Asella is located about 175 km - or roughly a 3.5-hour driving distance, southeast of Addis Ababa in the Arsi Zone of the Oromia Regional State, at an elevation of approximately 2,400 meters. The city is home to Arsi University, which, since its founding in 2014, has grown into a major academic institution with a focus on medicine, health sciences and agriculture. Together with the Asella Referral and Teaching Hospital, it offers an excellent environment for research, teaching, and international collaboration. The university provides its own housing for visiting scholars and medical students in the immediate vicinity of GHIDA. The region is known worldwide for its exceptional running tradition and is home to numerous internationally successful athletes, including Derartu Tulu, Tirunesh Dibaba, Haile Gebrselassie, and Kenenisa Bekele. The mild highland climate and close collaboration with local partner institutions create excellent conditions for clinical training and scientific research.

Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is the political and diplomatic hub of East Africa. As the seat of the African Union as well as numerous international organizations and embassies, the city boasts excellent international connections via Bole International Airport and serves as the main gateway for travelling to Asella.

Ethiopia faces a high burden of infectious diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV, alongside a growing challenge from noncommunicable diseases. Together with national and international partners, GHIDA contributes to strengthening diagnostic capacity, improving clinical care, supporting outbreak preparedness, and advancing locally relevant research for sustainable health impact.