A consortium of African and European research institutions has been awarded a €1.5 million grant from the European Union, along with additional support from the Swiss government, to enhance early drug discovery capabilities in sub-Saharan Africa. The project, named RAFIKI (an acronym for “EU-Africa Research Infrastructure Alliance to Foster Infectious Disease Research, Knowledge Sharing, and Innovation”), aims to address significant public health challenges and foster collaboration between researchers from both continents. 

The RAFIKI project aims to provide infrastructure and training opportunities for early-career researchers and establishing a small-molecule library and data repository to support drug discovery initiatives.

The project will also strengthen international partnerships, with EU-OPENSCREEN leading the consortium of 36 European institutions dedicated to advancing drug discovery efforts in Africa. By connecting researchers and fostering collaboration, RAFIKI aims to build a sustainable drug discovery ecosystem that benefits not only Africa but also the global community.