African Ministers and leaders have called for bold reforms of the global health system following a series of regional consultations convened by Amref Health Africa with support from the Wellcome Trust.
Ministers of Health and leaders from West, East, Central, Southern, and North Africa delivered a unified message: the current Global Health Architecture (GHA) must be decolonised, with power, ownership, and decision-making shifted to African institutions and communities.
The consultations come ahead of the Africa Regional Dialogue on Global Health Reform, scheduled for Kigali, Rwanda, from 3–5 November 2025, as momentum grows across the continent for an Africa-led overhaul of the global health system.
The dialogue series marks a turning point, prioritising self-determination, equity, and sovereignty as foundations for a health system that serves Africa’s needs.
“When rethinking the Global Health Architecture, we should not think about it with borders in place. Our strength lies in regional collaboration – in pooling capacities, sharing resources, and building a resilient health ecosystem that transcends boundaries,” said Dr Esperance Luvindao, Namibia’s Minister of Health and Social Services.
Across regions, participants agreed on three key priorities for reimagining the GHA:
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Shift from Fragmentation to Coherence – Leaders called for a move away from the fragmented, donor-driven model toward an Africa-coordinated system that channels financing through robust national frameworks.
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Prioritising Sovereign Investment – With global aid projected to decline, African leaders stressed domestic resource mobilisation and fostering local innovation ecosystems to drive African-led solutions.
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Local Security through Local Manufacturing – Accelerating local production of vaccines and essential health products was highlighted as critical. Proposals include Regional Regulatory and Trade “Sandboxes” to pilot harmonised regulations and strengthen self-reliance.
Findings from the virtual consultations are set to inform the Africa Regional Dialogue in Kigali, where policymakers, researchers, civil society, and private sector stakeholders will work together to shape Africa’s blueprint for global health reform.
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