Africa

Ross was selected to join the Target Product Profile Technical Advisory Group. WHO is targeting a 50% reduction in deaths and disabilities caused by snakebite envenoming (snakebite) by 2030. To achieve this, access to safe, effective, and affordable antivenom in snakebite endemic countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, is critical. WHO is exploring a pathway for prequalification of antivenoms and identified a need to develop Target Product Profiles (TPPs) to support optimization of current and emerging products. WHO, in close collaboration with DNDi, will work on the development of TPPs for snake antivenom products for Sub-Saharan Africa and other snakebite endemic regions. Resulting TPPs will assist product standardization and guide more targeted research and development of antivenoms across the world
https://www.who.int/news-room/articles-detail/technical-and-scientific-advisory-group-on-the-development-of-target-product-profiles-for-snake-antivenom-products

The establishment of a research and development (R&D) trust fund aimed to facilitate sustainable fisheries management and wetland conservation in Lake Victoria, East Africa. A review of existing fisheries levy collection management led to recommendations on which mechanisms for collection, retention, and disbursement should be retained, alongside an investigation into additional revenue collection possibilities. The justification for creating a National Fisheries Levy Trust (NFLT) involved an economic appraisal of potential R&D investments focused on enhancing fisheries capture and production technology, as well as projects for conservation and institutional strengthening. 

The project developed a framework to analyze the costs and benefits of the overall AACES program, covering projects in water and sanitation, mother and child health, HIV/AIDS, food security, law and justice, and reproductive health. It involved benchmarking and comparing the costs and benefits of AACES against a range of other activities funded by AusAID in Africa. The analysis aimed to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the AACES program relative to similar initiatives, providing insights for improving future program design and funding decisions

A business plan was developed to assist with the commercialisation of animal health vaccines (redwater and gallsickness) in Zimbabwe. Vaccine market potential and value of product to end-users were modelled to determine appropriate vaccine pricing. Team Leader and responsible for report preparation and finalisation, along with facilitation of stakeholder workshops to ensure implementation of key project findings (for Dept. of Veterinary Services, Zimbabwe)

Project proposals were developed for the Alive Program for Avian Influenza Knowledge Hub in Kenya, Vaccine and Diagnostic Development for Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia and Sanitary Protocols for Livestock Trade in Eastern and West Africa