The leading public health organization in Africa intends to seek additional funding from local sources to safeguard the progress achieved in the last twenty years regarding disease outbreak readiness and management, due to a significant reduction in international assistance.
As official development assistance (ODA) for Africa has decreased by 70% in recent years, it has become evident that there is now a significant shortfall in healthcare financing. This situation is exacerbating the strain on vulnerable health systems.
Throughout history, Official Development Assistance (ODA) has played a crucial role in cutting the under-five mortality rate by half from 1990 to 2019. This assistance expanded access to routine vaccinations and bolstered HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment initiatives, which currently offer antiretroviral therapy to more than 18 million individuals throughout Africa. Additionally, ODA facilitated swift reactions during significant healthcare emergencies like the Ebola epidemic in Western Africa.
The reduction in funding parallels an upsurge in disease outbreaks. From 2022 to 2024, the continent experienced a 40% surge in recorded public health crises. There are ongoing worries regarding the resurgence of viral hemorrhagic diseases like Ebola and Marburg. Additionally, climatic disruptions—spanning everything from flooding to extreme heat—are generating fresh health threats, particularly in areas with limited capacity for response.
“Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), pointed out that we are grappling with several challenges related to managing debts and relying heavily on imported medical supplies. These combined issues pose a significant threat to Africa,” he stated.
This issue presents a larger challenge for Africa’s health security framework, yet efforts are underway to address the funding instability. The Africa CDC has encouraged African Union member states to embrace a fresh phase of healthcare investments. Dr. Kaseya suggests a tripartite approach aimed at boosting sustainability and decreasing dependence on outside funders, as detailed in her recent publication.
He is calling on African Union Member States to increase their domestic funding for public health. Only two countries currently meet the Abuja target of allocating 15% of national budgets to healthcare. Domestic commitment is essential to safeguarding health systems against the volatility of international funding, he notes. “We need to have a costed strategic plan and a national financing plan. We need to push for more alignment of external resources,” said Dr. Kaseya.
Secondly, the Africa CDC is seeking innovative financing strategies. This includes establishing the Africa Epidemics Fund, which debuted its operational framework in February 2025, serving as a consolidated asset for readiness against emergencies and swift responses. Additionally, the organization is investigating options like an aviation levy or collective solidarity taxes aimed at generating a consistent source of finance for managing disease outbreaks.
Thirdly, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) aims to strengthen partnerships with charitable organizations and businesses. This initiative seeks to secure sustained funding for vital infrastructures such as regional vaccine manufacturing facilities, digital healthcare platforms, and distribution channels. To achieve these goals, Africa CDC has introduced the African Pooled Procurement Service designed to reduce expenses and enhance availability of crucial medical supplies throughout the region.
In order to facilitate the mobilization of internal resources and explore innovative financial strategies, Africa CDC seeks an investment of $43 million. This sum will help implement their initiatives, ensuring significant advancements towards achieving lasting healthcare financing throughout the region.
“The document outlines a comprehensive budget plan for every area of support. This includes funding for technical aid in formulating costed national healthcare strategies, setting up an AU-managed tracking tool, executing the trial aviation levy, as well as crafting and expanding novel and mixed financial models,” states the report on health financing.
Stirring up wider backing, Dr. Kaseya spearheaded an important diplomatic delegation to the United States, Norway, and Denmark. During their visit to Washington, D.C., he and his team held meetings with US legislators, USAID representatives, officials from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as prominent charitable organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. The purpose of these discussions was to underscore Africa CDC’s crucial position in ensuring worldwide health safety and to seek sustained assistance amid financial constraints faced by funding nations.
“Investing in public health in Africa is equivalent to investing in worldwide stability,” stated Dr. Kaseya during his trip to the United States. “The advancements made in Africa should not be undone due to short-term financial limitations faced by collaborating nations.”
According to Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, Principal Advisor to the Director General and the Continental Incident Manager for Mpox, what might appear as a significant obstacle could actually turn out to be a crucial chance.
“Africa CDC is utilizing reductions in international funding to promote sustainable healthcare financing — encouraging local investments, opening up new funding avenues, and constructing robust systems for Africa’s future,” states Dr. Ngongo.
Discussions held in Norway and Denmark with governmental and developmental authorities revealed a mutual desire to enhance healthcare infrastructure. Although concrete financial pledges remain pending, both nations expressed robust political backing for achieving the long-term goals of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
While visiting Norway, Dr. Kaseya endorsed a fresh Memorandum of Understanding linking the Africa CDC with the Kingdom of Norway. This agreement zeroes in on bolstering capabilities, improving data utilization for informed decisions, and utilizing DHIS2—an open-source system designed for gathering, documenting, examining, and sharing both aggregated and individual-specific information—to support nationwide and cross-border illness monitoring efforts.
During these meetings, Dr. Kaseya stressed that Africa is looking for partnerships rather than charity. He stated, “Our request is for solidarity and joint investment.” According to him, what they are establishing serves as a barrier protecting both Africa and the globe.
Dr. Ngongo emphasizes that complaining won’t solve anything. He states, “Instead of just reacting, we must consider how to adapt proactively should this become the standard scenario—how can we stay competitive within these parameters? How do we implement necessary changes on our end so that we can transform current challenges into opportunities for Africa? Our approach has been focused on turning potential obstacles into chances for progress. For this reason, we’re implementing a fresh strategy—one that focuses on enhancing internal financial resources, exploring novel funding methods such as solidarity surcharges and excise duties, and attracting investments from the private sector. We view this not merely as a hurdle but also as an opportune time to redefine healthcare financing across the continent.”
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) saw an enhancement in their funding efforts aimed at strengthening their capacity to respond to disease outbreaks and combat illnesses continent-wide. This advancement was supported by two African presidents on March 14.
On February 15, President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of Angola assumed the leadership of the African Union (AU) during the inaugural ceremony for the 38th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
President Lourenço praised the significant achievements of the Africa CDC in promoting the continent’s public health goals, linking them closely with economic development and employment generation, as well as safeguarding the security and welfare of all African citizens.
He mentioned that Africa CDC is crucial for enhancing the continent’s ability to address new health risks swiftly and efficiently.
“The pivotal role this organization has undertaken has established an admirable benchmark in disease monitoring, prevention, and management, significantly enhancing both regional and international public health safety. I pledge ongoing and robust backing for Africa CDC, enabling you to effectively fulfill your crucial mission,” stated President Lourenço.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, who likewise toured the Africa CDC during the same visit, urged AU member states to enhance their joint commitment towards bolstering the Africa CDC into a leading public health organization. “We must collectively fortify this entity alongside our partners,” stated Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. He further appealed to other African leaders to unite in transforming the regional public health body into an exemplary institution dedicated entirely to improving healthcare throughout the continent.
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