Africa CDC Opens Applications for the 2026 African Epidemic Services Epidemiology Fellowship ·Unknown

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has opened applications for the African Epidemic Services (AES) – Epidemiology Track, a fully funded two-year fellowship designed to strengthen Africa’s public health workforce and improve disease surveillance, outbreak response, and epidemiological capacity across African Union Member States.

The fellowship, hosted under the African Union (AU), targets early- to mid-career public health professionals committed to advancing disease prevention and response systems across the continent. Applications are open exclusively to citizens of African Union Member States, with the deadline set for 26 August 2026.

Building Africa’s Public Health Workforce

The African Epidemic Services (AES) Programme is one of Africa CDC’s flagship workforce development initiatives aimed at strengthening the continent’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks through science-driven and data-informed public health interventions.

The programme was developed under the Africa Health Workforce Compact, launched in 2025, and supports the objectives of African Union Agenda 2063 by investing in a skilled, motivated, and sustainable health workforce capable of delivering essential health services across Africa.

The AES programme consists of three specialised training tracks:

• Epidemiology.
• Laboratory Leadership Fellowship.
• Public Health Informatics.

The Epidemiology Track equips fellows with practical skills needed to address emerging public health threats and improve disease surveillance systems throughout Africa.

Fully Funded Two-Year Fellowship

The African Epidemic Services – Epidemiology Track is a full-time, competency-based applied epidemiology training programme lasting two years.

The fellowship consists of:

• Three months of in-person classroom training in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
• Twenty-one months of field-based applied training hosted within an African Union Member State.

During the programme, fellows will receive supervision and mentorship from experienced epidemiologists and public health experts while participating in practical learning activities that strengthen national and regional health systems.

Hands-On Public Health Training

Throughout the fellowship, participants will engage in experiential learning through Core Activities of Learning (CALs), including:

• Disease surveillance.
• Outbreak investigation.
• Epidemiological data analysis.
• Surveillance system evaluation.
• Public health research.
• Evidence-based decision-making.
• Science and policy integration.

The programme is designed to prepare professionals capable of responding effectively to current and future public health emergencies across the continent.

Fellowship Benefits

Africa CDC will fully support successful fellows throughout the training period.

The fellowship includes:

• Full training costs.
• Domestic and international travel expenses.
• Monthly stipends.
• Health insurance.
• Computer hardware and software.
• Learning materials and professional development resources.
• Ongoing mentorship and technical supervision.

The comprehensive support enables fellows to focus entirely on their professional development and field assignments.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

• Be a citizen of an African Union Member State.
• Be under the age of 35, in line with the African Union’s youth definition.
• Be employed within an African country at the time of application.
• Obtain official permission from their government employer to participate in the two-year fellowship and return to their position after completion.
• Hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from an accredited institution in:
  • Human medicine.
  • Nursing.
  • Veterinary medicine.
  • Environmental sciences.
  • Public health.
  • One Health.
  • Or another related discipline.
• Demonstrate successful completion of coursework in:
  • Epidemiology or quantitative research methods.
  • Biostatistics.
• Have at least three years of recent full-time postgraduate public health experience in an African country.
• Demonstrate the ability to prepare scientific publications, technical reports, and epidemiological communication materials.
• Be proficient in at least one official African Union language:
  • English.
  • French.
  • Arabic.
  • Portuguese.
  • Spanish.
  • Kiswahili.

Knowledge of an additional AU official language is considered an advantage.

Africa CDC notes that Advanced Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP) fellows and graduates are not eligible to apply.

Required Application Documents

Applicants must submit a complete online application accompanied by the following documents:

• National passport from an African Union Member State.
• Official government letter granting permission to attend the fellowship and guaranteeing return to employment after completion.
• Two professional letters of recommendation.
• Degree certificate(s) and academic transcripts.
• Curriculum Vitae prepared using the mandatory African Union CV template.
• A motivation statement of up to 500 words explaining:
  • Why the applicant is suited to the fellowship.
  • How the training will strengthen public health capacity in their country.
• Optional evidence of additional relevant qualifications.

Africa CDC emphasizes that incomplete applications will not be considered.

Important Dates

Applicants should note the following key dates:

• Application Deadline: 26 August 2026.
• Programme Start: October 2026.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to begin preparing their documentation early, particularly the required government approval and recommendation letters.

Advancing Public Health Leadership Across Africa

The African Epidemic Services Programme represents a major investment in strengthening Africa’s disease prevention and emergency response capabilities through practical, field-based training.

By equipping public health professionals with advanced epidemiological skills, the fellowship supports stronger national health systems, improved outbreak preparedness, and evidence-based public health decision-making throughout the continent.

Africa CDC also highlights its commitment to gender equity, inclusivity, and broad continental representation, encouraging qualified professionals from all African Union Member States to apply.

Public health professionals seeking to play a leading role in safeguarding Africa’s health security are encouraged to submit their applications before the 26 August 2026 deadline.

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the  organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official  organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.