Epidemic preparedness and response

The social and political dimensions of disease epidemics, preparedness and response.

WHO map of the 3 health zones in Ituri Province, DRC. As of 18 May 2026, these health zones are affected by an Ebola outbreak.
Briefing

Ituri Ebola Outbreak 2026 (DRC) – Summary overview of context

On 15 May 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) in Ituri province. This summary note details relevant contextual factors in Ituri Province, with a focus on three…
Multi-Hazards Research Network
2026
Case study

SSHAP learning note: Building a localised approach

This learning note shares insights, experiences and lessons from SSHAP's approach to the localisation of its operational responses in sub-Saharan Africa.
Central and East Africa Hub
West Africa Hub
SSHAP
2025
South Sudan political map with capital Juba, national borders, important cities, rivers and lakes. Illustration with English labelling and scaling.
blog

Aid cuts and healthcare devastation in South Sudan

Among the countries worst affected from the sudden and wide-ranging US aid cuts is South Sudan. South Sudan relies on international assistance to provide basic services to its people. Cuts will devastate its healthcare system, including its ability to prepare for and respond to infectious disease outbreaks.
Central and East Africa Hub
Leben Moro
6 Apr 2025
Caption: WHO Mpox prevention poster Credit: Author's own
blog

Learning from an evolving public health emergency to guide responses to mpox in Africa

As mpox continues to spread within the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring countries, concern is growing over how best to respond to this second mpox Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Research in Nigeria during the first PHEIC points to the importance of involving affected community perspectives.
West Africa Hub
Michael Kunnuji, Olufunke Adegoke, Megan Schmidt-Sane, Hayley MacGregor, Akanni Lawanson, Syed Abbas, Ayodele Jegede
20 Mar 2025
UNICEF/UN014699/Bonnaud
Question Bank
Tools

Viral haemorrhagic fevers question bank

This Question Bank is relevant to outbreaks where person-to-person transmission has been identified as significant to an outbreak's spread and where patient experiences must be understood for a community-centred response.
SSHAP
2025
Briefing

Outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Rwanda, October 2024

Key Considerations regarding the outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Rwanda, including national response capabilities, local governance structures, and regional and economic implications. 
Central and East Africa Hub
SSHAP
2024
Report

Meeting report: Mpox and discrimination in African settings

This report summarises contributions from speakers and participants at a Social Science in Humanitarian Action Platform (SSHAP)-organised online meeting to discuss mpox and discrimination issues in African settings, and operational responses to mpox that are contextually sensitive.
Central and East Africa Hub
SSHAP
2024
Question Bank
Tools

Mpox question bank: Qualitative questions for community-level data collection

A Question Bank for use by field teams and local research teams working in communities with mpox transmission and those at risk of transmission with the aim of supporting the collection and use of consistent and high-quality social and behavioural…
Central and East Africa Hub
SSHAP
2025
Photo of a mother and her young child in treatment at the mpox isolation unit of the UNICEF-supported Kavumu hospital in South Kivu province, DR Congo.
Briefing

Mpox, mining, and vulnerabilities of women and children in eastern DRC

This Key Considerations brief presents considerations for contextualising and responding to the mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, focusing on women and children living and working in artisanal and small-scale mining areas.
Central and East Africa Hub
2024
NIAID/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
blog

A new mpox emergency declared but the politics of global inequities persist

In this blog, Hayley MacGregor considers how the surge of mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and beyond underscores the need for urgent global action, stronger health systems and ongoing investment in pandemic preparedness.
Central and East Africa Hub
Hayley MacGregor
19 Aug 2024
Background report

Epidemic preparedness and response in Senegal

This report summarises a roundtable discussion which aimed to share strategic information from social science research, help actors in epidemic preparedness and response put in place targeted and appropriate interventions, and highlight the roles social science researchers can play in…
West Africa Hub
SSHAP
2024
Priority health challenges in Enugu State, Nigeria. A word cloud from a social science in action workshop.
blog

Improving outbreak preparedness and response in Enugu State, Nigeria

The Social Science in Humanitarian Action Platform (SSHAP) supported the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency and the Enugu State Ministry of Health to strengthen their qualitative research capacity to improve preparedness for disease outbreak. This blog shares learning from the process.
West Africa Hub
Joe Taylor
30 Jul 2024
Map of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
news

SSHAP hosts roundtable discussion on the mpox outbreak in the DRC

11th June 2024
Contextual social, political and livelihood understandings, factors affecting care-seeking and challenges to vaccination rollout were among the on-the-ground realities relating to mpox spread that experts discussed.
Central and East Africa Hub
Briefing

Effective vaccine rollout and uptake in Sierra Leone

This Key Considerations brief proposes key considerations for ongoing vaccination efforts in Sierra Leone, including for the hepatitis vaccine and new malaria vaccine (RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S)), offering insights on planning equitable vaccine campaigns for new infections.
West Africa Hub
SSHAP
2024
Policy document

Covid-19 Response Intra-Action Review (IAR) Report, Sierra Leone

This report details the findings of an Intra-Action Review (IAR) that was undertaken on the 22nd & 23rd September 2020, to review the COVID-19 response in Sierra Leone, focusing in particular on Surveillance, Laboratories, Case Management, Risk Communications, Food and…
West Africa Hub
2020
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