EPHI, NORAD Discussed Further to Strengthen Collaboration Ties
The Ethiopian Public Health Institute’s (EPHI) management members had a discussion with the Global Health head of the Norwegian Development Agency (NORAD), Dr. Paul Fife, in the presence of EPHI’s Director General Dr. Mesay Hailu and Deputy Director General Dr. Getachew Tollera on various related topics on September 5, 2023.
They discussed on NORAD-funded Building Stronger Public Health Institutions and Systems (BIS) project, which is implemented by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) and EPHI. BIS is a multi-country project that supports stronger public health institutions and systems in six countries, including Ethiopia. The collaboration between the two institutions is further strengthened with the new EU grant supporting the ENABLE project (https://ephi.gov.et/horizon-europe-funds-enable-project-to-reduce-early-ncd-risk-in-urban-environments-in-ethiopia/), where NIPH and EPHI are co-PIs.
EPHI presented its strategic direction and priorities to Dr. Paul Fife, and Dr. Frode Forland, Specialist Director of Infectious Diseases and Global Health at NIPH, who is a seconded advisor to Africa CDC based in Addis. Furthermore, the Institute showcased its newly approved structure and role. Norway is a long-term partner of the Ethiopian government and contributes to its development.
Dr. Fife emphasized the importance of the health, nutrition and food system. NORAD with the NIPH committed to engage in further discussions to support EPHI’s priority areas on public health implementation research, public health emergency preparedness and biobank establishment. NORAD will also further explore potential future support of the institute on research collaboration with the NIPH and other Norwegian institutions in areas such as environmental health research, climate change, food system, NCDs, knowledge translation, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), one health and HIV.