The Programme hosted the Equity Department and Infectious Disease teams for a visit to the Nairobi and Kilifi Programme. The visit provided an opportunity for Wellcome colleagues to engage with researchers and staff, learn more about the Programme’s research portfolio, and explore opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange and capacity strengthening.

In Kilifi, researchers showcased work across community, hospital and laboratory settings, highlighting the breadth of research being undertaken to address health challenges and generate impact. The Wellcome teams also engaged staff in discussions on Equitable Research Practice, Wellcome funding opportunities, and ongoing work in Infectious Disease and Discovery Research. These conversations fostered shared learning and highlighted the importance of leadership, equity and inclusion in creating supportive and equitable research environments.

In Nairobi, the delegation engaged with researchers working across a range of areas, including the Clinical Information Network, policy engagement and knowledge translation, surveillance and metrics, and antimicrobial resistance. Presentations highlighted research spanning maternal and newborn health, health systems, health economics and climate change, demonstrating the Programme’s contribution to generating evidence to inform health policy and practice.

The Training Department also showcased the Programme’s commitment to developing the next generation of African research leaders. The team received an overview of the Initiative to Develop African Research Leaders (IDeAL), alongside presentations on the Postgraduate Diploma programme and its role in strengthening research skills and capacity.

The Nairobi visit concluded with a presentation by Dr Peter Kilroy, Senior Research Manager – Discovery Research, on Wellcome’s Discovery Research funding, including the Social Sciences and Open Mode schemes. The session provided insights into funding opportunities for researchers working in social sciences, humanities and population health at different career stages.

Across both sites, the visit created space for meaningful engagement, shared learning and dialogue around research, funding, equity and capacity development. It reinforced the value of continued collaboration between the Programme and Wellcome in supporting impactful research and building inclusive, sustainable research ecosystems in Africa.