Background A consortium of African and European Universities, National Institutes of Public Health and Research Centers proposed a project to implement a Master’s in Field Epidemiology via blended-learning platforms based at University of Cape Verde. The field training is implemented with the National Institutes of Public Health of each country where strengthening of the local health systems in perspective. Thus, the presentation will describe the experience of implementing a blended-learning advanced field epidemiology training, the defining strategies for the internship and the first outputs produced by Epi Fellows.

Methods The overall project will be described as well as processes in developing the curriculum and its accreditation at different levels and the establishment of International Steering Committee. We describe the recruitment of students, how sites for training were selected as well as the outputs of the first student internships.

Results A total of 55 applications were received and 15 students were selected (6 from Cape Verde, 6 from Guinea-Bissau and 3 from São Tomé & Príncipe). Through a consultative process and field visits, tutors were identified for each student in their country of origin as well as field training sites considered relevant to enhance experiences and capacity of trainees in health surveillance and outbreak response at ministerial, municipality/district and hospital/health facility levels. The expected outputs from field training were defined and the 3 products of the first internships, focusing on the evaluation of the national health information systems of each country, the epidemiological surveillance from a one health perspective, the focus on antimicrobial resistance and outbreak investigations are critically described.

Conclusion The practical training in the countries of origin complemented with theoretical training offered online will allow better insertion and retention of the trained cadres in their countries of origin and contribute for health system strengthening.