Events

The high-level session will bring together policymakers, development partners, researchers, and civil society to explore how African countries can transition from heavy reliance on external health funding to more sustainable, country-led financing models. 

This discussion is timely given declining donor assistance, rising debt pressures, and increasing demand for health services factors that risk slowing progress toward universal health coverage(UHC) if not addressed through urgent and coordinated reforms. 

The session will open with remarks from Dr Eliya Zulu, Executive Director of AFIDEP, and Dr Symere Grey Johnson, Director, Human Capital and Institutional Development at African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), followed by a keynote address by Hon. Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, Minister of Health, Uganda.  

This will be followed by a series of lightning talks and a high-level panel discussion featuring: 

• Dr Jackson Otieno, Senior Research and Policy Analyst, AFIDEP 
• Brian Luswata, Assistant Commissioner, Global and Regional Health Partners, Ministry of Health, Uganda  
• Dr Anne Hoppe, Senior Research and Policy Consultant, AFIDEP  
• Rhoda Igweta, Regional Director, Public Policy and Advocacy, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) 
• Janet Kristen Ginnard, Director of Strategy, Unitaid  
• Zachary Katz, Vice President, Child Health, Clinton Health Access Initiative  
• Dr Oratile Mfokeng-Selei, Acting Director of Health Services, Ministry of Health, Republic of Botswana  
• Noleen Bhebhe, Program Officer, AUDA-NEPAD 
• Emily Chirwa, Acting Director for Planning and Policy, Ministry of Health, Malawi  

Through these discussions, the event aims to generate practical, action-oriented solutions for strengthening domestic health financing, improving efficiency in resource use, and scaling locally relevant innovations. Ultimately, it seeks to foster stronger collaboration between governments and partners to build more resilient, efficient, and self-reliant health systems across Africa.