News

The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), in partnership with Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Globesolute, through the Financing for Surveillance and Pandemic Preparedness and Response project will host the inaugural SADC Health Financing Hub Dialogue on Health Financing and Pandemic Preparedness. The meeting will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, on March 13–14, 2025. 

This high-level regional dialogue will bring together key stakeholders, including representatives from SADC member states, the African Union, development partners, and technical experts, to strengthen health financing for surveillance and pandemic preparedness and response (PPR). 

Discussions will focus on increasing domestic investments, improving financial efficiency, and fostering regional collaboration. The meeting will also explore mechanisms for integrating pandemic preparedness into national health budgets and aligning financing strategies with the ALM Declaration and the WHO Pandemic Treaty.

At the meeting, AFIDEP will present an in-depth analysis of countries’ potential in integrating SPPR, including insights from the Scoping and Gap Analysis Report and Zambia’s progress. 

Expected outcomes will include the official inauguration of the SADC Health Financing Hub, the development of a regional framework for PPR financing, and commitments to enhance regional cooperation and sustainable health financing. 

The SADC member states will leverage the meeting to align their health financing priorities with pandemic preparedness, ensuring resilient health systems for the future.