The OR Tambo Africa Research Chairs combine political, development, and higher education objectives. They aim to honor a leading figure in the development of African unity and have a catalytic effect on the development of research infrastructure in recipient countries. By supporting ten Chairs to undertake world-class research in priority areas, the initiative will contribute to producing knowledge and advancing research skills in alignment with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2024), and with the development needs of national governments.
The OR Tambo Africa Research Chair for Viral Epidemics in Tanzania will be launched by the Tanzania Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adolf Faustine Mkenda (MP), on 15 August 2022 at the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro. The launch will be attended by experts comprising the SACIDS International Scientific Advisory Board, stakeholders, collaborating partners, postgraduate students and policy makers. The launch will provide an opportunity to communicate the research chair objectives and plans, reinforce partnerships and subject the research chair to scrutiny.
National Launch of OR Tambo Chair
The research chair at the SACIDS Foundation for One Health at the Sokoine University of Agriculture, whose chairholder is Professor Gerald Misinzo, focuses in Viral Epidemics aiming at developing innovative One Health approaches through science and technology driven by genomics, molecular biology and analytical epidemiology in order to improve the risk management of viral epidemics in Africa. The research chair seeks to contribute to enhancing community-level One Health security by targeting viral epidemics of public and animal health importance. The launch aims at
- Communicate this Programme to collaborators and relevant stake holders. Provide a platform to inform key stakeholders with the project’s purpose, goals, methodology and timeline and clarify role and responsibility of each partner.
- Refine and validate research activity plan.
- Identify how the project can build synergies with ongoing initiatives in and outside Tanzania
- Get technical guidance from national and international experts in Viral epidemics
- Create awareness and reinforce partnership with relevant government, and private stakeholders.
