EMPHNET engages in biorisk management to help countries strengthen the systems that protect laboratory staff, communities, and national health security. Many countries in the region face challenges in maintaining sustainable biosafety and biosecurity capacities, including gaps in laboratory infrastructure, limited access to standardized procedures, and insufficient workforce competencies. Weak laboratory systems hinder surveillance, diagnostics, and outbreak response, making it difficult for countries to prevent, detect, and control biological threats. By supporting countries through assessments, capacity building, tools, and cross-sectoral collaboration, we help establish the structures and skills needed for effective and sustained biorisk management.

• Cross-border collaboration: Building cross-border networks to improve surveillance, response, and information sharing.
• A focus on sustainability: Supporting SOP development and creating educational tools to institutionalize biosafety and biosecurity best practices.
• Multi-sectoral approach through One Health: Applying our biorisk efforts across sectors, embedding them in one health to maximize impact across human, animal, and environmental health.
• A focus on the workforce: Addressing workforce gaps through cascade training in lab system, diagnostics, and safety practices, emphasizing mentorship, hands-on learning, and provision of essential equipment.

Our contributions in biorisk management span the full cycle of strengthening laboratory systems, supporting sustainable practices, and enhancing national and regional capacities.

• Biorisk Management Across the Entire Cycle

We support countries at every stage of the biorisk management process.

• Investing in Systems

We strengthen biorisk management by helping countries build long-lasting systems that improve laboratory safety, security, and operational readiness. This work focuses on establishing national structures, developing sustainable tools, and supporting cross-border collaboration to ensure that biosafety and biosecurity practices are institutionalized rather than temporary.

• Workforce Capacity Building

We build the skills of laboratory professionals across the region through a combination of assessments, curricula, training, and ongoing support. Activities include:

• Conducting training needs assessments
• Developing biorisk management curricula
• Designing and delivering practical training workshops
• Providing access to online educational materials
• Establishing follow-up mechanisms to support sustainability at the facility level

Training, curricula development, and infrastructure support have been delivered to:

• Countries in training workshops: Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Yemen, Liberia, Guinea, Kyrgyzstan
• Countries with customized curricula: Iraq, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen
• Countries receiving infrastructure/logistics support: Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Yemen