Safeguarding Africa’s Health

2024
A Year of Innovation,
Response, and
Resilience
A n n u a l Re p ort

www.africacdc.org
africacdc
 Message from the
Director General

T he year 2024 proved to be a defining moment for

Africa’s health landscape, marked by both progress and
unprecedented challenges. The continent experienced
emerging and re-emerging diseases such as mpox,
Marburg virus disease, and Cholera. Nonetheless, we have
The journey towards
a healthier Africa
witnessed considerable achievements. requires unwavering
The continent is facing an increasing number of public commitment and
health emergencies each year. In 2022, the continent
experienced 153 public health events. In 2023, Africa CDC
collective action. The
detected and monitored 166 public health events with nearly progress achieved in
30% categorized as high-risk. In 2024 Africa CDC tracked 242 2024 is a testament
public health events, a 46% increase over 2023, reported
from 44 African Union (AU) Member States. to our resilience and
determination. By
These challenges, compounded by climate change, conflicts
and insecurity, have put significant strain on our health building on these
systems and the economy of our member states. achievements, we
Guided by our mandate to safeguard the health of African can overcome the
populations and support member states in responding to challenges ahead
health emergencies, Africa CDC coordinates efforts across
the continent to build the capacities and capabilities of and secure a future
member states, including through mobilization of financial where every African
and human resources for member states, knowledge-
sharing, and deployment of rapid response teams to
can enjoy the highest
member states facing outbreaks. This collective action standard of health.
highlights the power of unity and collaboration, reaffirming
the need to safeguard the health and well-being of all
Africans.
H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to all the 55 AU
member states through short and long-term training
initiatives to build the capacity of the health workforce
in member states, provision of supplies and equipment
to strengthen the national health systems’ capacity and
capabilities to prevent, early detect and respond to public
health threats and emergencies, and technical assistance
through the deployment of subject matter experts. In 2024,
Africa CDC has provided 136 various types of technical
assistance, deployed 167 technical experts, provided short-
and long- term training for more than 9,600 participants,
and donated supplies and equipment worthing more than
75.8 million USD to support the member states’ capacities
and capabilities to prevent, detect and respond to public
health threats and outbreaks.
Moreover, Africa CDC declared first the first time mpox a
public health emergency of continental security, established

A Year of Innovation, Response, and Resilience | i

the first-ever joint continental coordination Africa CDC projections paint a grim picture.
mechanism through the Incident Management For instance, the recent decisions announced
Support Team (IMST) co-led with WHO, thus by the new US administration could reverse
transforming the management of public decades of progress, pushing morbidity and
health emergencies in Africa, helped mobilize mortality rates back to levels last seen in the
resources for the continent, including $1.1 early 2000s unless alternative mechanisms
billion and 6 million doses of mpox vaccines and domestic resources are mobilized to
in pledges to support the mpox outbreak bridge the gap.
preparedness and response in 21 member
states. Alongside these efforts, we continued Without intervention, Africa could face an
advocating for increased domestic resources, additional 2 to 4 million deaths annually
efficient use of domestic finances, and from diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria,
innovative public-private partnerships. tuberculosis, maternal and child health
complications, and vaccine-preventable
Looking ahead, the lessons learned in 2024 diseases. These numbers are staggering.
will guide our priorities and actions. Africa Beyond the lives lost, the health consequences
CDC remains steadfast in its commitment include increased outbreaks of diseases across
to a safer, healthier, and more prosperous the continent, accelerating the likelihood of
Africa, driven by resilience, innovation, and pandemics while reducing significantly life
collaboration. We will prioritize scaling up expectancy in many African countries. These
local manufacturing of vaccines, therapeutics health crises could spark global ripple effects,
and diagnostics; improving distribution in including preventive travel bans, restrictions
underserved areas, and enhancing cross- on trade and worsening economic isolation
border and community-based surveillance to across our continent and beyond.
address diseases that do not respect national
borders. Additionally, addressing climate- The financial toll is equally alarming.
induced health risks—ranging from heat- Increased health systems strain and the loss
related illnesses to the spread of vector-borne of productive lives could cost Africa billions
diseases—will be central to our strategy as of dollars annually. By 2025, an estimated 39
we build resilience against these emerging million more people could fall into poverty,
threats. deepening inequality and destabilizing fragile
states. This scenario must be a wake-up call
Our continent’s health systems have long for all of us. Given the wider macroeconomic
been sustained by external funding to protect environment and geopolitical instability, now
our citizens from emerging health threats, more than ever, Africa needs to start working
which disproportionately affect Africa. Yet, toward self-reliance and increasing domestic
the very institution we have mandated financing to meet the needs of its peoples.
to safeguard the health security of our
continent—Africa CDC—remains reliant on The journey towards a healthier Africa
external funding for approximately 90% of requires unwavering commitment and
its operations. This dependency has left us collective action. The progress achieved
vulnerable to external shocks and shifting in 2024 is a testament to our resilience
global priorities. and determination. By building on these
achievements, we can overcome the
Today, we face an evolving global landscape. challenges ahead and secure a future where
Many wealthy nations are increasingly every African has access to quality healthcare.
prioritizing domestic issues over official
development assistance. Several of our Let us move forward with unity and resolve,
member states are set to transition out of guided by a shared vision for health security
major global health financing mechanisms— and prosperity. Africa’s health is our shared
such as the Global Fund, Gavi, and the World responsibility, and its future depends on our
Bank’s International Development Association collective efforts.
(IDA) by 2040. The resulting reduction in
foreign contributions to essential healthcare
services is already having an impact on
our most vulnerable populations. The
consequences of these shifts are undeniable.

ii | 2024 Annual Report

Contents Message from the Director General i
Abbreviations and Acronyms iv
Executive Summary 1
About Us 7
Introduction 9

Chapter 1: Continental Public Health Mega Events:

Turning Challenges into Opportunities 11
Chapter 2; Milestones reached in implementing
programme aims 25
Chapter 3: Africa CDC Support to African Member States:
Disaggregated by Country 95
Resources deployed to realise the results 127
Key Strides and Decisions at the 38th African
Union Assembly 128
Chapter 4: Challenges in 2024 133
Chapter 5: Key Insights and Lessons for Future
Public Health Action 137

Looking Ahead: Strategic Priorities for 2025 139

A Year of Innovation, Response, and Resilience | iii

 Abbreviations and Acronyms
Africa CDC Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
ATC Advisory Technical Council
AU African Union
CAR Central African Republic
CDC Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
CEPI Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations
CFR Case Fatality Rate
CHWs Community Health Workers
CBOs Community-based organizations
COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease
DRC Democratic Republic of Congo
ECG Emergency Consultative Group
ECDC European Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
EOC Emergency Operation Centre
EPR Emergency Preparedness and Response
GAVI Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization
GB Governing Board
GHIs Global Health Initiatives
HIV Human Immune Virus
IHR International Health Regulations
IMS Incident Management System
IPC Infection Prevention and Control
MVD Marburg Virus Disease
MPXV Monkeypox virus
M&E Monitoring and Evaluation
NCDs Non-communicable Diseases
NCDMHI Non-communicable Diseases, Mental Health and Injuries
NPHIs National Public Health Institutions
PAHVM Partnership for African Health Products and Vaccines Manufacturing
PHAHPM Platform for Harmonized African Health Products Manufacturing
PPE Personal Protective Equipment
PPPR Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness Response
PHC Primary Health Care
PHECS Public Health Emergency of Continental Security
PHEIC Public Health Emergency of International Concern
PHEOC Public Health Emergency Operation Centre
R&D Research and Development
RCC Regional Collaborating Centre
RCCE Risk Communication and Community Engagement
SADC Southern Africa Development Community
TAG Technical Advisory Group
WASH Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
WHO World Health Organization
UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund

iv | 2024 Annual Report

 Executive Summary

T he 2024 Annual Report of the mpox a Public Health Emergency

Africa Centres for Disease Control of Continental Security (PHECS) on
and Prevention (Africa CDC) August 13th in consultation with the
highlights the organization’s sustained affected Member States and relevant
efforts to address the continent’s stakeholders. The declaration was
evolving public health challenges. supported by a recommendation of
Guided by its 2023–2027 Strategic the Emergency Consultative Group,
Plan, Africa CDC achieved notable the Advisory and Technical Council
milestones across its six strategic and through endorsement of the
priority areas: strengthening integrated Governing Board of Africa CDC.
health systems, strengthening For the very first time in Africa, an
national public health institutes, emergency response is led by putting
fostering local manufacturing of in place a Joint Continental Incidence
health products, advancing early Management Support Team (IMST)
warning and surveillance systems, co-led by Africa CDC and WHO,
improving laboratory systems and bringing together over 28 partners
networks, and ensuring robust to collaborate on the Mpox response
emergency preparedness and under the One team with a One unified
response for health threats. The report plan, One budget, and One monitoring
also underscores the critical role of framework. This is a historic first
cross-cutting enablers in achieving that marked a significant milestone
these goals, including public health in Africa’s leadership of public
research, digital health, best-in-class health emergencies of continental
health workforce, sustainable health significance.
financing, strengthened governance,
Africa CDC and its governing bodies
and regional coordination.
helped to raise pledges of $1.1 billion
Africa CDC supported national and 6 million doses of mpox vaccines,
responses to multiple major public of which US$700 million have been
health emergencies, including the committed and/or disbursed and
mpox outbreak in 20 member states 4.5 million doses of mpox vaccine
and the Marburg virus disease allocated to countries. The mpox
in Rwanda. Africa CDC declared response support covers 29 member
states with ongoing outbreaks and

