The official closure meeting of the DANIDA-funded project titled “Strengthening Capacity to Manage and Cope with Pandemic in Ethiopia and Tanzania (SCCOPET)” is being held over three days from 11–13 March 2026. The meeting brings together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Health, healthcare professionals, academic and research institutions, and implementing partners from Mainland Tanzania, Zanzibar, Ethiopia and Denmark.
Pictured above (from left): Representatives from the University of Copenhagen and Prof. Levina Msuya, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic, Research and Consultancy (DVC-ARC), during the official opening of the SCCOPET closure meeting on 11 March 2026.
The SCCOPET project aimed to strengthen the capacity of frontline healthcare workers and health service managers to effectively manage and cope with disease outbreaks. Building on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the project focused on improving emergency response and preparedness, coordination, and resilience within health systems. Implementation covered Mainland Tanzania, Zanzibar, and Ethiopia, targeting both national and sub-national health system.
Throughout its implementation, the project supported a range of capacity-building initiatives, including training of frontline health workers, strengthening surveillance and outbreak response systems, and promoting evidence-based decision-making among health service managers. In addition, the project fostered regional collaboration and knowledge exchange between the participating countries to improve coordinated responses to public health emergencies.
The closure meeting provides an important platform to present the project’s key achievements, highlight best practices, and reflect on lessons learned during the course of implementation. Participants will also discuss challenges encountered and explore opportunities for sustaining the gains made through the project.
Collaboration in Action: Representatives from KCMC University, Ethiopia’s University of JIMA, and SUZA (Zanzibar) came together for the opening session of the SCCOPET project closure meeting on 11 March 2026.
Furthermore, the meeting aims to generate strategic recommendations for policymakers, health institutions, and development partners on how to maintain and scale up successful interventions introduced by the project. Emphasis will be placed on strengthening health systems, enhancing pandemic preparedness, and ensuring that frontline health workers and health managers remain equipped with the skills and tools necessary to respond effectively to future public health emergencies.
The outcomes of this closure meeting are expected to inform future research initiatives, promote continued collaboration between participating institutions including KCMC University, Mainland Tanzania, State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) Zanzibar, JIMMA University, Ethiopia, and University of Copenhagen (UCPH) Denmark as well as contribute to building more resilient and responsive health systems capable of addressing emerging and re-emerging infectious disease threats.