WHO and African Union Renew Strategic Partnership to Advance Health Security and Universal Health Coverage

The World Health Organization and the African Union Commission have officially renewed their longstanding strategic partnership, signing an updated Memorandum of Understanding on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva. According to the World Health Organization, the agreement binds both organizations to a joint commitment to advance health security, universal health coverage, and sustainable development across the African continent during a period marked by unprecedented financial hurdles in the global health landscape.

This renewed framework highlights the growing leadership role of the African Union in fostering collective action and regional resilience. Officials stated that the agreement places the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development of the African Union Commission directly at the center of the continent’s health policy implementation efforts. The accord was formally signed by Her Excellency Ambassador Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, acting on behalf of His Excellency Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, alongside Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization.

Speaking in Geneva, Commissioner Twum-Amoah noted that the framework establishes a new milestone for primary health care development. “This Agreement marks a new chapter in AU–WHO cooperation,” Commissioner Twum-Amoah said, according to the World Health Organization. “By working together more closely, we can better respond to the health needs of our populations and ensure that no one is left behind. The African Union values WHO’s central and leading role in global health and looks forward to deepening this strategic partnership in support of our shared goals. We need to move from budgeting for survival to planning for health sovereignty.”

Strategic Continuity and Financial Realities

The updated pact builds directly upon a prior Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019, streamlining collaboration across all institutional entities within the African Union. By aligning technical strategies with continental health priorities, the accord reinforces the World Health Organization’s normative leadership role while supporting member states in their pursuit of health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

Dr. Tedros emphasized that the timing of the pact is critical given shifting international funding priorities. “This renewed agreement comes at a critical time, as cuts to bilateral aid imperil the health of millions in Africa,” Dr. Tedros stated, as published by the World Health Organization. “It reflects our determination to translate our partnership into tangible results for the people of Africa, and support countries to leave behind the era of aid dependency and transition to sustainable self-reliance. We are proud to stand with the African Union in driving forward the health priorities of the continent.”

The convergence of goals arrives as the African Union exercises an elevated voice in global health governance, bolstered by its G20 membership.

Five Core Pillars of Collaboration

The Memorandum outlines five specific areas intended to structure operational efforts between the two organizations:

• Health systems strengthening: Focusing on regulatory harmonization, backing for local pharmaceutical manufacturing, the integration of traditional medicine, expanded domestic health financing, workforce development, and digital health innovation.
• Reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health: Providing continued support for the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA Plus 2021–2030) and advancing the reviewed Addis Ababa Declaration on Immunization.
• Disease prevention and control: Implementing continental frameworks to combat communicable and noncommunicable diseases, targeting the end of AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, eliminating neglected tropical diseases, and addressing viral hepatitis burdens.
• Nutrition and food security: Advancing the nutrition agenda through the implementation of the Africa Nutrition Strategy 2015–2025 alongside complementary World Health Organization strategies.
• Health in emergency settings: Enhancing joint responses to humanitarian crises, armed conflicts, and climate-related emergencies across member states.

For further administrative details or institutional inquiries regarding the agreement, Professor Julio Rakotonirina serves as Director of the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development at the African Union Commission and can be reached via email at [email protected]. Alternatively, Ms. Stéphanie Seydoux functions as Director and Envoy for Multilateral Affairs at the World Health Organization, reachable at [email protected].