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 1

 those at risk across all five geopolitical Africa CDC is also currently supporting
regions of the African Union (Angola, 15 member states affected by cholera
Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central by bringing vaccines, laboratory
African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, detection, and other public health
Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, interventions.
Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana,
Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Morocco, Knowing that 70% of outbreaks
Mozambique, Nigeria, Republic of currently occurring in Africa are
Congo, Guinea, Rwanda, Sierra zoonotic and worsened by climate
Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South change, Africa CDC has developed a
Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, strong program on climate change
and Zambia). With financial support and One Health, bringing together
from Member States and partners, human health, animal health, and
Africa CDC deployed nearly 100 the environment health sector
epidemiologists, 200 lab technicians to support efforts to prevent the
and other technical experts, and spillover and spread of pathogens
several community health workers. and strengthen cross-sectoral
The response has also included the coordination and collaboration. In
procurement and delivery of medical addition to emergency response,
countermeasures, including vaccines the Africa CDC has made strides in
and laboratory supplies, and the strengthening the health system and
training of in-country experts (303 developing the health workforce in the
epidemiologists, 195 surveillance continent. In 2024, over 4,000 public
officers, 167 laboratory experts, 3,576 health professionals were trained with
health workers and community health targeted expertise, while initiatives like
workers). the Ministerial Executive Leadership
Program, the Kofi Annan Global Health
On 27 September 2024, Rwanda Leadership Program, the Mental
confirmed the country’s first outbreak Health Leadership Program, the Public
of Marburg virus disease. With Health Emergency Management
support from Africa CDC and other fellowship, and the African Epidemic
partners, Rwanda declared the end of Service enhanced leadership and
this outbreak on 20 December 2024 technical capacities across the
with a total of 66 cases, 15 deaths and continent. Furthermore, Africa CDC
51 recoveries with one of the lowest strengthened National Public Health
case fatality rates estimated at 23%. Institutes (NPHIs) in 25 member states
Africa CDC played an important role and supported the establishment of
in bringing experimental treatments NPHIs in three member states. Africa
and vaccines, deployed experts in CDC also supported 23 Member
epidemic intelligence and laboratory, States in establishing Public Health
and in provided equipment and Emergency Operations Centres
supplies to assist with early detection (PHEOCs), a critical emergency
and characterization of the virus, and preparedness and response
to strengthen the response. Africa component. Investments in laboratory
CDC also collaborated with Ministries networks and genomic surveillance
of Health in neighbouring countries expanded the continent’s capacity to
(Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, and detect and respond to outbreaks early,
DRC) to assist in addressing the with pathogen genomic sequencing
cross-border aspects of the outbreak capabilities extended to 43 member
and provide guidance on regional states—a steep change in their
surveillance strategies to contain the laboratory capacities and capabilities
outbreak. achieved through sustained skills,

2 | 2024 Annual Report

knowledge and technology transfer.
Today our member states rarely send
samples for pathogen identification
overseas. They have the capacity
to do it on the continent. The use of
pathogen genomics has expanded to
more priority pathogens, including
cholera, malaria, AMR pathogen, and
viral haemorrhagic fever. To facilitate
evaluation of diagnostic technologies
and to promote local manufacturing,
Africa CDC established a biobanking
network across Africa and created the
Diagnostic Advisory Committee (DAC).
DAC has played a significant role during
the mpox response by helping countries
in selecting quality diagnostics. Africa
CDC has supported member states to
strengthen event-based surveillance and
emergency preparedness and response Africa CDC, 2024 footprint.
to various public health emergencies
such as cholera, measles, mpox and
Marburg, among others.
As a continental Pan-African Public
Health Agency, Africa CDC has
developed various strategic guiding
documents, frameworks and protocols to
help member states strengthen disease
prevention and control. Moreover,
Africa CDC has now developed a
continental health research governance
167
Exeperts
$26.7m
Infrastructure
and coordination mechanisms to shape deployed and equipment
the research ecosystem of Africa more to Member
equitably, countering the long history States
of donor-driven research agenda.

56 9.62K
Furthermore, Africa CDC has worked
extensively to ensure African voices
are heard and help shape both policy
and practice across the global health Number of Number of
ecosystem and governance systems, persons trained persons trained
including the Pandemic Fund, Pandemic in long-term in short-term
Agreement negotiations process, and courses (LC) courses (SC)
other similar global health initiatives.
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support
to all the 55 AU member states through
short and long-term training initiatives
$49.1M
Supplies
to build the capacity of the health deployed to MS
workforce in member states, provision
of supplies and equipment to strengthen
the national health systems’ capacity and Summary of Africa CDC support to Member
capabilities to prevent, early detect and States

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 3

respond to public health As Africa CDC moves
threats and emergencies, forward, the lessons
and technical assistance learned in 2024
through the deployment and Member State
of subject matter experts. preferences, will shape
In 2024, Africa CDC has our priorities as well as
provided 136 various types the evolving landscape
of technical assistance, of foreign assistance to
deployed 167 technical healthcare in Africa. The
experts, provided short-and organisation remains
long- term training for more committed to achieving
than 9,600 participants, a safer, healthier,
and donated supplies and and more prosperous
equipment worthing more than Africa. With a focus on
75.8 million USD to support the resilience, innovation, and
member states’ capacities and collaboration, Africa CDC
capabilities to prevent, detect aims to strengthen African
and respond to public health health sovereignty while
threats and outbreaks. addressing emerging
and long-standing health
Despite these challenges. This report
achievements over the reflects not only on the
last year, Africa CDC past year’s achievements
faced some challenges, but also on the strategic
including resource vision and determination
limitations, geopolitical that will drive Africa CDC’s
shifts, and vaccine priorities in the years to
shortages. The reliance come.
on external vaccine
manufacturers and
producers of other critical
medical countermeasures
needed for disease
outbreak prevention
and response, further
underscored the urgency
of Africa manufacturing of
health products initiatives.

A Year of Innovation,
Response, and
Resilience
A n n u a l Report | 2 0 2 4
A Year of Innovation, Response, and Resilience | 5
 Mandate
Safeguarding
the health of
the continent
by Member
States through
strengthening
their capacity
to safeguard the
health of their
citizens.

6 | 2024 Annual Report

 About Us

A frica CDC was given the mandate to safeguard the health

of the continent by Member States and we strengthen
their capacity to safeguard the health of their citizens.
To govern our work, we have three main governance bodies:
The Committee of Heads of State and Government (CHSG), the
Governing Board and the Advisory and Technical Council (ATC).
Africa CDC is an autonomous technical institution of the African
Union (AU), enabling agility to address public health challenges,
contributing to the continent’s socio-economic growth while
reinforcing accountability and alignment with AU principles.
Africa CDC has five Regional Coordination Centres (RCCs) that
play a crucial role as structural centres designed to serve as
a collaborative and coordination platform for all stakeholders
within each geopolitical region of the African Union. The RCC
creates the Africa CDC without walls positioned to assist its
Member States at a time of need through a decentralized
approach. Africa CDC has also in-country presence or support
systems in all the 55 AU member states.

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 7

 3.1. Programmatic priorities
Africa CDC’s six programmatic priorities are interconnected and interdependent. Progress on
one area is often dependent upon and can catalyse and complement progress in others. Further,
Africa CDC will continue to be conscious in ensuring that the goals, objectives, and actions in this
Strategic Plan are complementary, value-adding, and not duplicative to ongoing initiatives in the
public health ecosystem regionally and globally.

