Annual conferences

Contact

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
German Research Foundation
Dr. Andreas Strecker
infectiology@dfg.de

DFG Links

Photos: Strecker/DFG; December 2022

DFG Homepage (English)► www.dfg.de/en
Further information:
Cooperation with Africa► www.dfg.de/international/africa
All project participants are invited to meet regularly.
The aims of these gatherings are to:► Present the course of the project including- Scientific results- Challenges encountered► Exchange ideas on research topics► Find new research partners► Create new consortia► Discuss research matters with representatives
from politics, funding organisations etc.
► Visit research institutes
This provides upcoming researchers – often for the firsttime – with the opportunity to travel, to present a project, and to meet international scientists.
Additionally, the conferences allow for adapting theprogramme to the needs of the projects and scientists.
2010 - Opening Conference Berlin, Germany
2011 - Accra, Ghana
2012 - Bonn, Germany
2014 - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
2015 - Würzburg, Germany
2016 - Yaoundé, Cameroon
2017 - Hamburg, Germany
2018 - Entebbe, Uganda

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
German Research Foundation
Kennedyallee 40 · 53175 Bonn, Germany
Phone: + 49 228 885-1
Fax:+ 49 228 885-2777
postmaster@dfg.de
www.dfg.de

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
German Research Foundation

German-African
Cooperation Projects
in Infectiology

Background

Criteria for Projects

In the fight against fatal infectious disease, intense research
efforts are required to this day. Many fundamental questions
concerning the pathology of bacteria, viruses and parasites
still exist despite considerable progress in their understanding. A lack of effective medications is a direct consequence,and newly emerging resistance against established therapeutics have provided new challenges.

Achievements► To date 74 projects funded with €84.1 m Euros in

28 African countries, several involving more thanone African country► High-level publications with African partners inleading positions► Several students originally graduated within a projectIn this DFG funding initiative, conceived in 2007, African andGerman researchers are jointly addressing basic questions ofdiseases affecting humans and livestock with an emphasis on
the so-called „neglected diseases“. These are insufficiently
researched and effective treatments are often missing foreconomic reasons. Their severity is frequently aggravatedby conditions of poverty. Tackling these medical problems inAfrica by national researchers has met powerful obstacles
due to the lack of efficient academic structures.
The DFG therefore requests projects to be jointly plannedand executed by researchers from the African countries andGermany. In order to strengthen academic potentials, projects are required to enhance existing research capacities andtrain junior scientists at the research institutions in Africa.

have become junior faculty► Reviewers ensured fulfillment of criteria, including fairand equal partnerships► Originally funded from a special budget, the projects

were incorporated into the regular DFG project funding► Investigation of neglected infectious diseases in humans

and animals including research on aspects of their socialand economic impact► Establishment or consolidation of mutually beneficial

equal partnerships that allow African researchers toinvestigate topics of local significance► Sustainable support for scientific careers of junior African

academics in their home countries in order to contributeto building-up of research capacities in Africa► Strengthening or establishment of research networks

within Africa – inclusion of several African partner sites is
encouraged for additional scientific benefit► The programme allowed for new funding opportunities

for scientists in Africa and Germany
Countries with DFG funded projects (see map):
Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côted‘Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of theCongo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya,Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria,Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia,Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe