Africa CDC signs historic Health Security partnership agreement with ECDC in Ethiopia

ETHIOPIA—The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have signed their first Memorandum of Understanding to bolster health security across both continents.

The landmark agreement formalizes a collaborative framework aimed at protecting communities from infectious diseases and emerging health threats.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, and ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner signed the memorandum during a two-day visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Dr. Rendi-Wagner traveled to the Ethiopian capital with a delegation of ECDC technical experts to finalize the partnership.

Building on a decade of cooperation

The memorandum formalizes ten years of collaboration between the two agencies in critical global health areas.

It establishes a comprehensive framework for enhanced cooperation in disease surveillance, risk assessment, and emergency preparedness and response capabilities.

The partnership will focus on joint initiatives addressing antimicrobial resistance, vaccine-preventable diseases, and emerging health threats.

Additionally, both organizations will collaborate on data analytics, modeling and foresight, laboratory capabilities, workforce development, and public health training programs.

Leaders Emphasize Borderless Health Threats

Dr. Kaseya stressed that infectious diseases do not respect borders, requiring equally interconnected responses.

He explained that the partnership with ECDC strengthens essential capacities for health security, including timely surveillance, skilled public health workforces, robust preparedness systems, and institutions capable of swift, effective action.

The Africa CDC chief emphasized that this approach builds lasting resilience and better protects communities throughout the continent.

Dr. Rendi-Wagner described the memorandum as a significant advancement for European, African, and global health security.

 She underscored that strong partnerships and close cooperation remain essential for addressing current and emerging global health challenges facing both regions.

The ECDC director noted that health security and progress are interdependent, expressing enthusiasm for fruitful collaboration with her Africa CDC counterparts.

Partnership rooted in proven success

The agreement builds on a successful five-year partnership project between Africa CDC and ECDC that concluded in April this year.

The European Commission funded this capacity-building initiative, which established a solid foundation for technical collaboration in preparedness, surveillance, and workforce development.

Both organizations will extend their partnership through a new five-year initiative launching in May 2026.

This next phase falls under the Team Europe Initiative on Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance and Strengthening the One Health Approach in Africa, undertaken in collaboration with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Strengthening global health systems

Through technical exchange and coordinated epidemic intelligence, the partnership will strengthen public health systems across Africa and Europe.

The collaborative effort aims to enhance continental preparedness while contributing to broader global health security objectives, ensuring communities on both continents can better respond to current and future health emergencies.