Visit at OCEAC of the AREF program Board

Professor Tumani Corrah and Dr. Peter DUKES, respectively Director and Deputy Director of the Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) Program stayed on 30 and 31 July 2015 in Yaounde, Cameroon

Professor Tumani Corrah and Dr. Peter DUKES, respectively Director and Deputy Director of the Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) Program stayed on 30 and 31 July 2015 in Yaounde, Cameroon, in the context of collaboration established in February 2015 between the Organization for the Coordination of the fight against Endemic Diseases in Central Africa (OCEAC) and the AREF Program. During their visit to OCEAC headquarters in Yaoundé on 30 July 2015, the AREF delegates met with OCEAC staff to discuss on the research activities carried out in routine and on the AREF program. OCEAC and AREF agreed on the need for synergy of action for fund raising towards support of promising young researchers in the sub-region. On July 31, 2015, the AREF delegation held an enlarged meeting with researchers from local universities (University of Douala, University of Yaoundé I) and institutions (Centre Pasteur of Cameroon, Chantal Biya International Research Centre, International Research Centre on Filariasis and Tropical Diseases and Biotechnology Center). Following a communication on the AREF program made by the delegates, discussions and questions have targeted: i) potential beneficiaries of AREF program other than young researchers in post-doc position, ii) advocacy strategies to address stakeholders for local research funding, and iii) capacity development of African institutions on health research and research administration good practices. To close the meeting, which lasted 02 hours, Pr. Mbacham of the University of Yaounde I, who moderated the session, appealed to all researchers for a substantial contribution and effective support to the recently established AREF Program whose goal is to nurture excellent health research by Africans, in Africa with impact for Africa.

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