A safer, healthier, and prosperous Africa, in which Member States are prepared
Vision to timely prevent, detect, and respond effectively to public health threats and
outbreaks

Strengthen Africa’s public health institutions and systems’ capacities,

Mission capabilities, and partnerships to timely prevent, detect, and respond effectively
to public health threats and outbreaks based on evidence-based policies,
programmes, and interventions

Aspiration To become a world-class, self-sustaining, and agile institution that champions

African health security, sets the African public health agenda, and leads and
coordinates continental efforts driven by a One Health approach

Priorities for 2023-2027

Strengthen Build up proactive Ensure robust Strengthen Expand clinical Expand health
integrated surveillance, emergency National and public product and
health systems intelligence preparedness and Public Health health laboratory technology
to prevent and gathering, and response capabilities Institutes systems and innovation and
control high- early warning for all public health networks manufacturing
burden diseases systems emergencies

1 2 3 4 5 6
Enablers for 2023-2027
A. Enhanced and integrated digital & analytics approaches to public health in Africa
B. Scaled and best-in-class African public health workforce
C. Secured and sustainable financing for public health in Africa
D. Strengthened public health research and innovation to improve public health decision-making and practice
E. Coordinated, respectful and action-oriented public health partnerships and strengthened engagements with communities
on public health needs
F. Strengthened engagement and support of Member States through RCCs and in-country presence
G. Strengthened governance, internal structures, processes, and capacity, enabling Africa CDC to deliver on its mandate

Figure: Africa CDC vision, mission, and priorities

14 AFRICA CDC | STRATEGIC PLAN

2023 – 2027

8 | 2024 Annual Report

 Introduction

T he African population is which Member States are prepared

projected to reach 2.5 billion to timely prevent, prepare and
by 2050, accounting for respond to public health threats
more than 60% of the projected and outbreaks. Aligned with the
global population growth over Africa Union’s Agenda 2063 and
the same period. Africa still has the New Public Health Order for
the lowest life expectancy and Africa, Africa CDC developed a
the highest mortality rates for five-year strategic plan 2023 – 2027
women, children, and newborns to provide strategic guidance
compared to all other regions and support to Member States
in the world. This is coupled through six strategic priorities
with the current epidemiological and seven cross-cutting enablers.
transition in Africa, characterized The strategic plan was carefully
by a shift from disease-burden designed to address the emerging
profiles dominated by infectious and reemerging complex public
diseases to profiles featuring an health challenges at local, regional,
increasing predominance of non- and global levels. Its operational
communicable diseases (NCDs) model is structured around its
and the growing impacts of climate Centres, including its Regional
change on health including major Coordinating Centres (RCC), which
increases in outbreaks and health ensures an Africa CDC without
incidents. The expansion of health walls as it supports the Member
systems, infrastructure, services, States regarding surveillance,
and machinery to adequately preparedness, emergency response
prepare, prevent, and respond and public health interventions
to health threats will be critical closer to Member States.
to cater for the needs of Africa’s
Africa CDC was elevated to an
population in the future.
autonomous health institution of
Established as an autonomous the Africa Union during the 35th
and specialised health institution Ordinary Assembly of Heads of
of the African Union, Africa CDC State and Government in February
is mandated to ensure a safer, 2022, granting it the agility and
healthier and prosperous Africa in required flexibility to respond

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 9

 effectively and efficiently coming together to work on
to public health threats. To mechanisms to prepare for
ensure lasting solutions to the next pandemic, Africa
our health challenges, Africa needed a unified voice to
CDC is spearheading the ensure an equitable share
establishment of National and representation in
Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) global decisions. Through
as vehicles for national respectful and action-oriented
health security at the country partnership, Africa CDC took
level. NPHIs are mandated leadership to support AU
to ensure population well- Member States’ participation
being and national health in the negotiations for the
security by establishing and pandemic agreement and the
The Heads of State maintaining robust public revision of the International
and Government health surveillance and Health Regulations. These
disease intelligence systems, instruments are critical in
stressed the need timely detection, and response preparing the world and Africa
to fully implement through fully operational for the next pandemic.
Public Health Emergency
the Lusaka Agenda Operations Centres (PHEOCs). Furthermore, the Heads
as a cornerstone Africa CDC emergency of State and Government
preparedness and response stressed the need to fully
of Africa’s pursuit to health threats is guided by implement the Lusaka Agenda
of sustainable evidence-based prevention as a cornerstone of Africa’s
and mitigation measures. pursuit of sustainable health
health systems and systems and universal
universal health Against this backdrop, we
present the work of Africa CDC
health coverage. Aligned
with the AU’s Agenda 2063,
coverage for 2024. This report covers this framework lays the
the collective achievements foundation for collaborative
made together with Member and accountable health
States, highlighting the key governance, supported by
successes, challenges, and structured metrics, capacity-
lessons learned. It also offers building, and stakeholder
insights into the strategic engagement. With Africa CDC
focus for 2025. The 2024 serving as the secretariat
financial year presented for the Lusaka Agenda, the
opportunities and challenges continent is better positioned
that shaped how Africa CDC to tackle the current and future
positions itself in the global challenges with sustainability in
health space. As health mind.
players across the world were

10 | 2024 Annual Report

Chapter 1
Continental
Public Health
Mega Events
Turning Challenges
into Opportunities

A Year of Innovation, Response, and Resilience | 11

T he 2024 witnessed two major disease
outbreaks (mpox and Marburg) on the
continent and two remarkable milestones
(The Lusaka Agenda and reformation of the
Partnership for African Health Products and
Vaccine Manufacturing (PAHVM) which are critical
in shaping the public health architecture of the
continent and beyond. The multi-country mpox
outbreak eventually impacted 21 AU Member
States and Rwanda’s Marburg virus disease
(MVD) outbreak.

First batch of vaccines to the DRC were officially received by The Ministers of Health of Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon,
the Minister of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo,
(DRC), Samuel Roger Kamba, alongside H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, the Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Uganda, and partners met to
Director General of Africa CDC, the UNICEF Representative in address the need for cross-border integrated disease surveillance
DRC, Grant Leaity, and the Director General of Health Emergency and a coordinated regional approach to mpox.
Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), Laurent Muschel.

Main recommended actions from the high-level

ministerial meeting on cholera response in SADC
region

Develop a multi- Strengthen

sectorial cholera regional
response plan collaboration

Cross- Increase Implement Accelerate

border investment climate- local and
cholera in the resilient regional
vaccination current WASH manufacturing
campaigns cholera program of cholera
emergency vaccines
Figure: Mpox-affected member states in 2024 response

12 | 2024 Annual Report

 Africa CDC’s Leadership and Coordination Role
in Public Health Emergency Management –
Changing the Narratives and Positioning Africa
CDC in Global Health Ecosystem

A frica CDC, by the mandate causing severe impacts on the

provided by the Heads of lives and livelihoods of the people.
State and Government of
For example, to address cholera
AU member states, has been
outbreaks in Zambia and
tracking public health events in the
Zimbabwe, Africa CDC convened
continent through its surveillance
a high-level regional ministerial
system and state-of-the-art
meeting with Southern Africa
Emergency Operation Centre
Development Community (SADC)
(EOC). In 2024, Africa CDC tracked
for Cholera which resulted in the
and monitored 212 public health
development of a communique
events with multiple multi-country
that contains recommended
outbreaks including Cholera,
actions to address the
mpox, Marburg, dengue fever,
overwhelming outbreak of cholera
measles, among others. Following
in the region.
this tracking of public health
outbreaks, Africa CDC supported Following changes in the
member states to respond to these epidemiology of mpox in the
outbreaks timely and without Central African region, Africa CDC

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 13

 conducted a high-level ministerial health emergencies, Africa CDC
meeting under the theme “United deploys its assets, including rapid
in the fight against mpox in Africa”. response teams, supplies, medical
This high-level ministerial meeting countermeasures, and direct
attended by the Ministers of technical assistance and capacity
Health of Angola, Benin, Burundi, building to outbreak-affected
Cameroon, Central African Republic, countries. This year, in support of
Congo, Democratic Republic of different disease outbreak responses
Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, including cholera ( Zambia,
Nigeria, Uganda, and partners Zimbabwe, Comoros), mpox (over
emphasized the urgent need for 15 countries), Marburg virus disease
strengthened preparedness and (Rwanda) and other at-risk countries,
response to mpox in the African Africa CDC deployed over 200
Union Member States, highlighting multi-disciplinary technical experts
the need for cross-border integrated and over 1125 community health
disease surveillance and a workers ( and over 2400 CHW are
coordinated regional approach. in the pipeline for deployment for
the mpox response); dispatched
These high-level convenings drew supplies including diagnostics worth
high-level political ownership and over USD 3.24 million; and trained
enhanced the response efforts over 3966 local healthcare workers
for cholera and mpox in the two and community health workers
regions, leading to the control of to support the outbreak response
cholera in highly affected countries. efforts of AU Member States.
Beyond convening and coordinating
the responses against public

In carrying out its functions the Africa CDC shall pursue the following strategic objectives which
shall include:

• Declaring PHECS in close consultation with affected Member States and, as appropriate,
relevant stakeholders;

• Coordinating and supporting Member States in health emergencies response particularly those
which have been declared PHECS or PHEIC emergencies as well as health promotion and
diseases prevention through health systems strengthening, by addressing communicable and
non-communicable diseases, environmental health and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

14 | 2024 Annual Report

 Unprecedented Strategic Leadership and
Coordination of Mpox and Marburg Response

A s per its mandate, beyond strengthening.

