Our purpose
To mobilise Africa's population cohort data and expertise for collaborative, ethical, and policy-relevant research.
About APCC
Building Africa's research capacity through collaborative population science
Who we are
The African Population Cohorts Consortium (APCC) is a pan-African partnership uniting population cohorts and longitudinal research platforms across the continent to strengthen evidence for better health, wellbeing, and development in Africa.
APCC brings together researchers, institutions, and cohort communities working across diverse African contexts to advance collaborative science, data harmonisation, innovation, and evidence-informed policy. Through long-term population and health data, APCC supports research on health transitions, climate and health, universal health coverage, and the social and environmental determinants of wellbeing across the life course.
By fostering collaboration, ethical data sharing, and African-led research infrastructure, APCC aims to strengthen the continent's capacity to generate transformative evidence for public health and sustainable development.
APCC is hosted by the Science for Africa Foundation, which provides secretariat services and operational support under a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
What makes APCC different
Africa-led
Governed and driven by African cohort leaders
Longitudinal focus
Emphasis on life-course and intergenerational data
Collaborative by design
Enables multi-country, multi-cohort research
Ethics-centred
Strong focus on participant protection and benefit sharing
Infrastructure-building
Investing in data harmonisation and secure access
Our vision
The vision of the APCC is the sustainable development of African populations towards good health and wellbeing.
Our mission
The mission of the APCC is to enhance African population cohorts through a consortium to harness the continent's unique diversity and research capabilities, thereby facilitating scientific breakthroughs, building the African evidence base, and strengthening policy and practice towards attaining equitable universal health coverage.
Our values
- Equity We promote inclusive, participatory collaboration that ensures fair representation and shared benefits across all stakeholders.
- Transparency We commit to open, accountable decision-making, resource use, and data sharing.
- Innovation We embrace continuous improvement and cutting-edge research to advance scientific discovery.
- Integrity We uphold ethical, respectful collaboration that balances individual and collective goals.
- Sustainability We pursue long-term, environmentally, and socially responsible research through diverse partnerships and mindful resource use.
- Excellence We strive for scientific rigor, methodological excellence, and impactful research outcomes.
Scientific & geographic scope
APCC brings together population cohorts spanning the African continent, representing diverse populations, life stages, and research domains.
- Geographic coverage
- Over 93 cohorts across 26 African countries, representing diverse regions from North to Southern Africa, including urban and rural settings.
- Population types
- Birth cohorts, adolescent cohorts, adult cohorts, and multi-generational studies tracking health and development across the life course.
- Research domains
- Health transitions, infectious and non-communicable diseases, climate change and health, nutrition, mental health, social determinants, and health systems strengthening.
Strategic research priorities
About the programmesHealth and wellbeing across the lifespan
Understanding trajectories from conception to old age
Climate & health
Investigating climate impacts on health outcomes
Universal health coverage
Supporting equitable access to quality health services
Governance at a glance
APCC is governed by a democratic, Africa-led structure that ensures transparency, equity, and accountability in all decision-making processes.
Members Council
The highest decision-making body, comprising representatives from all member cohorts. Meets annually to set strategic direction.
Steering Committee
Elected body that provides operational oversight, ensures implementation of APCC's strategic plan, and reports to the Members Council.
Secretariat
Hosted by the Science for Africa Foundation, provides day-to-day coordination, administration, and support to APCC activities.
APCC in the African research ecosystem
The African Population Cohorts Consortium is uniquely positioned within Africa's evolving research landscape, bridging gaps between cohorts, funders, policymakers, and continental research initiatives.
- Complementing continental initiatives
- APCC aligns with the African Union's Agenda 2063 and supports implementation of continental health strategies, including the Africa CDC's public health priorities and regional research agendas.
- Strengthening local research capacity
- By investing in data infrastructure, harmonization, and collaborative research platforms, APCC empowers African researchers to lead globally competitive science grounded in local contexts.
- Bridging research and policy
- APCC serves as a trusted source of longitudinal, population-level evidence for national and regional policymakers, supporting evidence-informed decision-making on health, education, and development.
- Fostering partnerships
- APCC collaborates with African universities, research institutions, funders (including the Science for Africa Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and others), and global cohort networks to maximize impact and resource sharing.
Our history: from Blueprint to movement
The APCC was officially launched in May 2024 at a landmark meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, where representatives from 93 cohorts across 26 African countries endorsed the APCC Blueprint — a strategic framework that defines our mission, values, governance, and research agenda.
- Cape Town Blueprint Conference and Interim Steering Committee formation
- MoU signed with Science for Africa Foundation (SFA) to host APCC
- APCC presented at the Africa Health Research and Innovation Funders Forum (AHRIFF)
- Invited by the Wellcome Trust to apply for Discretionary Award
- Establishment of full Secretariat and first Annual General Meeting
Programmes & workstreams
All programmes & workstreamsThe APCC's programs and workstreams are designed to achieve our mission and vision. Here's a brief overview of our key initiatives:
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Secretariat & Governance
Building the foundation for strong coordination and leadership.
- Run the APCC Secretariat hosted by SFA
- Organize annual meetings and elections
- Support workstreams and committees
- Oversee implementation of the APCC Blueprint
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Strategic Research Programmes
Driving transformative research across Africa.
- Health and Wellbeing Across the Lifespan
- Climate & Health
- Enhancing Progress towards Universal Health Coverage
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Cohort & Stakeholder Engagement
Connecting people, partnerships, and priorities.
- Maintain cohort capability matrix
- Host regional stakeholder workshops
- Launch APCC Portal
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Ethics Programme
Ensuring research is fair, inclusive, and community-centered.
- Develop ethics guidelines
- Establish joint review processes
- Launch regional ethics hubs
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Data Harmonisation & TRE
Creating secure, interoperable data systems.
- Develop common metadata set
- Pilot TRE-in-a-Box systems
- Enable secure data access