About The PIONEER project
PIONEER aims to co-create a national, integrated FBD surveillance system in collaboration with key stakeholders utilizing state-of-the-art genomic methods for pathogen identification and chemical methods to provide timely and actionable data on FBDs to improve food safety and support evidence-based decision making.
Where We Work
Sentinel Surveillance Sites
Operating across four key HDSS regions to provide a national representative baseline for foodborne disease.
The PIONEER Project operates across four key Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS) in Ethiopia: Butajira, Hararghe, Arba Minch, and North Shoa.
Facts and Figures
Partners
Surveillance Sites
Years Duration
Objectives
How PIONEER Works
The PIONEER Project applies an integrated approach linking surveillance, laboratory analysis, and data systems to generate actionable evidence for food safety policy and public health.
Engagement & Design
We initiate mapping and engagement with national stakeholders (MOH, MOA, EPHI) to design climate-oriented surveillance and build institutional capacity.
Integrated Field Surveillance
Operating at community and health facility levels, we perform active diarrhea surveillance and collect multi-source samples (Food, Stool, Animal, and Water).
Advanced Laboratory Analysis
Utilizing multiplex PCR, metagenomics and whole-genome sequencing, we estimate the burden of pathogens and analyze chemical exposure through duplicate diet studies.
Data Integration & Policy
Data are integrated into a unified data‑sharing platform and combined with WHO disease burden models to generate evidence that informs the National Food Safety Management Plan.
News & Events
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Project Principal Investigator
Ethiopian Food-Borne Disease Surveillance Project
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Hands-on Laboratory Training Course on Metagenomics
The PIONEER Project successfully conducted a hands-on laboratory training course on metagenomics at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) in […]
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PIONEER Launches Pilot Testing
The PIONEER Project has launched pilot data collection at four HDSS sites: Hararghe, Butajira, Arba Minch, and North Shewa (Debre […]
Stakeholder Perspectives
Insights from our national and international partners on the impact of PIONEER research.
This pilot initiative aims to improve the generation of timely, credible evidence on foodborne disease risks in the food system.
Megan Harrison
Program Officer for Agricultural Development at the Gates Foundation
“Haramaya University’s PIONEER Project provides essential data for our national strategy’s success,”
Dr. Dereje Duguma
State Minister, Federal Ministry of Health
“PIONEER strengthens surveillance by integrating health, agriculture, environment, nutrition, and climate data through existing platforms and enhanced laboratory diagnostics.”
Dr. Getachew Tollera
Deputy Director of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI)
Partners