tracking, monitoring and
The authority to declare PHECS
supporting public health
was established to address gaps
emergency responses across the
in existing international health
continent, Africa CDC regularly
frameworks, such as the World
releases situation reports and
Health Organization’s (WHO)
convenes AU Member States and
International Health Regulations
other partners for action against
(IHR), which rely on a binary alert
priority public health threats.
system recognizing only PHEIC as
Continental mpox response - African the highest level of emergency.
institutions in the driver’s seat This framework often fails to
address health threats that, while
In accordance with Article 3(e and not meeting PHEIC criteria, still
f) of its mandate, the Africa CDC is pose significant risks to Africa.
mandated to declare a Public Health These limitations became evident
Emergency of Continental Security during the 2023/2024 cholera wave
(PHECS) and to support African and recurrent viral haemorrhagic
Union (AU) Member States in fever outbreaks, severely impacting
responding to health emergencies. the continent. Although these
This includes addressing outbreaks outbreaks were primarily confined
declared as PHECS or Public Health to Africa, they carried the potential
Emergencies of International to spread globally. Similarly, the
Concern (PHEIC), as well as 2022 mpox outbreak highlighted
promoting health and preventing these challenges when the PHEIC
diseases through health system declaration was lifted as cases

A joint continental IMST to

respond to mpox in Africa

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 15

 declined in Europe, even as they principle: One continental Incident
continued to rise in Africa, leading Management Support Team
to the current outbreak. (IMST) co-led by Africa CDC
and WHO in collaboration with
On August 13, 2024, Africa CDC, partners (Figure X), One unified
in consultation with mpox- response plan including 29
affected Member States and Member States and implementing
key stakeholders and supported partners, One budget estimated
by recommendations from at USD599 million with pledges
its Emergency Consultative amounting to USD1.2 billion and
Group (ECG), Advisory and One monitoring framework.
Technical Council (ATC) and the
endorsement of its Governing To strengthen its institutional
Board, declared the mpox mechanisms, Africa CDC
outbreak a PHECS. The following developed the PHECS
day, WHO declared it a PHEIC. The Framework, a comprehensive
PHECS declaration has been made protocol designed to guide
following strategic engagements the declaration and lifting of
and consultations with high-level PHECS in response to cross-
political leaders and scientific border health threats requiring
advisory committees such as a coordinated continental
H.E. Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, approach. This framework
President of Mauritania and the emphasizes saving lives and
African Union (AU) Chairperson, livelihoods, rapid mobilization of
H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President resources, collaboration, effective
of South Africa and the AU communication, evidence-based
Champion for pandemic action, solidarity, and equity. It
prevention, preparedness, ensures that Member States are
and response (PPPR), and the prepared to respond swiftly and
Chairperson of the African decisively to continental public
Union Commission, H.E. Moussa health crises.
Faki. These leadership bodies
were critical in making quick The mpox response plan
decisions. This collaborative was composed of ten pillars:
approach ensured alignment with Collaboration and coordination,
the AU’s political and scientific surveillance, laboratory
leadership and catalysed cross- (testing and diagnostics),
border surveillance, resource case management, infection
mobilization, and strategic prevention and control (IPC), risk
responses. communication and community
engagement (RCCE), vaccination,
The Director
Generals’ Special
By September 5, 2024, a unified research and innovation, logistics
Weekly Press continent-wide response plan and supplies, and continuity of
Briefing was launched under the 4-One essential healthcare services.

16 | 2024 Annual Report

Table: Main achievements of the mpox response

Pillar Main achievements Effects

Coordination and Established IMST structure, mobilized 1.1 billion USD, Demonstrated that African institutions
Leadership engaged high-level leadership and partners, conducted can lead and coordinate public health
weekly press briefings on the emergency, deployed rap- emergencies, built trust among the
id respondents (CHWs, epidemiologists, data managers, public and partners, and enhanced
lab experts). country support

Mobilized over 6 million doses of lifesaving mpox vac-

cines in-kind donation
Surveillance Developed enhanced mpox surveillance protocols, Increased early detection of cases,
strengthened cross-border surveillance and contact reduced transmission and community
tracing, enhanced surveillance data management sys- spread
tems, trained surveillance personnel in mpox-affected
countries
Laboratory Provided 7 qPCR machines and 7 sequencing equipment, Increased testing capacity from 2
supplied 41,000 sample collection and transportation labs to 12 labs in DRC, 1 lab to 30 labs
swabs, specimen transport bags, and sample storage in Burundi, improving testing rate in
and transportation boxes, over 74,000 test kits and se- Africa from 38% in August to 58% in
quencing reagents to 21 countries, trained 169 laborato- October 2024
ry personnel
RCCE Developed RCCE guideline, distributed IEC materials, Increased public awareness, in-
reached population with messages creased vaccine uptake…
Vaccination Administered more than 156,316 doses of vaccine in 5 Reduced active transmission in five
countries. countries
Case management Supported mobilization of a tune of 6 million doses and Supported overall mpox response by
donor management, Supplied 742, 500 doses of vaccines, availing medical counter measures,
diagnostics worth $7,446,777.1, PPE materials worth essential tools to guide their supply,
$616,310.6 and supported the attainment of the IMST of- enhanced visibility through digitaliza-
fice, developed essential medical lists and quantification tion and in general enabled the opera-
of medical supplies tools, vaccine dispatch tool, vaccine tionalization of the response. This has
fractionating strategy, Supported in country logistics resulted in lowering CFR to below 1%
for vaccination, established dashboards to enhance in all the member states
visualisation of the medical counter measures demand
and supply
IPC Supported PPE to healthcare facilities, trained health- Reduced in-facility transmission of
care providers mpox
Research Coordinated continental mpox research, developed 41 Addressing the knowledge gap and
research protocols, contributing to innovation of vaccines
and therapeutics.
Continuity of essential Supported countries to continue essential healthcare Essential healthcare services contin-
services services ued in the affected countries
Supplies and logistics Supported mobilization of a tune of 6 million doses and Supported overall mpox response by
donor management, Supplied 742, 500 doses of vaccines, availing medical countermeasures,
diagnostics worth $7,446,777.1, PPE materials worth essential tools to guide their supply,
$616,310.6 and supported the attainment of the IMST of- enhanced visibility through digital-
fice, developed essential medical lists and quantification isation, and in general enabled the
of medical supplies tools, vaccine dispatch tool, vaccine operationalization of the response
fractionating strategy, Supported in country logistics
for vaccination, established dashboards to enhance
visualisation of the medical counter measures demand
and supply

Africa CDC’s support to Member States Africa CDC also facilitated the mobilization,
to respond to mpox included deploying procurement, and delivery of medical
nearly 100 epidemiologists, lab technicians, countermeasures, including over five million
logisticians, vaccination, infection prevention vaccine doses as donations in-kind and
and control and communication experts, laboratory supplies valued at more than USD
with an additional 2,400 community 6 million. Furthermore, it trained in-country
health workers (CHWs) in the process of experts, including 303 epidemiologists, 195
deployment to the most affected countries. surveillance officers, 167 laboratory experts,

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 17

 and 1,576 healthcare workers, to digitalization and connectivity
enhance the capacity of Member of surveillance systems, and the
States in outbreak prevention, scale up of community health
preparedness and response. workers (CHWs); working towards
the Heads of state and government
The mpox response covered 29 commitment to having 2 million
Member States across all five AU CHWs, thereby leaving a legacy
geopolitical regions, including for the continent’s pandemic
countries with active outbreaks prevention, preparedness and
and those at high risk (Angola, response.
Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central
African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Research to support mpox and Marburg
Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon,
Outbreaks
Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia,
Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, For the first time, the Research
Republic of Congo, Republic of and Innovation is an integral
Guinea, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, pillar of the joint continental
Somalia, South Africa, South incident management support
Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, team (IMST) on mpox, established
and Zambia). following the declaration of the
The ongoing mpox outbreak mpox outbreak as a Public Health
has provided Africa CDC with an Emergency of Continental Security
opportunity to demonstrate its (PHECS) on 13th August 2024 by
leadership through the IMST, co- Africa CDC. Africa CDC is leading
led with WHO, marking a first in this pillar with WHO in identifying
outbreak response coordination. current gaps in knowledge and
Learning from past experiences medical countermeasures to
with Ebola in West and Central launch appropriate research and
Africa and COVID-19 pandemic, development and operational
Africa CDC is responding to the research to address these gaps.
mpox outbreak with a deliberate The pillar is composed of clinical
focus on strengthening health trials/R&D, implementation/
systems through key initiatives, operational research, ethics and
such as the decentralization regulatory.
An overview of
mpox research of laboratory services, the
sites in Africa

