FORTRESS-SSA

In an era where emerging infectious diseases continually threaten global health security, strengthening Africa’s public health workforce is critical. The FORTRESS-SSA consortium seeks to address this challenge by building advanced capacity in epidemiology, biostatistics, and infectious disease modeling. Leveraging the foundation of the Sub-Saharan Africa Consortium for Advanced Biostatistics Training (SSACAB), FORTRESS-SSA will expand multidisciplinary training programs at the Master’s and PhD levels, targeting professionals across Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone countries. The initiative establishes three regional training hubs—University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), University of Abomey-Calavi (Benin), and University Eduardo Mondlane (Mozambique)—providing structured classroom learning, experiential field placements, and leadership development. In alignment with the Global Health EDCTP3 priorities, the program fosters sustainable institutional capacity by embedding fellows in National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) and Ministries of Health. It incorporates a Training of Trainers (ToT) model, ensuring continuous knowledge transfer and mentorship within African institutions. Additionally, short courses in infectious disease modeling, outbreak preparedness, and surveillance will upskill 90 public health professionals, addressing the urgent need for data-driven epidemic responses. The consortium’s policy engagement strategy ensures trained professionals contribute directly to health governance and outbreak response mechanisms. Collaboration with key stakeholders, including Africa CDC, WHO, LSHTM, and UMC Utrecht, strengthens regional knowledge-sharing networks, ensuring long-term workforce retention. By integrating scientific training with field experience and institutional engagement, FORTRESS-SSA will create a resilient, skilled workforce capable of tackling Africa’s evolving public health challenges.