Train
Competency-based Master's programmes, modelling courses, workshops, simulations and hackathon labs.
ONE COLLABORATIVE TRAINING PROGRAM
Building Africa’s next generation of public health experts.
OCTOPUS strengthens epidemiology, biostatistics and infectious-disease modelling capacity through hybrid training, field research, data innovation and long-term collaboration across Sub-Saharan Africa.
A two-year, competency-based approach combining academic coursework with practical field research.
OCTOPUS
Training • Research • Data • Policy
45+experts & fellows
4,500+professionals reached
6SSA countries
45highly skilled fellows
4,500+professionals reached through dissemination
6SSA countries in the training focus
2 yearscoursework + field research
WHY OCTOPUS
Turning training into actionable public health capacity.
Sub-Saharan Africa faces recurrent infectious disease outbreaks, emerging epidemics and antimicrobial resistance, alongside shortages in specialised public health expertise. OCTOPUS responds by combining rigorous theory with real-world application.
The programme develops epidemiologists, biostatisticians and mathematical modellers who can work with complex health data, conduct field research, build analytical tools and translate evidence into policy.
Apply
Fellows undertake field-based research with Ministries of Health and National Public Health Institutes.
Translate
Research becomes dashboards, forecasts, AMR maps, data tools and policy briefs.
Scale
The Decentralized Expertise Dissemination model cascades skills to thousands of professionals.
THE PROGRAMME
From classroom to real-world impact.
OCTOPUS uses an integrated pathway linking training, field research, data analytics, collaboration, workforce retention and policy uptake.
01
Academic Training
Competency-based Master's tracks in epidemiology, biostatistics and related quantitative methods.
02
Modelling & Upskilling
Semester modules, datathons, hackathons and scenario-based infectious disease modelling.
03
Field Research
Supervised placements with NPHIs and Ministries of Health to solve priority public health problems.
04
Data & Digital Tools
Dashboards, outbreak forecasts, AMR maps, analytical pipelines and secure data-sharing tools.
05
Collaboration & Retention
Mentorship, faculty exchange, institutional partnerships and career development pathways.
06
Policy & Dissemination
Policy toolkits, multilingual communication, workshops, publications and stakeholder engagement.
FELLOWSHIPS
Develop expertise that travels.
The proposal describes a cohort of 10 Master's fellows and 35 non-degree / Trainer-of-Trainers candidates, selected through a competitive, transparent and inclusive process.
MASTER'S TRACK
Two-year pathway
One year of academic coursework followed by a field-research year in Sub-Saharan Africa, with advanced modelling content supported through the European partner.
- Epidemiology & surveillance
- Biostatistics & statistical modelling
- Infectious disease modelling
- GIS & spatial analysis
- R, SAS & Python
- Research integrity & policy communication
TRAINER OF TRAINERS
Multiply the expertise
Fellows and specialised trainees are supported to cascade practical knowledge through online workshops and short courses.
100+
target peers trained by each fellow through the dissemination model
Who can apply?
Relevant first degree in biomedical/public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, mathematics or related discipline.
Early- to mid-career researcher with at least 2 years of relevant professional experience.
Resident of or willing to relocate to a Sub-Saharan African country and a member of the EDCTP community.
Evidence of employment by the applicant’s legal entity / host organisation in SSA.
The proposal also describes additional selection conditions, including a motivation letter/SWOT analysis, prior-funding restrictions, geographical and gender balance, and inclusion of Francophone/Lusophone and low-research-capacity settings. Final calls and application procedures should be published by the programme when officially launched.
RESEARCH & DATA
Evidence that helps decision-makers act earlier.
Fellows will work with real-world health data to address priority infectious disease challenges and develop outputs that can support surveillance, preparedness and targeted interventions.
Incidence dashboardsAMR mapsOutbreak predictionGIS & spatial analysisMachine learningGenomic surveillance
OCTOPUS DATA PORTAL● LIVE ARCHITECTURE
National
surveillance
→surveillance
Secure
data layer
→data layer
Analytics
& AI
→& AI
Policy
insight
insight
Planned data governance follows FAIR principles, with access controls for managed and private data and secure research environments where required.
THE OCTOPUS NETWORK
A connected Africa–Europe ecosystem.
The consortium brings together universities, research institutes, national public health bodies and a European university to share expertise, resources and supervision.
EDCTP AssociationCoordinator · Netherlands
Chuka UniversityKenya
KEMRIKenya
Rwanda Biomedical CenterRwanda
NIMRTanzania
Université Evangélique en AfriqueDRC
INSPBurundi · Associate Partner
NHLDSUganda
Rwanda Ministry of HealthRwanda
DTUDenmark
MUSTUganda
Aga Khan University KenyaKenya
KCMUCoTanzania
University of RwandaRwanda
OUR IMPACT
One cohort. A cascade of expertise.
45+trained public health experts
4,500+professionals reached through dissemination
6+national decision-support tools targeted
10+policy briefs targeted for adoption
45+research outputs/manuscripts targeted
6countries connected through the regional data approach
GET INVOLVED
Ready to strengthen public health capacity?
Watch this space for official fellowship calls, programme updates, workshops, publications and partner opportunities.