who we are

The African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) is a not-for-profit networking and service organization dedicated to improving health outcomes of the communities we serve in liaison with ministries of health and other partners. Strengthening capacity for public health preparedness and response through Field Epidemiology (and Laboratory) Training Programs {FE(L)TPs}, and other applied epidemiology training programs is one of our core activities.

Established in 2005 with our Secretariat in Kampala, Uganda, we have presence in over 40 countries and at least 700 personnel in various locations.

AFENET & FETP Coverage in Sub Saharan Africa

Mission

Our mission is to ensure effective prevention and control of epidemics and other priority public health problems in Africa

Core Values

Accountability & Transparency • Professionalism • Networking and Collaboration

GOAL

Our goal is to strengthen field epidemiology and public health laboratory capacity to address major public health problems in Africa

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

• Strengthening public health surveillance, public health emergency/pandemic preparedness, response, and health systems recovery
• Enhancing Resource Mobilization, Institutional Development and Sustainability
• Strengthening Public Health Laboratory Systems, Research and Innovation
• Strengthening early detection and management of NCDs to reduce morbidity and mortality
• Promoting Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
• Advancing Integrated Approach to Promote Health, Climate Change and Anti-Microbial Resistance at Human-Animal-Environment Interface (One Health)
• Strengthening Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Capacity with Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) across the Network


 Membership


At our inception, our membership comprised four training programs that have since come to be known as our founder members and these include:

  1. Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program
  2. Kenya Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program
  3. Makerere University School of Public Health, Uganda
  4. Zimbabwe Field Epidemiology Training Program


Membership has since grown to 40 FETPs spanning Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone Africa

 


Regional Hubs

To improve the efficiency and coordination of operations, the AFENET Secretariat is supported by four regional hubs which include:

  1. Central Africa & Indian Ocean – Kinshasa, DR Congo
  2. Eastern Africa – Kampala, Uganda
  3. Southern and Lusophone Africa – Harare, Zimbabwe
  4. Western Africa – Accra, Ghana

 


Governance

The General Assembly, which is the top decision organ of the organization comprises of Program Directors of our member FE(L)TPs. Program Directors are usually senior officials in the host ministry of health or public health institute for the FE(L)TP. The General Assembly meets annually.

The Board of Directors is elected from the General Assembly every two years and provides oversight over the operations of the Network through the Secretariat. To increase its efficiency, the Board operates through four committees: Finance, Audit and Risk; Human Resource; Policy, Advocacy and Resource Mobilization; and Quality Assurance and Monitoring & Evaluation.

The current Board of Directors has 10 members, including the Director AFENET, who is a non-voting member.

At the Secretariat, the Director is supported by a team of four heads of department to coordinate the day-to-day operations of the Network.

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