEIDHA will help GVN members facilitate interactions with a number of partners in Africa, which is critical to GVN’s mission in preparing the world for future outbreaks of viral diseases. 
(12 Jan 2018)

15. ACEIDHA Challenges
International/regional accreditation of training programmes
Fostering partnerships/collaborations with industry
Governance/implementation arrangement yet to be fully understood/appreciated in the university
Procurement process too long

16. ACEIDHA remedial measures
Continuous and timely engagement with UNZA ‘s managerial, administrative and academic staff on operations of ACEIDHA
National steering committee to continuously support ACEIDHA
Country World Bank team/IUCEA (ACE II RFU) should provide
continuous technical and implementation support
including financial management, procurement,
disbursement, and safeguards

17. ACEIDHA
Thank you for your attention