18 | 2024 Annual Report

Table: Summary of Mpox Research Topics and Current Status by the IMST

S.N. Research Topic Targeted Member Investigating Current Status

States Organizations
1 Understanding the Continental: Starting Africa CDC Protocol approved by IRB in the DRC,
socio-ecological and in DRC, Burundi, CAR, Congo, Kenya. Phased implementation
behavioral drivers of Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, started in DRC, Dec 2024. A total of
Mpox disease in Africa Rwanda, Uganda, Cote 4852 records uploaded in REDCap and
d’ Ivoire 25 key in depth interviews conducted
in DRC. Approval of protocol ongoing
Target study in Burundi, CAR, Nigeria. Cote d’ Ivoire
population in the is reviewing the master protocol for
continent: 42,294 country contextualization.
(41, 844 Quantitative
and 450 Qualitative Data collection in the above 9 countries
respondents) expected to be completed by February
2025
2 A phase III, multi- DRC (Equateur PANTHER, Africa DSMB set up
country, randomized, possibly Sud-Kivu), CDC, INSP, INRB,
placebo-controlled, Nigeria, Cameroon, N-CDC,OUH, Likak, Scientific review completed
double-blinded adaptive Benin, RoC, CAR, Berry Consultants,
platform trial to assess Ghana, Liberia, (Mali & MSF, ALIMA, ITM, Joint press release
the efficacy and safety Sudan) UNITY
of treatments for Study began in the DRC, Dec 2025
participants with Mpox
virus disease

3 Epidemiology of Mpox Kinshasa, DRC Africa CDC, Johns Protocol approved. Training of research
in children and adults in with possibility of Hopkins, UCSF, INRB, team completed. Study to begin in Feb
Kinshasa DRC: Incidence, expanding to other INSP 2025 for 3 months
risk factors, and Risk Category A
outcomes countries
4 Modelling of Mpox DRC, Burundi, CAR, Africa CDC, in- Protocol approved
disease Congo Republic, country PIs, Africa
Kenya, Nigeria, Union Member State Analysis ongoing- weekly collaborative
Rwanda National Public partnership with WHO, World Bank
Health Institutes,
international experts
in Mpox modelling, U.
Chicago, UCSF
5 A Phase 2 Randomized, Kinshasa, DRC Africa CDC, INRB, Protocol completed, working on the
Open-Label dose- NIH, CEPI, WHO DSMB, CRO and Data Center at INRB to
sparing Trial to Inform submit to Ethics Review Board
Public Health Strategies
Involving the Use of
MVA-BN Vaccine for the
Mpox Health Emergency
6 Multi-country All countries in Africa CDC, WHO, Rwanda initiated study via IQVIA and
study to assess the Category 1 that are NPHIs of member other 7 countries protocol alignment
immunogenicity, safety in line to receive states in Category 1,
and effectiveness of the vaccine before IQVIA
Mpox vaccines in Africa December, 2024
7 The Marburg Survivor Rwanda Africa CDC, WHO, Protocol approved by Rwanda Ethics
Study University of Rwanda, Board. Africa CDC will support RBC
Rwanda Biomedical with the viral persistence and clinical
Center (RBC) sequealae
8 A Phase 2, Single-Arm Rwanda Africa CDC, Gilead Revised protocol submitted for final
Study of Obeldesivir Sciences, Rwanda approval; IND sent to country
for Postexposure Biomedical Center
Prophylaxis of Marburg
Virus Disease

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 19

 Unprecedented Response to the Marburg Virus
Disease Outbreak in the Republic of Rwanda

O n September 27, 2024, the

Ministry of Health of Rwanda
confirmed the country’s first
outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
(MVD), a severe disease clinically
similar to Ebola virus disease. The
outbreak was controlled and declared
over on December 20, 2024, with
a total of 66 cases, with 15 deaths
and 51 recoveries. As there are no Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, and DR
approved treatments or vaccines for Congo to assist in preparing for any
MVD, early intervention for those cross-border spread and to provide
showing symptoms was found to be guidance on regional surveillance
crucial for improving survival rates. strategies to contain the outbreak. The
Africa CDC Director General, together
In response to the outbreak, Africa with the Minister of Health of Rwanda,
CDC deployed experts in epidemic conducted regular weekly press
intelligence, research, genomics briefings where hundreds of journalists
and laboratory science to assist with attended – creating transparency and
early detection and characterisation ensuring public trust and confidence.
of the virus, a critical approach
towards early containment of the As part of preparedness, Africa
outbreak. Africa CDC, together CDC played an essential role in
with Gilead Sciences, supplied an strengthening the capacity of
antiviral medicine to support case public health institutions across the
management. Additionally, Africa continent. By fostering partnerships
CDC deployed laboratory equipment and implementing data-driven
and supplies to assist with virus interventions, the Africa CDC and
detection and sequencing, and a the Government of Rwanda worked
surge team was used to beef up the towards improving the rapid detection
ongoing response activities. Africa and response to control the Marburg
CDC also collaborated with Ministries Virus Disease outbreak with the lowest
of Health in neighbouring countries case fatality rate on record.

20 | 2024 Annual Report

 Africa CDC Steering the Lusaka Agenda

T he Lusaka Agenda Secretariat

hosted at Africa CDC
aligns with the February
2024 Assembly Decision of the
African Union Heads of State and
Government (Dec.880(XXXVII) and
further solidifies Africa CDC and AU
Commission leadership in steering The Lusaka
the successful implementation of
the Lusaka Agenda on the African Agenda’s
continent. The establishment of transformative
the Secretariat is a pivotal initiative
to oversee and coordinate the potential lies in
monitoring and accountability
mechanisms essential for
fostering African-
advancing Africa’s health led solutions,
transformation.
building stronger
The Lusaka Agenda, launched on
Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
primary healthcare
Day, December 12, 2023, provides systems, and
a framework for coordinated
action towards a unified vision ensuring equitable
of sustainably and domestically
financed health systems and
health outcomes
universal access to healthcare, while reducing
ensuring that no one is left behind.
dependency
H.E. Ramaphosa has been
instrumental in advancing the
on fragmented
Lusaka Agenda Accountability external funding.
Framework. Through the PPPR
Commission, he championed the
establishment of an accountability
mechanism for the Lusaka Agenda,
which leverages platforms
such as the Africa Leadership
Meeting (ALM). He secured the
endorsement of the framework by
his peers, emphasizing Africa’s
commitment to health equity,
strengthened primary health care,
and accountability for sustainable
progress.
The Lusaka Agenda’s
transformative potential lies in
fostering African-led solutions,
building stronger primary
healthcare systems, and ensuring
equitable health outcomes
while reducing dependency on
fragmented external funding. It
represents a unified vision for
Africa to lead the future of its
health systems with sustainable
financing and strategic coherence

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 21

 across global and local health response, and control of public
initiatives. It aims to empower health threats across the
African nations to achieve African continent.
universal health coverage
(UHC) and resilience against The Lusaka Agenda Secretariat,
public health threats, including housed at Africa CDC, will work
those exacerbated by the with partners to develop the
COVID-19 pandemic. Lusaka Agenda Monitoring
and Accountability Framework
The effective implementation of and a continental scorecard for
the Lusaka Agenda will achieve timely monitoring and reporting
five strategic shifts, notably for to AU Heads of State and
the long-term evolution of the Government.
Global Health Initiatives (GHIs):
Through the Secretariat, AU
1. Make a stronger Member States will more
contribution to primary effectively and efficiently
Lusaka Agenda: health care (PHC) by leverage Global Health
effectively strengthening Initiatives (GHIs) to complement
systems for health. domestic financing, maximizing
...a unified vision health impacts in support of
of sustainably 2. Play a catalytic role in country-led priorities.
fostering sustainable,
and domestically domestically financed The Secretariat provides a
financed health health services and public platform for Africa CDC to work
health functions. closely with partners, including
systems and WHO and the wider UN system,
3. Strengthen joint
universal access to approaches for achieving
the World Bank, bilateral
donors, regional entities, civil
healthcare, ensuring equity in health outcomes. society, and community-led
that no one is left 4. Achieve strategic and
organizations.
behind. operational coherence. The Secretariat will coordinate,
monitor the implementation,
5. Coordinate approaches
and periodically report to
to products, research and
the AU Heads of State and
development (R&D), and
Governments on the progress
regional manufacturing to
of implementation. It will foster
address market and policy
learning and knowledge-sharing
failures in global health.
across policy and program
The five strategic shifts will areas, ensuring no country is
advance resilient primary health left behind during the Lusaka
care (PHC) as the cornerstone Agenda’s implementation on
of preparedness, prevention, the African continent.

