The objective of the DISCOM project is to co-create with the University Iba Der Thiam of Thiès a management science course in the distribution sector. It will enable the construction of Bachelor 3, master and doctorate courses (initial or apprenticeship) which will, in time, be open to a double degree with the partner establishment. This sector attracts foreign investment (e.g. Auchan, Carrefour, Décathlon, Kiabi) and presents important economic (job creation, local products commercialisation), societal (sustainable development, healthy consumption, inclusion of women) and technological (digitalisation, mobile) challenges. It responds to local needs prorities and promotes the professionalisation of training in the distribution sector (via work experience, internships, promotion of entrepreneurship, etc.). The ambition at the end of the PEA call is to ensure the employability of graduates, sustainability in retail sector, access of women to training and employment in the distribution sector and social inclusiveness. Both institutions have a strong experience in international partnerships which forms a solid basis for the success of the project. Finally, they have developed multiple partnerships with the socio-economic world (Auchan Senegal, ESTIVAL SA, the network of chambers of commerce, etc.) to anchor the project in reality and sustain it beyond the end of the PEA.

The availability of effective malaria vaccines is a historic landmark, “a breakthrough for science, child health and malaria control” that “could save tens of thousands of young lives each year” [WHO 2021]. But substantial implementation challenges need to be addressed to realise this potential. In many areas where malaria vaccines will soon be introduced, EPI coverage is suboptimal, especially in the second year of life. Introduction of malaria vaccines is also an opportunity to strengthen delivery of basic vaccines because a) additional immunisation visits will be required to administer 3 doses of malaria vaccine between the ages of 5 and 9 months and a fourth dose at about 2 years, and b) in areas with highly seasonal malaria, annual intensification of vaccine delivery may be advantageous to optimize malaria impact, both providing opportunities for catch-up of other vaccines, and c) recognition of the importance of malaria may lead to be less mistrust of malaria vaccines, as observed during pilot implementations; such positive attitudes could be leveraged to promote vaccination in general. The purpose of this project is to support national immunization and malaria programmes in 14 countries in West and Central Africa with highly seasonal malaria, to optimize delivery and uptake of malaria vaccines, and to exploit the opportunities to strengthen delivery of other vaccines. This will be achieved through a programme of implementation research, adapting delivery approaches to local situations, and sharing information about what works best. The project, which builds on a network of 13 countries that was established through the EDCTP-funded OPT-SMC project, coordinated by the University of Thiès in Senegal, the LIH, TDR, LSHTM, CAPM, MMV and WHO, will provide grants and technical assistance to national programmes to enable them to monitor vaccine introduction and identify barriers to uptake, and develop, implement, and evaluate strategies to address these barriers.

"The ""AfriConnect+"" project, under priority Europe fit for a digital age, is part of the modernization and development strategy of the southern countries concerned, Senegal and Morocco, which share common objectives regarding the development of entrepreneurship, professional skills, innovation and technology transfer in the digital field and more particularly in the Internet of Things (IoT).In China, the United States and Europe, this technology is currently undergoing a major transformation and is an integral part of the digital transformation, with significant economic and employment stakes.In order to avoid a dropout in this strategic field in Africa, ""AfriConnect+"" will promote the transfer of knowledge and technical support between European and African institutions around 4 specific objectives: The transfer of IoT skills; The identification and development of applications to create startups; The support to entrepreneurship; The strengthening of links between universities, secondary schools and industry. The expected results in the 4 beneficiary universities are the realization of more than 72 training modules followed by a total of 1000 learners (trainers, professionals, researchers or entrepreneurs), more than 300 students involved in innovative IoT projects, 36 student internships, 24 entrepreneurs trained to create a company with at least 12 startups launched.These actions will be developed in adapted structures that each southern partner will need to create and share. Thus, a network of 4 ""IdO Labs"" (laboratory for the design of connected objects) and at least as many platforms for experimentation in a priority field of applications such as agriculture, renewable energy or intelligent buildings, will have to support this project. AfriConnect+: enpowering people through education and skills in the digital area!"

AFRICAI-RI is a groundbreaking initiative designed to substantially improve healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by establishing the region's first federated, multi-institutional imaging research infrastructure. The project will leverage European and African expertise to adapt successful data infrastructures and imaging solutions to diverse environments across SSA. AFRICAI-RI will address the critical challenges posed by infectious diseases and the scarcity of medical imaging experts in the region. Furthermore, it will foster healthcare innovation by deploying federated learning technologies to enhanced access to large imaging data in a privacy-preserving, trusted fashion. Furthermore, the project will develop AI tools optimised for the diagnosis of tuberculosis and pneumonia in both adults and children, while ensuring their applicability across different imaging modalities such as X-ray and ultrasound. AFRICAI-RI is also committed to building local capacity by enhancing expertise in AI and clinical research through extensive training and stakeholder engagement. Additionally, the project aims to drive academic and economic opportunities by promoting new models of IP management and AI certification specific to the needs of SSA. The consortium will work closely with both local and international public health organisations to develop ethical guidelines and policy frameworks that enable the sustainable integration of AI in imaging diagnostics across SSA. Ultimately, AFRICAI-RI aspires to create a lasting infrastructure that not only addresses immediate healthcare needs but also fosters ongoing innovation and collaboration within the African continent and beyond.