News overview
Articles

ITM continues to focus on capacity building

The 12 partner countries now include Rwanda and Nepal
drdalilamartinezfromimtavhtreatsapatientwithleishmaniasis

In February, the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp received confirmation that the Belgian Directorate-General for Development Cooperation (DGD) had approved the new 2022-2026 multi-year programme. This new multiannual programme runs until December 2026 and amounts to 70 million euros. ITM will use this funding for capacity building at 24 partner institutions.

Since 1998, ITM has been able to count on development cooperation agreements with DGD. Thanks to these subsidies from DGD, ITM realises a range of projects and strengthens research, education and policy at individual and institutional level among its partners. The ultimate goal of the cooperation is to improve the health situation of the population in the countries involved. ITM’s work is based on the needs and questions formulated by the partners.

Capacity building at partner level

Capacity building takes place at different levels. ITM supports improving basic infrastructure and knowledge, conducting joint research and education and translating research results into policy. The partners come from twelve countries, seven of which are from Africa, three from Asia and two from Latin America.

Two new partner countries

Compared to the previous programme (2017-2021), two new countries are added: Rwanda and Nepal.

Dr. Leen Rigouts is a researcher at the Unit of Mycobacteriology and coordinates Rwanda's FA5 country programme. She says the new agreement between ITM on the one hand and the Rwanda Biomedical Center and Rwanda University on the other was enthusiastically received by policy makers and the Minister of Health. ‘The programme aims to strengthen research and services in the fields of tuberculosis, malaria, worm diseases, proper use of antibiotics, vaccine development and roll-out.’

‘This new project marks the sealing of years of successful cooperation with our partner institutions,’ says Kristien Cloots, researcher at the Public health department and coordinator of Nepal’s FA5 country programme. ‘At the same time, this structural investment means a stable platform for the next five years that will attract further investments. In this way, we can work in a sustainable way towards a better policy on neglected infectious diseases and the impact of the climate on this’, Kristien adds.

Partner countries

  • Benin
  • Burkina Faso
  • DRC
  • Ethiopia
  • Guinea
  • Rwanda
  • South Africa
  • Cuba
  • Nepal
  • Peru
  • Cambodia
  • Vietnam

Spread the word! Share this story on

More stories