22 | 2024 Annual Report

Strides in Local Manufacturing of Health Products

A frica must manufacture its own manufacturers currently face, such as getting
vaccines, therapeutics and medical Africans to buy vaccines manufactured on
diagnostics. A history of being the last the continent, which is central to making the
in the queue to get vaccines, exorbitant costs business case.
from imports, and a huge market should
In June 2024, USD1.2 billion for the African
inform Africa’s desire for local manufacturing
Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA)
of health products.
was launched in Paris. This innovative
Africa CDC’s agenda for local vaccine financing mechanism will be available over
manufacturing moved a notch higher in 2024 10 years to accelerate the expansion of
with several milestones. During the 37th commercially viable vaccine manufacturing
Assembly of the African Union in 2024, the in Africa. Expectations are AVMA will allow
Heads of State and Government decided to Africa, between now and 2040, to produce
upgrade the Partnership for African Vaccine 60% of its vaccines.
Manufacturing (PAVM) to the Platform
Additionally, African Export–Import Bank
for Harmonized African Health Products
(Afreximbank) unveiled a USD 2 billion
Manufacturing (PHAHM).
pledge in support of African Health Products
The 37th AU Assembly also decided to Manufacturing in 2024. The money is to
establish an African Pooled Procurement support the continent’s health product
Mechanism (PPM). This initiative, backed manufacturing ambition.
by African Export-Import Bank and UNECA,
There first ever African Vaccine
aims to make high-quality medical supplies
Manufacturing (AVM) supply mapping
more affordable and accessible across the
showed that there are 574 active
continent. to improve access to quality and
manufacturers in Africa, with 25 of them
affordable health product technologies and
involved in producing vaccines. These can
promote local manufacturing.
be divided into three segments. There are
Africa CDC hosted a High-Level meeting those AVMs which already have commercial
themed “Ministerial Consultations on Local scale facilities and technology transfers
Manufacturing” on the sidelines of the that are complete, underway or are close
77th World Health Assembly where over 40 to commercialization based on overall
ministers of health, representatives from supplier maturities and capabilities. Some
regional economic communities and partners suppliers have commercial scale facilities and
pledged to support the continental ambition, are ready to receive technology transfers.
avoid competition amongst member states, The remaining 15 suppliers are still in the
and strengthen the regional mechanism to development stages. The year 2024 gave a
ensure the continent can manufacture the clear picture of vaccine development and
vaccines and other health products it needs. manufacturing status on the continent and
what needs to be done for it to be a success.
The ministers offered insights on the
continent’s readiness and the challenges that

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 23

24 | 2024 Annual Report
Chapter 2
Milestones
reached in
implementing
programme
aims

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 25

 Strengthening integrated health systems to
prevent and control high burden diseases in
Africa
Reinforcing Community Health Systems initiative has evolved through frameworks
and Health Promotion such as the Monrovia Call to Action (2023)
In 2024, Africa CDC continued its and the establishment of the Community
commitment to strengthening community Health Delivery Partnership (CHDP), which
health systems as a fundamental pillar have guided the operationalization of
of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) CHW programs. However, despite these
and health security. Recognizing that advances, challenges such as fragmented
resilient health systems require strong financing, inadequate training, and lack of
community health structures; Africa CDC policy coherence persist.
has prioritized institutionalizing Community Africa CDC launched the Continental
Health Workers (CHWs) as an integral part Coordination Mechanism (CCM) for
of national health systems. This aligns with Community Health in 2023 to address
the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the these gaps. This platform enhances
New Public Health Order, emphasizing stakeholder coordination, aligns national
sustainable health workforce development, and regional efforts, and streamlines
community engagement, and the scaling- resource mobilization for community health
up of essential health services at the interventions.
grassroots level.
In 2024, Africa CDC focused on four key
The 2017 AU Heads of State’s decision to areas:
recruit, train, and deploy two million CHWs
across the continent marked a milestone  Strengthening governance and
in community health. Over the years, this leadership for CHW programs.

Meeting between H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda and
H.E Jean Kaseya, Africa CDC Director General at the margins of the third National Health Promotion
and Disease Prevention Conference in Kampala October 16-18, 2024

26 | 2024 Annual Report

 Establishing sustainable financing Institutionalizing CHWs Across AU
models. Member States
 Standardizing CHW service delivery
through guidelines and SOPs. Africa CDC facilitated the rollout of
 Integrating digital solutions for Community Health Acceleration Planning
improved health data collection and (CHAP) workshops in seven member
service delivery. states (Malawi, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire,
Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, and
Key Achievements in 2024 to Strengthen Zambia). Through these workshops, Africa
CHWs program CDC provided technical assistance to
member states in developing national
High-Level Political Engagement CHW strategies tailored to their health
Mobilizing Efforts to Strengthen CHWs system needs. These engagements
Program also supported integrating CHW
remuneration into government budgets
Africa CDC successfully engaged AU and aligning efforts with the “One Plan,
Heads of State, Ministers of Health, and One Budget, One M&E Framework,”
international donors to secure long- ensuring coordinated implementation and
term CHW financing and workforce sustainability. Additionally, the Africa CDC
development commitments. Notably, provided direct financial and capacity-
H.E President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, building support to countries to implement
President of the Republic of Uganda and these strategies effectively.
H.E Jean Kaseya, Africa CDC Director
General at the margins of the 3rd National Partnerships played a crucial role in
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention supporting CHW institutionalization.
Conference in Kampala. Further Africa CDC worked closely with UNICEF, Africa CDC Community
engagement with the Prime Minister of the World Bank, the Global Fund, and Health Priority
Côte d’Ivoire and Tanzania’s Ministry of strategies 2023-2027
national Ministries of Health to ensure was launched at
Health led to pledging increased domestic technical coherence and financial backing Africa CDC during the
funding for CHW initiatives. for CHW programs. Collaborative efforts November 20-22, 2024
meeting

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 27

 with regional economic communities and academic Framework, CHW Minimum Package of
institutions further enhanced training modules, Services, and Integrated Service Delivery
ensuring CHWs received a standardized, high-quality Framework.
education that meets the continent’s evolving health
needs. These documents were developed with input
from technical experts, policymakers, and
Launch of Africa CDC’s Community Health Strategic CHW representatives across the continent.
Priorities (2023-2027) Africa CDC partnered with WHO, UNICEF and
regional public health institutes to ensure
At the 3rd High-Level Meeting on Community alignment with international best practices
Health (November 2024, Addis Ababa), attended by while maintaining flexibility for country-
representatives from 42 AU Member States, Africa specific adaptations. Technical assistance
CDC officially launched its Community Health Strategic was provided to support countries in
Priorities (2023-2027). These priorities set clear integrating these SOPs into national health
roadmaps for professionalizing CHWs, expanding policies.
services, and ensuring sustainable program funding.
Africa CDC facilitated high-level consultations,
incorporating feedback from health ministries,
development partners, and frontline health workers.
Strong partnerships with international stakeholders
such as UNICEF, WHO, USAID, and the Africa
Frontline First initiative supported the launch of these
strategic priorities. Through collaborative efforts,
funding was secured to accelerate the implementation
of these priorities in selected member states, ensuring
that CHW programs receive the necessary financial
and technical support to thrive.
Strengthening Financing for CHW Programs
Africa CDC was key in fostering the alignment
of over $3 billion in global commitments towards
CHW initiatives in African Union member states. In
November, policymakers from six AU Member States
learned from the Rwanda study tour on Community-
Based Health Insurance (CBHI) and Performance-
Based Financing (PBF) models. This initiative helped
countries identify sustainable financing mechanisms
for CHW programs, reducing reliance on donor
funding and ensuring long-term viability. Africa
CDC’s financing efforts were strengthened through
engagement with financing institutions and donors
such as the African Development Bank, the Global
Fund, the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation (STBF)
and the Mastercard Foundation. These partnerships
enabled countries to design and implement costed
CHW investment cases, aligning financial planning
with national health priorities while advocating for
increased domestic resource allocation to community
health.
Development of Standard Operating Procedures
(SOPs) for CHWs Program
Africa CDC collaborated with Member States to
harmonize CHW policies, guidelines, and service
packages through an SOPs Expert Review Meeting
in Ghana (December 2024), which validated three
key documents: CHW Concepts and Terminologies

28 | 2024 Annual Report

Digitalization of CHWs systems to Enhance CHWs Supporting Emergency Preparedness
Data-Driven Decision Making and Response
Africa CDC launched a continental survey on In response to cholera outbreaks in Comoros
CHW programs, achieving an 80% response and Zambia, Africa CDC played a critical role
rate from AU Member States. These findings in supporting national response efforts by
will inform community health scorecards and facilitating the training and deployment of over
dashboards, guiding program improvements 700 CHWs. These CHWs were strategically
at national and regional levels. By leveraging positioned to enhance disease surveillance,
digital health tools, Africa CDC has enhanced case detection, and treatment efforts in affected
real-time monitoring and evaluation, ensuring communities. Africa CDC worked closely with
better resource allocation and service delivery. national Ministries of Health to ensure CHWs
were adequately trained in outbreak response
The digitalization efforts were made possible protocols, infection prevention, and patient
through partnerships with UNICEF, Gavi, and management strategies. This comprehensive
the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Africa support helped reinforce the resilience of
CDC facilitated country-specific data utilization local health systems, allowing for a more rapid
training, ensuring national health authorities and coordinated response to public health
can leverage digital solutions to track CHW threats. Additionally, Africa CDC provided
performance and improve overall health technical expertise in developing emergency
outcomes.

