VectorGrid-Africa
Building Africa's first permanent, networked mosquito observatory system, owned locally, designed to last, and built to scale.
Tropical Africa continues to face a major burden of mosquito-borne diseases affecting human and animal health, including malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya, lymphatic filariasis, Rift Valley fever, and yellow fever. These diseases place immense pressure on healthcare systems, livestock economies, and community livelihoods.
Despite their impact, many countries still lack the long-term, standardized data required to track vector population changes, monitor insecticide resistance, and evaluate intervention efficacy over time. VectorGrid-Africa bridges this critical gap by establishing permanent in-country field observatories owned and managed locally.
Harmonized sampling across countries.
On-site genomic sequencing technology.
Standardised monthly and biannual sampling to track mosquito abundance, species composition, distribution, seasonality, behaviour, host preferences, larval ecology, and insecticide resistance across diverse observatory settings.
Strengthening in-country capacity to identify mosquito species, detect pathogens, determine blood-meal sources, and monitor population structure and insecticide-resistance markers using targeted molecular assays and genomic sequencing.
Integrating vector, environmental, human health, and selected animal health data to improve surveillance of mosquito-borne diseases, with Rift Valley fever in Tanzania serving as the initial One Health model.
Combining weather-station, microclimate, satellite, and land-use data to assess how environmental change affects mosquito populations, transmission patterns, and disease risk.
Supporting African scientific leadership through five country-linked PhD studentships and practical training in entomology, genomics, bioinformatics, modelling, and surveillance.
Integrating entomological, environmental, health, and intervention data to forecast mosquito-borne disease risk, evaluate control scenarios, and support in-country public-health decision-making.
VectorGrid-Africa brings together ten consortium institutions and four associate partners across Africa, Europe, and North America.
Researchers, partners, funders, and policy makers can all join in. Get in touch to explore how to contribute to the next chapter of VectorGrid-Africa.