Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the European Union on the promotion of scientific research in Africa (1) generally, and (2) in relation to infectious diseases.

The UK regularly engages with the European Union on the promotion of scientific research in Africa, including in relation to infectious diseases. Cooperation on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) is embedded in the Joint Africa EU Strategy (JAES), agreed by Heads of State in 2007. Under the JAES, the EU and Africa engage in an STI partnership, governed by an EU-Africa senior officials high-level policy dialogue (HLPD). Through the UK Collaborative on Development Sciences (UKCDS), a group of 14 UK government departments and research funders, the UK plays a particularly active role in the HLPD Bureau, the body that implements the recommendations of HLPD. The HLPD and its Bureau is currently engaged, with UK support, in promoting an EU-Africa roadmap for STI cooperation in food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture. In addition, the EU has established the Pan Africa programme as a funding instrument to support the JAES and DFID officials are involved in regular discussions on the management of this fund. The funds from this programme support cooperation on a number of priority areas including research cooperation and improved higher education.

The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP) was established in 2003, to accelerate the development of new or improved drugs, vaccines and other health technologies. EDCTP brings together countries in Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, to pool resources and skills, to effectively co-ordinate and implement clinical research and to build research capacity in Africa. The UK is a leading bilateral investor in the EDCTP and has worked actively to promote its work; the UK is currently Chair of the European Economic Interest Group (representing European Member States) and the overall General Assembly.