Six hundred Community Health Workers were recruited, trained

and deployed for cholera response in Zambia May 2024

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 29

 preparedness frameworks, ensuring CHW Initiative, finalising the
Member States have the necessary tools AU Implementation Framework,
and resources to combat future outbreaks and expanding CHW training
effectively. and certification programs to
enhance workforce capacity.
Africa CDC’s emergency response Efforts will also be directed
initiatives were further strengthened toward sustainable financing,
through partnerships with organizations including developing a
such as UNICEF, WHO, and the Global Continental Investment Case for
Outbreak Alert and Response Network CHW Financing and broadening
(GOARN). These collaborations enabled the public-private partnerships to
distribution of essential medical supplies, support long-term program
personal protective equipment (PPE), stability.
and diagnostic kits to frontline workers.
Through joint efforts with UNICEF, Africa  To enhance digital integration,
CDC also enhanced CHW contributions Africa CDC aims to improve CHW
to immunization programs, supporting the data collection systems, integrate
Big Catch-Up Initiative to restore routine them with national health
immunization coverage in communities information platforms, and scale
where services had been disrupted. By up the adoption of mHealth tools
leveraging these partnerships, Africa CDC for training and service delivery.
was able to mobilize resources quickly, Additionally, Africa CDC will
ensuring that affected member states reinforce CHW involvement in
received the necessary support to mitigate disease surveillance, outbreak
the impact of cholera outbreaks and response, and pandemic
prevent further spread. preparedness while establishing
a rapid-response CHW workforce
Lessons Learned in 2024 in the CHWs for health emergencies.
program support
 Furthermore, policy advocacy
1. Sustained Political Commitment is Key: and stakeholder engagement
High-level advocacy remains crucial will remain a key priority.
in securing government investment in Strengthening the Continental
CHW programs. Coordination Mechanism
(CCM) for Community Health,
2. Financing Challenges Persist: While convening biannual ministerial
global funding commitments have meetings, and supporting
increased, sustainable domestic regional learning exchanges
resource mobilization remains a will foster cooperation and
bottleneck. best practice sharing among
3. Policy Harmonization Enhances AU Member States. Africa CDC
Program Efficiency: Standardized remains committed to ensuring
CHW definitions, training, and service that CHWs remain at the center
delivery frameworks have improved of resilient, people-centered,
program integration. and sustainable health systems
across Africa.
4. Digital Solutions Drive Accountability:
The CHW data collection and reporting
Supporting the Reproductive Maternal,
systems have significantly enhanced
program monitoring and evaluation. Newborn Child and Adolescent Health in
Africa
5. Community Engagement is Essential: Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn,
CHWs are more effective when Child and Adolescent Health
programs prioritize community-led (RMNCAH) remains a key public
governance and local capacity health priority in Africa. The
building. continent still faces significant
challenges in maternal and newborn
Priorities for 2025 in the CHWs program
health, with maternal mortality
 Africa CDC will focus on rates alarmingly high in many
strengthening the 2 million regions. Africa accounts for 69% of

30 | 2024 Annual Report

global maternal deaths, with major and immunization integration.
complications including severe
haemorrhage, infections, high blood Human Resource Strengthening: Africa
pressure during pregnancy, pre- CDC elevated the RMNCAH unit to
eclampsia, and eclampsia contributing a division led by a head of division.
to nearly 75% of all maternal deaths. The division is staffed to provide a
Additionally, newborn mortality and robust and efficient workforce capable
preventable child deaths persist due of effectively coordinating and
to inadequate healthcare access, implementing RMNCAH initiatives.
a lack of skilled health personnel, This effort was supported by strategic
and weak health infrastructure. partnerships with UNICEF, STBF and
Immunization coverage remains an GAVI.
essential component in reducing
Policy Development and Alignment:
child mortality, yet disparities persist,
Africa CDC played a critical role in
with millions of children still missing
policy development and alignment,
life-saving vaccines. According to
supporting two Member States—
the 2024 assessment of the Addis
Cameroon and Lesotho—in
Ababa Declaration on Immunization
developing their national RMNCAH
(ADI), 21% of children in Africa remain
& Nutrition (RMNCAH&N) policies.
unvaccinated or under-vaccinated,
This support included technical and
significantly contributing to the
financial assistance, ensuring these
burden of preventable diseases.
policies aligned with the Maputo
While progress has been made in Plan of Action. A comprehensive
increasing immunization coverage, assessment was also conducted to
zero-dose children—those who identify gaps in reproductive health
have not received a single dose of policies across Member States,
any vaccine—remain a pressing facilitating informed and targeted
concern. The ADI report highlights policy interventions to address
that approximately 8 million zero- country-specific needs. This work was
dose children exist across the accomplished in collaboration with
continent, with the highest burden UNFPA and WHO, which contributed
in marginalized and conflict-affected technical support and policy guidance.
regions. These children are at the
Capacity Building and Training: Significant
highest risk of vaccine-preventable
strides were made in capacity
diseases, further exacerbating
building and training to enhance
health inequalities. To address
maternal and newborn care services.
these challenges, Africa CDC has
A comprehensive training curriculum
prioritized reaching zero-dose
on Emergency Obstetric and Newborn
and under-immunized children
Care (EmONC) was developed and
through integrated health strategies.
validated, ensuring its availability
Strengthening immunization service
in all AU languages. The training
delivery within primary healthcare
of ten clinical experts on EmONC
settings, addressing supply chain
management further strengthened the
inefficiencies, and enhancing
continent’s capacity, as these experts
community engagement remain
formed a continental team of trainers
key areas. Additionally, Africa
to cascade knowledge across regions.
CDC supports Member States in
Additionally, a capacity-building
developing national RMNCAH policies,
workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, brought
increasing emergency obstetric and
together healthcare professionals
newborn care (EmONC) capacity, and
from ten AU Member States,
ensuring the availability of lifesaving
enhancing their ability to manage
maternal health commodities.
obstetric emergencies effectively. A
Key Achievements in Supporting RMNCAH regional EmONC training program
Activities in 2024 was also initiated, covering 12 of
the 14 Eastern African countries to
In 2024, Africa CDC made key improve healthcare workers’ expertise
progress in RMNCAH human resource in handling emergency obstetric
strengthening, policy development, cases.
capacity building, leadership training,

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 31

The revision of Leadership and Knowledge Exchange: countries maintaining polio-free
curriculum for Training of Africa CDC facilitated leadership status while maternal and neonatal
Trainers on Emergency
Obstetric and Newborn and knowledge exchange, hosting tetanus elimination programs have
care was done in 2024 a Leadership Training and Good expanded. Additionally, many
Practices Exchange for RMNCAH African Union Member States
managers from 15 AU Member have demonstrated increased
States and eight international commitment to sustaining domestic
partners. This initiative focused immunization investments, with
on enhancing leadership skills, some allocating over 5% of their
strengthening accountability, GDP to health. African Union,
and sharing best practices to Africa CDC and key partners
improve reproductive health policy (WHO, UNICEF, GAVI, Gates,
implementation. A continental among others) have been crucial
learning visit to Tanzania allowed 12 in improving immunization service
Member States to observe successful delivery through capacity building,
maternal mortality reduction enhanced logistics, and supply chain
strategies, emphasizing effective management.
governance and workforce capacity-
building approaches. Despite these gains, challenges
persist. One in five African children
Immunization: Immunization is a crucial remains under-immunized, with
component of Africa CDC’s RMNCAH approximately 8 million of these
efforts. Africa CDC jointly with AUC, children lacking access to even a
played a pivotal role in supporting single vaccine. The highest burden
the assessment of the Addis Ababa is observed in marginalized and
Declaration on Immunization (ADI), conflict-affected areas, where
which seeks to ensure universal health infrastructure remains weak.
vaccine access across the continent. Disparities in vaccine coverage
The findings underscored progress between wealth quintiles and
and ongoing challenges in achieving rural-urban populations continue
universal immunization coverage to hinder progress. Furthermore,
across Africa. Significant strides vaccine supply chain inefficiencies,
were made in increasing vaccine insufficient domestic funding, and
access, with countries improving limited political commitment in some
routine immunization coverage and regions exacerbate the situation.
strengthening surveillance systems To address these issues, the report
for vaccine-preventable diseases recommends strengthening political
(VPDs). Polio eradication efforts have advocacy, community-based
seen notable progress, with several outreach programs, increasing

