Pandemic Preparedness Toolkit quarterly newsletter - launch issue - October 2024

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Pandemic Preparedness Toolkit Global Network: launch newsletter

24 October 2024

Foreword from James Tucker, Deputy Director of Health, International and Partnerships

Welcome to the first edition of the quarterly Pandemic Preparedness Toolkit (PPT) Global Network newsletter.

The PPT project aspires to strengthen infectious disease surveillance systems globally, through a shared online toolkit for quality statistics and leadership, designed specifically for National Statistical Offices (NSOs). A core element of the project is international collaboration, and we are therefore pleased to introduce our three Pathfinder Partners: Argentina, Malawi, and Nepal.

As the project progresses, the PPT Global Network will provide you with updates and opportunities to get involved in the development of the toolkit. Using the wealth of knowledge and experience we have in the Global Network is vital to the success of the project. We hope you engage with us and raise awareness of the toolkit amongst your own networks, to ensure that it reaches its full potential.

Our funder

This exciting five-year international project is funded by Wellcome, a global charitable foundation which supports discovery research into life, health, and wellbeing.

Tariq Khokhar, Head of Data for Science and Health at Wellcome, says, "The PPT project Is an opportunity to build on the statistical tools that support evidence-based decision making so we’re better prepared to monitor future diseases and pandemics to ensure an equitable and effective global response. New methods, tools and ways of working were rapidly developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.’’ He adds, ‘’It’s brilliant to have Argentina, Malawi, and Nepal on board as this will allow us to understand the needs and available resources within different settings and develop usable tools that will benefit communities across the world.”

Pathfinder Partner: Argentina

The PPT Pathfinder Partners in Argentina are the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses, Argentina (INDEC) and the Centre for Medical Education and Clinical Research (CEMIC), an academic institution.

Speaking on the PPT project, Mariano Poledo, the Director of International Relations at INDEC said, “For INDEC, it is a great opportunity to cooperate with different NSOs around the world and to work closely with them in order to adopt and adapt the best statistical methodologies.”

Pathfinder Partner: Malawi

The PPT Pathfinder Partners in Malawi are the NSO of Malawi and Luke International, a non-governmental organisation.

Shelton Kanyanda, Malawi Commissioner of Statistics, stressed the importance of the PPT project when sharing, “Our collaboration with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to develop a Pandemic Preparedness Toolkit is timely, not only for our drive to modernise our operations, but also to respond to the many climatic and pandemic shocks affecting our country and the region more broadly.”

Pathfinder Partner: Nepal

The PPT Pathfinder Partners in Nepal are the NSO of Nepal and HERD International, also a non-governmental organisation.

During the ONS’s visit to Nepal in March 2024, Toyam Raya, previous Chief Statistician, stated: “Once this PPT is developed and comes into operation, we will be able to provide high quality data mainly on social statistics, even during pandemic and disasters, to our users.”

Discovery phase activities

We are currently in discovery phase of the project: an exploratory period for the ONS and the Pathfinder Partners to scope out the project and define plans. Everyone has made a fantastic start working on a variety of tasks, including stakeholder mapping, a literature review on the public acceptability of infectious disease surveillance, and planning content for the toolkit.

Excitingly, all partners will meet for the first time virtually in our upcoming December workshops to collaborate on the toolkit structure and outline, which will be finalised at the end of March 2025.

Global Network membership

Membership of the PPT Global Network is on a volunteer basis, and therefore requires as much or as little time commitment as is preferred. Through the Global Network you will be kept up to date about the progress of the PPT project and have the opportunity to be involved in ad hoc toolkit development activities.

Finally, you will have the chance to attend, and contribute to, additional virtual events which will facilitate global collaboration.

Opportunities to get involved

User needs

We have launched a user needs exercise to understand what knowledge and skills would benefit Low and Middle-Income Country (LMIC) NSOs during an infectious disease outbreak.

If you work for an LMIC NSO, please consider completing this short survey.

UN World Data Forum

Emma Rourke, the UK Deputy National Statistician, will be on a panel at the UN World Data Forum in Colombia next month.

Organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Pandemic Hub, the important and timely panel is titled, ‘Towards enhanced pandemic and epidemic intelligence: The value of collaboration between National Statistical Offices and National Public Health Agencies’.

Global Network sign-up

It is integral to the success of the project that the PPT Global Network grows and raises awareness of the toolkit. Therefore, please share this newsletter with relevant colleagues and others in your network and ask them to complete the PPT Global Network sign-up form.