GOPA

Short Description

The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) is a network of over 200 partner institutions from over 75 countries (including 43 countries on the DAC list) which pools human and technical resources for rapid identification, confirmation and response to outbreaks of international importance. For the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), a strong and sustainable collaboration with GOARN is an integral part of its international strategy and has resulted in the establishment of the Collaboration Center (CC) for GOARN at the RKI, which is the first of its kind worldwide.

The Postgraduate Training for Applied Epidemiology (PAE) is a two year, on-the-job training programme, financed by RKI. It aims at increasing capacities in surveillance and outbreak investigations. The deployment of fellows on international missions with GOARN constitutes an excellent training opportunity within the programme.

To strengthen the collaboration between GOARN and PAE, we will second a fellow to the WHO in Geneva or to a regional WHO office for three months, promote the applications of PAE fellows to GOARN missions and train one additional fellow in 2020/2021. These activities are part of the support provided by RKI as a WHO CC for GOARN; they will directly back GOARN’s activities and increase the size and quality of the PAE programme.

Objectives

The objectives of the project are:

• Supporting GOARN activities at a WHO GOARN office
• Supporting GOARN activities in WHO Member States and in the training of PAE fellows

Last update: July 2021