Africa CDC and Global Fund partner to strengthen Africa’s health systems
 

(ADDIS ABABA) - A new partnership between the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) seeks to strengthen Africa’s health systems, advance regional leadership and support the continent’s path toward greater health self-reliance.

The two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the 79th World Health Assembly, underscoring their shared commitment to building more resilient, integrated and sustainable health systems across Africa. The partnership comes as countries across the continent navigate a shifting global health financing landscape and face growing pressure on development assistance, highlighting the need for stronger regional institutions, increased domestic investment and more sustainable approaches to financing health systems.

At its core, the partnership aims to strengthen country ownership, promote coordinated regional action and support health systems that are more predictable, sustainable and nationally led. It also reflects a broader shift toward African-led solutions that can strengthen the continent’s capacity to respond to health challenges and sustain progress over the long term.

“This partnership is an important step toward Africa’s health sovereignty,” said Dr Jean Kaseya, Africa CDC Director General. “Together, we are helping build a safer, stronger and more self-reliant Africa.”

Under the agreement, Africa CDC and the Global Fund will work together to expand integrated service delivery, strengthen community health workforce capacity, reinforce laboratory systems, improve surveillance and scale up digital health tools to support stronger public health systems and emergency preparedness across Africa.

The partnership will also strengthen regional procurement, local manufacturing and supply chain capabilities, including support for the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM), as part of efforts to improve access to essential health products, strengthen supply resilience and build more sustainable health markets across the continent.

In addition, the collaboration seeks to advance domestic health financing, strengthen public financial management systems, and support sustainable transition pathways at a time when African countries are increasingly reinforcing nationally led health systems and reducing dependence on external financing.

The agreement also aims to support African leadership in shaping global health security priorities and promoting more equitable access to health technologies and medical countermeasures.

“This collaboration reflects how we are evolving our partnerships – supporting national and regional leadership while strengthening the systems, workforce and supply chains needed to save lives and sustain progress,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund.

The collaboration aligns with Africa CDC’s broader Africa Health Security and Sovereignty (AHSS) agenda, which prioritizes stronger national public health institutions, resilient supply chains, local manufacturing, workforce development and increased domestic investment in health.

As the Global Fund prepares for its next grant cycle, the partnership is expected to help align investments with country priorities, support more predictable transitions from external financing and strengthen national systems and leadership to sustain long-term health gains.

Source: Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)
                                         

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