Showcases Achievements at the DELTAS Africa Scientific Meeting

The Malaria and NTDs Research Capacity Development in West and Central Africa (MARCAD Plus) programme participated in the Developing Excellence in Leadership, Training, and Science in Africa (DELTAS Africa) Scientific Meeting, held from July 28–30, 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa.

Organised by the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation), this year’s meeting was especially significant as it also marked the 10th anniversary of the DELTAS Africa programme.

In the presence of funders attendance, partners, and other stakeholders, Dr. Tom Kariuki, CEO of the SFA Foundation, delivered the opening remarks. He reflected on the programme’s achievements over the past decade, alongside representatives from Wellcome Trust, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), DELTAS Africa Directors, and the consortia. Dr. Kariuki highlighted the programme’s success in transforming institutional environments and building the professional capacity required to deliver world-class science across Africa.

The SFA Foundation leadership further emphasized the importance of sustained investment in African-led research and the role of strong partnerships in shaping the continent’s scientific future.

As part of the session on Showcasing Excellence, MARCAD Plus Director Prof. Oumar Gaye presented the consortium’s significant progress and achievements. He highlighted MARCAD consortium’s scientific contributions over the past decade, its commitment to sustainability, and its long-term vision for malaria and NTDs elimination in Africa.

Prof. Gaye also underscored the consortium’s role in training internationally competitive scientists to lead efforts in malaria and NTDs control and elimination across West and Central Africa.

The Director of MARCAD Plus further participated in a panel discussion titled Igniting Change: From Lab to Life – DELTAS Africa II Science Translation Journey and the Role of DELTAS Partners.

The session focused on:

• Co-create practical strategies for translating evidence into policy and practice, with a focus on addressing “silent” or neglected policy areas.
• Develop clear recommendations to strengthen the funding and delivery of science-policy engagement under Pillar 4 of the DELTAS Africa Theory of Change.
• Foster collaboration among partners to elevate Africa’s leadership in science translation and policy influence in an era of polycrisis.

Like Prof Gaye, MARCAD Plus fellows also played an active role in the DELTAS Africa Scientific meeting. PhD and Postdoctoral fellows Dieu M. Mbumba Lupaka and Andrillene Laure Deutou participated in various sessions.

Andrillene L. Deutou, spoke at the DELTAS Africa meeting. She shared some research findings from her work on "the cross-kingdom potential of Medicago truncatula microRNAs in malaria, using a computational and immune-regulatory approach".

In addition, MARCAD Plus PhD and Postdoctoral fellows presented their work during the DELTAS Africa Scientific Meeting Poster Session, showcasing the programme’s vibrant research contributions.

For their part, the MARCAD Plus Programme Manager and finance team, composed of Mr. Ekoué Kouevidjin, Mr. Michel Ndong, and Mr. Ousmane Gaye, took part in the session organized for Programme Managers and Finance Officers.   

The primary objective of this workshop was to strengthen their capacities and provide them with a deeper understanding of administrative and financial procedures, as well as an overview of best practices implemented by other consortia.

The workshop was conducted in a roundtable format, fostering interactive and constructive discussions. The MARCAD Plus team actively participated, sharing their experience and contributing to the collaborative dynamic of the event.

This participation enabled the Programme Manager and finance team of MARCAD Plus to reaffirm their professionalism and commitment while reinforcing the rigorous implementation of procedures established by the Science for Africa Foundation.

The DELTAS Africa Scientific Meeting featured a rich lineup of panel discussions, showcasing insights from guest speakers and key representatives across the DELTAS Africa network.

The meeting served as a platform to showcase groundbreaking research in health, climate, and social sciences; strengthen cross-sector partnerships; reflect on a decade of impact in building Africa’s research capacity; and envision the future of scientific leadership on the continent.