The WHO African region has one of the heaviest burdens of infectious disease outbreaks and public health crises globally, with more than 100 new disease outbreaks reported annually.

This study seeks to contribute to understanding the dynamics of the outbreak in the region and provide an evidence base for future responses to the current COVID-19 outbreak, which is likely to continue for some time in the absence of mass vaccination programmes. Additionally, this approach will contribute to providing a robust platform for responses to future outbreaks of other infectious diseases and so ultimately contribute to strengthening public health security in the region.

The central research questions in this study are: what is the regional progress in detection and response to outbreaks following establishment of WHO WHE; what is the true incidence of COVID-19 in the region; what are the factors influencing the COVID-19 mortality in the region; what are the health and socioeconomic indicators driving COVID-19 incidence in the region; and how can the WHO Regional Office prioritize support to countries using an evidence-based risk assessment?