PROG17-21_05OC1_Strengthening the capacity for research, teaching, policy advice, advocacy and networking of the partners in the field on human and animal health

Research and education to improve animal and human health and welfare in Southern Africa Drawing on their position as South African Higher Education Institutions with capacity to support the African Region more generally, the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases (UP) and the School of Public Health (UWC) will partner with the Institute of Tropical Medicine to strengthen the capacity to respond to key human and veterinary health challenges in the Region. This will done by: 1) Building an evidence base through collaborative research on zoonotic and animal diseases (DVTD) and health policy and systems (SOPH), that takes into account the specific ecological and socio-economic context, in South Africa and the Region; 2) Collaborating in post graduate research training (masters, doctoral and post doctoral) on these themes to candidates from South Africa and the Region; 3) Enhancing south-south and north-south dialogue and networks of teaching and research collaboration; 4) Engaging with local communities, practitioners and policy makers to address human and veterinary health challenges in South Africa and the Region. For the ITM, Higher Education Institutions and their staff and students are the main beneficiaries. These are reached through capacity development activities for researchers and research centres, co-production of research and of educational programmes, and networking.