Africa Index Team

Lead Organizations

NTI

The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, global security organization focused on reducing nuclear, biological, and emerging technology threats imperiling humanity. Based in Washington, DC, NTI collaborates with governments and organizations to raise awareness, advocate, and implement creative solutions. As an independent and trusted partner, NTI transcends traditional thinking and stimulates new ways to address urgent threats. NTI | bio advances NTI’s biosecurity and global health security mission. 

Brown University Pandemic Center 

The Pandemic Center is working to prevent and reduce vulnerabilities and increase resilience to pandemics, other biological emergencies, and the harms they pose to health, peace, security, and prosperity. The Pandemic Center is an independent and credible voice for positive disruption and is uniquely positioned to work across disciplines and sectors to generate and analyze evidence, educate a new generation of leaders, and ensure this work is translated to effective policy and practice around the globe. 

Economist Enterprise 

Economist Enterprise is the arm of The Economist Group that supports organizations in navigating volatility and making better decisions. Grounded in independent analysis and trusted data, it translates macroeconomic and geopolitical forces into decision-ready intelligence, credible engagement, and informed dialogue on the global stage. 

Science for Africa Foundation 

The SFA Foundation is a pan-African nonprofit and public charity organization that supports, strengthens, and promotes science and innovation in Africa. The Foundation was established in 2021 and is committed to designing and managing science, technology, and innovation programs that catalyze major change in the African science ecosystem.

Project Staff and Report Contributors

• Oluwatosin Akande, MBBS, Horizon Fellow, Brown University Pandemic Center 
• Margaret Dunne, PhD Student, Research Assistant, Brown University Pandemic Center 
• Carly Gasca, Project Director, Brown University Pandemic Center 
• Ailia Haider, Manager, Technology & Innovation, Economist Enterprise 
• Sara Kaufman, Executive Assistant and Events Coordinator, Global Biological Policy and Programs, Nuclear Threat Initiative 
• Leah Lovgren, Associate Director for Research and Program Management, Brown University Pandemic Center 
• Diane Meyer, PhD, Lead Research Scientist, Brown University Pandemic Center 
• Scott Nolan Smith, Senior Director, Communications, Nuclear Threat Initiative 

Data Review Team

• Tauseef Ally, Associate Researcher, Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics, University of the Witwatersrand 
• Chamseddine Barki, PhD, Assistant Professor in Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering / Digital Health, Higher Institute of Medical Technologies of Tunis – University of Tunis El Manar  
• Hanene Boussi, PhD, Professor; Vice President in charge of Sustainable Impact and Rankings, Higher Institute of Medical Technologies of Tunis – University of Tunis El Manar 
• Sabri Barbaria, PhD, Assistant Professor; Medical Informatics, Higher Institute of Medical Technologies of Tunis – University of Tunis El Manar 
• Siposihle Bungane, Associate Researcher, Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics, University of the Witwatersrand 
• Souhir Chabchoub, PhD, Assistant Professor in Biophysics, Higher Institute of Medical Technologies of Tunis – University of Tunis El Manar 
• Mariem Chouchen, PhD Candidate; Researcher, Higher Institute of Medical Technologies of Tunis – University of Tunis El Manar 
• Mayssa Chrif, Researcher; Higher Institute of Medical Technologies of Tunis – University of Tunis El Manar 
• Nesrine ben El Hadj Hassine, PhD candidate; Researcher – Nurse Anesthesiologist, Higher Institute of Medical Technologies of Tunis – University of Tunis El Manar and Hospital Mongi Slim La Marsa 
• Mohamed Fatnassi, Researcher; Higher Institute of Medical Technologies of Tunis – University of Tunis El Manar 
• Nour Haouari, Researcher; Higher Institute of Medical Technologies of Tunis – University of Tunis El Manar 
• Darine Kebsi, PhD Candidate; Researcher, Higher Institute of Medical Technologies of Tunis – University of Tunis El Manar 
• Halima Mahjoubi, PhD, Professor; Higher Institute of Medical Technologies of Tunis – University of Tunis El Manar 
• Catarina Sakaita, Associate Researcher, Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics, University of the Witwatersrand 
• Lizeka Tandwa, Lecturer and Programme Head of the BHSc (Hons) in Bioethics and Health Law, Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics, University of the Witwatersrand 

AHS Index Reference Group

Experts who provided strategic direction for the project, ensuring that it effectively serves the needs of African public health and health security leaders.  

• Peter Babigumira Ahabwe, Chair, AHS Index Reference Group; Friend of the Chair, Biological Weapons Convention Working Group; Epidemic Intelligence Analyst, Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Uganda 
• Prof. Ali Asy, Animal Health Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Egypt 
• Christopher Armstrong, Senior Partnership Specialist – Pandemic Fund, United States 
• Donewell Bangure, Laboratory Systems and Networks Division, African Union/Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Ethiopia 
• Dr. Rym Benkhalifa, Laboratory of Biomolecules, Venoms and Theranostic Applications, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunisia 
• Ian Peter Busuulwa, Biological Threat Reduction, World Organisation for Animal Health, Kenya 
• Idosie Kenfack, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Burundi 
• Dr. Issa Makumbi (Ret.), Uganda National Institute of Public Health; Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, Uganda 
• Dr. Talkmore Maruta, African Society for Laboratory Medicine, Zambia 
• Zibusiso Masuku, Biosafety and Biosecurity Initiative, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Ethiopia 
• Dr. Augustin Mouinga‑Ondeme, Département de Virologie, Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, Gabon 
• Dr. Tolbert Nyenswah, Center for Public Health Emergencies Management, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Ethiopia 
• Dr. Chinwe Lucia Ochu, Planning, Research and Statistics, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Nigeria  
• Dr. Donald I. Ofili, West Africa Regional Technical Working Group on Biosafety and Biosecurity; MLSCN Accreditation Service, Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, Nigeria 
• Dr. Judy Omumbo, Science for Africa Foundation, Kenya 
• Dr. Samira Senouci (Ret.), Moroccan Biosafety Association; Microbiology and Health Security Department, National Institute for Hygiene, Ministry of Health, Morocco 
• Lizeka Tandwa, Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa 
• Dr. Oyewale Tomori, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria