Governance

The ACT-PREP project aims to strengthen capacity for conducting clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on research during outbreaks. The goal of the ACT-PREP project is to institutionalise clinical trial preparedness within national public health systems, as part of broader efforts to strengthen outbreak detection and response. This document lays out the governance structure and the leadership and administrative organs of the project. The various organs are described below

Governance

Project Leadership Structure

ACT-PREP aims to strengthen capacity for conducting clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on research during disease outbreaks. This structure outlines the project’s governance, leadership, and administrative bodies and how they work together.

ACT–PREP project organogram

Global Health EDCTP3 JU (Granting Authority)
Coordinator EDCTP Association
Project Scientific Lead MakSPH
General Assembly (All Beneficiary Leads)
Steering Committee (External Advisory Board)
Work Package Leads
WP1: Project Management & Monitoring (EDCTP Association)
WP 2–4: Scientific Project Leadership (MakSPH)
WP 5: Needs Assessment (Africa CDC)
WP 6–8: Surveillance & Digital Acceleration (MakSPH)
WP 9–11: Clinical Research Capacity Building (IDRC)
WP 12–14: Training & Mentoring Scientists (KSPH)
WP 15–17: Strengthening Ethics & Regulatory Capacity (MUHAS)
WP 18–20: Lab Systems Strengthening (NHLDS)
WP 21–23: Dissemination, Outreach, Community Engagement & Knowledge Translation (KI)
WP 24: Grant Writing Workshops, National Health Research Systems, Technical Site Visits (EDCTP Association)
Contractual reporting Guidance (advisory)

The governance organs

Coordinator

The coordinator serves as the primary intermediary for communication between the consortium and the Granting Authority, working closely with the Scientific Project Leader. The coordinator is responsible for distributing payments received from the Granting Authority to consortium beneficiaries without undue delay, submitting deliverables and reports, and ensuring effective coordination of the consortium in collaboration with the Scientific Project Leader.

For ACT-PREP, the Coordinator is the EDCTP Association.

Granting Authority

The Granting Authority is the body responsible for awarding the project grant. For ACT-PREP, this is the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking.

General Assembly

The consortium’s ultimate decision-making body, comprising representatives from all institutions within the network. It includes Work Package Leads, Co-Leads, and senior scientists from consortium member institutions, with deliberate attention to gender balance and regional representation.

Scientific Project Lead

A consortium body that serves as the key contact point for the Granting Authority on matters relating to the governance of scientific activities. It provides strategic direction and oversight for the development and implementation of the scientific activities, without prejudice to the tasks assigned directly to the Coordinator under the Model Grant Agreement.

For ACT-PREP, the Scientific Project Lead is the Makerere University School of Public Health.

Steering Committee

An external advisory board which provides guidance on strategic direction, resource mobilization and sustainability of project investments.

Work Package Lead

A representative of the party appointed to lead a work package, who coordinates the completion of the activities for the tasks within that work package.