Empowering African Researchers: Insights from the EVA-GLOBAL Workshops

The European Virus Archive – GLOBAL (EVAg), in collaboration with Julius Kuehn Institute (JKI), organized workshops aimed at enhancing virus diagnostics among African researchers. These workshops, funded by the EU’s H2020 program, ad-dressed the critical need for accurate diagnosis in manag-ing viral diseases and combating food insecurity in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). The workshops, held in September 2022 and February 2024, promoted theoretical lectures on virology, early diagnostics, collaboration, and networking, alongside practical sessions covering sample col-lection, preparation, and preservation as well as RT-PCR and electron microscopy. Participants from various African countries benefitted from both onsite and online lecture models, ensuring broad participation. The initiative reflects a con-certed effort to empower researchers and strengthen global capabilities in virus monitoring, detection and management, offering a promising perspective for improved disease control and agricultural resilience in LMICs.