Africa CDC Partnership Initiative in Biosecurity and Biosafety

Based in Addis Ababa, the Initiative to Strengthen Biosecurity and Biosafety is a partnership between Africa CDC and the Nuclear Threat Initiative’s Bio program (to which James is a consultant). The goal of this initiative is to assist AU Member States in their efforts to achieve WHO Joint External Evaluation (JEE) biosafety and biosecurity targets, as part of the Global Health Security Agenda, and meet obligations under the International Health Regulations (2005), Biological Weapons Convention, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540. The initiative will host regional workshops to refine model policy frameworks, prioritize actions that address gaps by leveraging regional and national resources, increase awareness among governments about the need to increase investment and political commitment at the highest levels. The initiative will also establish the African Union Biorisk Management Legislative Framework, provide countries with a standard, risk-based process for developing high-consequence agents and toxins (HCATs) lists, as well as associated legislation, policies, guidance, and training. James served as a co-convener of the first (of five) workshop held at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, June 2019. Initiative is coordinated and supported by NTI | bio, Global Affairs Canada’s Weapons Threat Reduction Program, Open Philanthropy Project, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Collaborators are the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources, the World Health Organization, World Organization for Animal Health, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Faculty

Wilmot James

Locations

• Egypt
• Ethiopia
• Gabon
• Kenya
• Nigeria
• Zambia

Areas of Focus

• Health Security
• Infectious Diseases