The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) is a public-public partnership between 14 European and 16 African countries, supported by the European Union. Launched in 2003, EDCTP was created as a European response to the global health crisis caused by the three main poverty-related infectious diseases, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. Part of the European Commission's Framework Programmes, EDCTP brings together European Union (EU) Member States plus Norway, sub-Saharan African countries, pharmaceutical companies, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), product development partners (PDPs), funding clinical research to accelerate the development of new or improved drugs, vaccines, microbicides and diagnostics against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as well as other poverty-related infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on phase II and III clinical trials. Our approach integrates conduct of research with development of African clinical research capacity and networking.