ABSTRACT
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is considered by the World Health Organization as one of the
greatest global threats to human health in recent times and limits achievement of several of the
Sustainable Development goals, in particular SDG3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being
for all at all ages). Although the burden of AMR disproportionately affects western sub-Saharan
Africa, research capacity in the sub-region is very low and not well positioned to tackle the current
demands of the problem. There is an acute shortage of professionals in West Africa in crucial
areas that are essential to impact research, policy and disease control. There is a dearth of
expertise for an array of crucial specialization relevant to AMR such as genomics, bioinformatics
and population genetics compared to other African regions. These research capacity deficiencies
could be addressed by focusing on long-term institutional training of junior scientists locally.
However, currently, there are hardly any academic training programs in West Africa countries that
focus on AMR. The objective of the proposed training programme is to increase research into the
detection, prevention and treatment of drug-resistant infections in West Africa, expand knowledge
and skills in clinical microbiology, and help junior scientists find a viable career path in AMR
research. The long-term goal is to establish a core of West African scientists who advance the
understanding and management of AMR and to support them to be competitive in obtaining
research grants from international funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, USA
and The Wellcome Trust, UK.