Africa CDC - LSHTM MRC International Statistics & Epidemiology Group Partnership to Support Robust Analysis of COVID-19 Seroprevalence Data in Africa

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is supporting African Union Member States to conduct national surveys to determine the percentage of people who have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Seventeen countries have completed or are currently conducting the first round of these surveys, and they have agreed to share their data to enable combined analysis. This project will employ a medical statistician to manage and analyse this complex multi-country COVID-19 survey data, advise country-level teams on survey design and analysis issues, and finalise the database so that it can be used for future research. The results of these time-critical analyses will be used to inform rapid response prevention planning, policy, and practice at country and continental level. In addition, the statistician will provide on-the-job training and mentoring to Africa CDC staff, strengthening institutional capacity to conduct statistical analyses and interpret findings. They will initially be employed for six months, but further funding will be identified to extend the duration of the post and to ensure sustainable strengthening of biostatistical capacity at Africa CDC.

Africa CDC is coordinating a unique, multi-national research initiative, supporting African Union Member States to carry out robust nationally-representative COVID-19 seroprevalence surveys, in order to inform rapid response prevention planning, policy, and practice at country and continental level. Seventeen countries joined the first wave of surveys, of which six have completed data collection, and seven are expected to do so by October 2021. Participating countries will analyse their survey findings with support from Africa CDC as needed, and have agreed to share their data for aggregate analysis and interpretation under precedent-setting data-sharing agreements. However, there is currently insufficient statistical and epidemiological capacity to undertake these critical activities. The aim of this proposal is to employ a medical statistician, initially on a six-month basis, to rapidly undertake time-critical analysis of the COVID-19 seroprevalence data, facilitated by Africa CDC, in order to inform policy decisions for pandemic response including vaccine scale-up. The statistician will manage and analyse this complex multi-country survey data, advise country-level teams on survey design and analysis issues, and establish the database for future research. They will provide on-the-job training and mentoring to the Africa CDC epidemiology analytics team and will support strategic interpretation and use of COVID-19 seroprevalence and vaccine coverage data and findings to inform Africa CDC and the Member States in their ongoing COVID-19 response including vaccine roll-out strategies. Following the six-month period, further funding will be identified to extend the duration of the post and to enable sustainable strengthening of biostatistical capacity at Africa CDC.