G-WAC Joins DAAD Global Centres in Berlin to Celebrate Five Years of Research Collaboration and Global Impact

Berlin, Germany | 28 September – 1 October 2026

The German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (G-WAC) joined fellow DAAD Global Centres in Berlin from 28 September to 1 October 2026 to mark five years of the DAAD Global Centres for Climate and Environment and the DAAD Global Centres for Health and Pandemic Prevention. The symposium brought together representatives of the participating centres, alongside German and international academic experts and policy-relevant partners, to celebrate achievements, exchange knowledge, and explore opportunities for future collaboration.

The event provided a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and knowledge exchange, with a focus on strengthening research partnerships and translating scientific findings into practical solutions to global challenges.

Advancing Research, Policy, and Practice

The symposium programme featured a range of activities designed to foster collaboration across disciplines and institutions. These included interactive workshops on implementing research in real-life settings, transdisciplinary policy-dialogue panels, and keynote presentations featuring perspectives from all continents.

Research fellows also presented their work, highlighting ongoing scientific contributions and opportunities for collaboration across the Global Centres network. In addition, a 1.5-day cross-centre PhD retreat brought together the new cohort of doctoral researchers, providing a dedicated space for scientific exchange, networking, and interdisciplinary engagement.

Cross-centre working meetings further enabled participants to discuss shared priorities, strengthen institutional connections, and shape future collaborative activities.

Strengthening G-WAC’s International Research Partnerships

For G-WAC, participation in the symposium provided an opportunity to engage with the wider DAAD Global Centres network and exchange experiences with international partners working at the intersection of research, policy, and practice.

As a centre dedicated to global health and pandemic prevention, G-WAC works to strengthen research capacity and foster scientific collaboration between West Africa and Germany. Engagement with the wider network supports these efforts by creating opportunities for interdisciplinary cooperation, researcher development, and the exchange of knowledge and expertise.

The symposium also highlighted the importance of sustained international partnerships in addressing complex global challenges. By bringing together researchers, academic institutions, and policy stakeholders, the DAAD Global Centres contribute to an environment in which scientific knowledge can inform decision-making and support evidence-based approaches to global health, climate, and environmental challenges.

Looking Ahead

The five-year milestone provided an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the DAAD Global Centres and consider how their collaborative work can continue to generate meaningful impact. Through ongoing engagement with the network, G-WAC remains committed to advancing global health research, supporting the next generation of researchers, and strengthening partnerships that contribute to improved health outcomes and pandemic preparedness in West Africa and beyond.