November 28, 2025, Nairobi

“Africa’s resilience against pandemics depends on integrated, multisectoral, equity-centred, and interoperable systems across human, animal and environmental health” Dr. Nanyingi Mark, who led the CGPs technical support to both AU-IBAR and Africa CDC.

The Center for Global Health and Pandemic Intelligence (CGP)– supported HARMONIZE and SCOPE initiatives unlock USD 80M in coordinated investment for Africa’s health security.

The CGP proudly welcomes the Pandemic Fund’s announcement of two landmark initiatives approved under the Pandemic Fund Third Call proposals that CGP supported technically, strategically, and methodologically.

The AU-IBAR led “Strengthening One Health Capacities for Enhanced Pandemic Preparedness and Response in the Lake Chad Basin” SCOPE and Africa CDC led “Harmonizing Continental Networks and Systems for Pandemic Prevention Preparedness and Response in Africa” HARMONIZE initiatives represent a USD 80 million coordinated investment in Africa’s pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) capacity  intentionally designed to avoid duplication and maximize synergy through an aligned, harmonised, and mutually reinforcing approach. These awards mark a significant milestone for Africa’s health security agenda and a major step forward in advancing an integrated One Health and data-driven preparedness architecture on the continent.

One Africa, One Health, One Coordinated Response : rather than operating in parallel or in competition, Africa CDC and AU-IBAR jointly committed to a harmonisation framework guided by the One Health Data Alliance Africa (OHDAA) framework which ensures that: Activities are complementary and non-duplicative, Systems are technically interoperable, Data standards are aligned, Resources are maximised and Knowledge is shared. This coordination transforms two strong projects into one coherent continental system. While aligned in vision, the two initiatives are deliberately differentiated in scale, function and geographic focus

SCOPE’s  geographic focus is the Lake Chad Basin covering five countries Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Central African Republic. SCOPE concentrates on operationalising One Health systems in highly vulnerable, transboundary and climate-stressed settings by:

• Deploying cross-border, community-centred One Health surveillance
• Establishing mobile diagnostic and laboratory capacity
• Strengthening biosafety, biosecurity and data integration systems
• Training and deploying multisectoral Rapid Response Teams (RRTs)
• Strengthening community-based surveillance (CBS) and risk communication
• Establishing cross-border One Health governance mechanisms

These interventions directly address high-risk interfaces where zoonotic diseases, conflict, displacement, climate change and weak infrastructure intersect.

HARMONIZE focuses on strengthening continental and regional preparedness architecture by:

• Harmonising policy, standards and surveillance frameworks
• Expanding genomic surveillance and pathogen detection networks
• Strengthening National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) and EOCs including KNPHI
• Standardising tools, protocols, and decision-support systems
• Establishing interoperable early-warning platforms
• Coordinating preparedness functions across regional hubs

While SCOPE works deep in hotspots, HARMONIZE works wide across Member States  ensuring system consistency, quality and continental coordination.

To ensure efficiency and synergy, the two initiatives should establish a shared coordination framework that includes:

• A Joint Technical Working Group (TWG)
• Harmonised training curricula and certification standards
• Shared laboratory frameworks (LIMS, EQA, biosafety)
• Aligned monitoring and evaluation indicators
• Regular joint review and learning mechanisms
• Co-development of tools, frameworks and outputs

This approach ensures that each investment dollar strengthens multiple interconnected layers of preparedness.

What was CGP’s role in shaping a coherent and unified system?

CGP provided strategic and technical support that strengthened the design and alignment of both proposals, including:

• Mapping and eliminating potential overlaps
• Aligning theories of change and results frameworks
• Supporting integration into OHDAA
• Strengthening One Health governance structures
• Embedding equity, inclusion and community engagement
• Providing harmonisation guidance between institutions

This contribution helped ensure that SCOPE and HARMONIZE function not as separate projects, but as components of a unified, continental pandemic intelligence and response system.

A promising future

As implementation moves forward, the harmonised SCOPE–HARMONIZE approach will:

• Reduce time to outbreak detection and response
• Strengthen cross-border collaboration
• Expand laboratory and genomic capabilities
• Build a resilient, One Health-ready workforce
• Institutionalise interoperable surveillance systems
• Improve Africa’s capacity to prevent and mitigate pandemics

Together, these investments lay the foundation for a smarter, faster, more connected and more resilient Africa

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🌍 Website:www.pandemicintelcenter.org