32 | 2024 Annual Report

domestic financing, and leveraging remain in vaccine coverage,
digital health solutions to enhance particularly in underserved
immunization tracking and delivery. communities. Strengthening political
advocacy and local accountability for
Africa CDC supported COVID-19 immunization and PHC will be critical.
vaccination microplanning in 29
countries under the Savings Lives and  Strategic Partnerships Enhance
Livelihoods program and will leverage Impact: Collaborations with
this investment to strengthen routine UNFPA, WHO, UNICEF, GAVI, and
immunization services and address regional health agencies played a
challenges to reach the zero-dose pivotal role in advancing RMNCAH
children. and immunization outcomes.
Strengthening these partnerships
Lessons from Supporting RMNCAH Activities in will further scale interventions and
2024 improve impact.
Several critical lessons emerged from Priorities for 2025 in RMNCAH Activities
RMNCAH program implementation in
2024: Building on the successes and lessons
learned in 2024, Africa CDC will focus on
 The Need for Sustained Policy the following key priorities for 2025 and
Support: While several Member beyond:
States have developed RMNCAH
strategies, gaps remain in policy  Expanding EmONC Training and
implementation, monitoring, and Workforce Development: Expand
funding. Africa CDC must advocate regional EmONC training to West,
for national governments to prioritize Central, North, and Southern Africa.
reproductive health policies and Establish a monitoring framework to
allocate sustainable resources. track the impact of training programs
on maternal and newborn health
 Strengthening Regional Training outcomes. Africa CDC’s RMNCAH
Networks: The EmONC capacity- division will focus on scaling up
building initiatives demonstrated EmONC training across all AU
the effectiveness of a regional regions by expanding cascaded
training approach. Expanding the training to the remaining four AU
network of trainers and investing in regions (West, Central, North,
continued mentorship is crucial for and South) while also ensuring
sustainability. the procurement and distribution
of additional training materials
 Addressing Supply Chain
across regional centers. Enhancing
Constraints: Limited progress was
RMNCAH policy implementation
made in supporting Member States
and monitoring will be critical, with
in procuring maternal lifesaving
more Member States receiving
medicines and family planning
support to develop evidence-based
commodities. Future efforts must
RMNCAH policies and establishing
prioritize supply chain efficiency
robust monitoring and evaluation
and the availability of essential
frameworks to track policy
reproductive health commodities.
effectiveness.
 Behavioral Change Communication
 Enhancing Immunization Political
is Essential: Creating demand for
advocacy, Systems and Coverage:
reproductive health services and
Africa CDC will also prioritize the
routine immunization requires
immunization agenda by organizing
robust community engagement and
the Central Africa High-Level
behavior change strategies. Africa
Regional Forum on Immunization
CDC must enhance communication
to mobilize political commitment
efforts to address cultural and social
and investment in vaccination
barriers.
programs. The forum will focus
 Immunization gaps Need Urgent on addressing vaccine access
Attention: Despite progress in disparities, increasing immunization
immunization programs, disparities coverage, and integrating

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 33

 vaccination into PHC services. Key priorities in 2024 included:
The Continental Immunization
Strategy will also be further  Strengthening national IPC
developed and implemented to programs by operationalizing
provide a unified framework for legal frameworks and enhancing
AU Member States to strengthen health worker capacity in infection
national immunization programs prevention, surveillance, and
and improve vaccine-preventable outbreak response.
disease surveillance.
 Expanding surveillance and
 Advancing Digital Health response for healthcare-associated
Innovations in RMNCAH: infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial
Advancing digital innovations resistance (AMR).
in RMNCAH services will be
 Defining policy direction and
achieved by developing data-
strategic priorities for infectious
driven decision-making platforms
diseases and scaling up viral
for real-time RMNCAH monitoring
hepatitis elimination efforts,
and supporting digital health
including hepatitis B screening and
solutions for maternal health
treatment.
service delivery, particularly in
low-resource settings. Sustaining  Improving regional and multi-
political and financial commitments sectoral collaboration to reinforce
to RMNCAH will remain a top community-led disease prevention
priority through engagement with efforts.
AU leadership to secure long-term
financing for RMNCAH programs, Key Achievements in prevention and control
as well as strengthening advocacy of endemic diseases and NTDs in 2024
efforts to elevate RMNCAH within
the broader PHC and UHC agenda.
Developed and Validated Africa CDC strategic
priorities 2025-2027 for infectious diseases:
Prevention and control of endemic and The Africa CDC strategic priorities for
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in 2024 infectious diseases were validated
In 2024, Africa continued to face by 50 AU Member States and 10
a significant burden of infectious partner organizations. Africa CDC also
diseases, including malaria, supported the development of the AU
tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, roadmap to 2030 on Sustaining the
and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Aids response and ensuring systems
These diseases remained major causes strengthening and health security for
of morbidity and mortality, exacerbated Africa’s development. In addition,
by weak health systems, limited IPC 15 member states were equipped
infrastructure, and recurrent public to implement an integrated national
health emergencies. The continent also strategy for preventing and controlling
witnessed the continued emergence of endemic diseases. In addition, 6 AU
infectious disease outbreaks, including Member States were supported to
mpox and Marburg virus disease, strengthen their disease prevention
alongside the growing challenge of and control programs for high-burden
antimicrobial resistance (AMR). infectious diseases using an integrated
approach.
Africa’s epidemiological landscape
reflected a dual burden of Strengthening IPC Legal Frameworks and
communicable and non-communicable National Programs: Africa CDC provided
diseases (NCDs), increasing the technical support to four Member
complexity of healthcare delivery. In States—Cameroon, Liberia, Malawi,
response, Africa CDC intensified its and Nigeria—to advance IPC legal
efforts to strengthen integrated disease frameworks.
prevention strategies, with a focus on Surveillance and Control of Healthcare-
IPC as a core component of primary Associated Infections (HAIs) and
healthcare (PHC). Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Africa CDC
partnered with WHO’s Global IPC Unit

34 | 2024 Annual Report

to develop a Practical Handbook on HAI frontline health workers improved
Surveillance, focusing on strengthening response capacity but requires
data collection and response strategies sustained funding for long-term
in low—and middle-income countries. impact.
Africa CDC initiated regional AMR
surveillance projects in collaboration 4. Resource gaps remain a challenge:
with the European Centre for Disease Limited financial resources and
Prevention and Control (ECDC). Planned access to essential IPC supplies
consultancies in 2025 aim to provide (e.g., PPE, diagnostics) continue to
technical support to Member States in constrain disease control efforts.
AMR control.
Infectious Disease Outbreak Response to
Priorities for 2025 in prevention and control of
Mpox, Marburg, and Cholera: Africa CDC
endemic diseases and NTDs
led the mpox Incident Management
Support Team (IMS) IPC Pillar,  Expand implementation of IPC Legal
deploying IPC training and support to Frameworks: Africa CDC will
treatment centers in Kenya, DRC, and prioritize expanding IPC legal
Morocco. frameworks by continuing to
support additional Member States
Scaling Up Viral Hepatitis Prevention
in developing and operationalizing
and Control: Africa CDC significantly
national IPC programs. Ensuring
expanded its Hepatitis Prevention and
the harmonization and revision
Control Program, supported by KOICA
of outdated IPC guidelines will be
and the African Field Epidemiology
essential to creating a standardized,
Network (AFENET).
continent-wide approach to
Continental Strategic Initiatives: Africa infection prevention. Strengthening
CDC developed the Africa Continental regulatory mechanisms will also
Action Plan for the Elimination of enable better compliance and
Hepatitis, validated by 42 AU Member sustainability of IPC efforts at
States. Africa CDC led the creation of national and regional levels.
the African Guidelines for Hepatitis
 Enhance infectious disease surveillance
B Screening, Care, and Treatment,
and service delivery: A key focus will
in collaboration with Hepatitis B in
be on enhancing infectious disease
Africa Collaborative Network and the
surveillance and service delivery
WHO. Africa CDC established Hepatitis
by supporting Member States in
Sentinel Surveillance Systems in five
integrating surveillance systems
countries (Cameroon, Madagascar,
for high-burden diseases such as
Gambia, Ghana, and Ethiopia).
malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS,
Lessons Learned in prevention and control of and viral hepatitis. Africa CDC will
endemic diseases and NTDs in 2024 strengthen healthcare-associated
infection (HAI) and antimicrobial
1. Legal frameworks improve IPC resistance (AMR) monitoring,
sustainability: Member States ensuring that data-driven insights
that engaged in legal reforms guide policy decisions and resource
demonstrated improved IPC allocation. These efforts will
coordination and compliance, contribute to improved disease
reinforcing the importance of detection and timely responses to
governance structures. emerging threats.
2. Regional collaboration enhances  Scale Up Hepatitis Prevention and Control:
disease control efforts: Africa CDC will scale up hepatitis
Strengthening partnerships with prevention and control, reinforcing
WHO, ECDC, and regional bodies efforts to eliminate hepatitis B
enabled harmonized disease control and C as public health threats.
strategies. This will involve developing an
Africa-centric toolkit for hepatitis B
3. Investment in health workforce screening and treatment, supporting
training is essential: Training Member States in scaling up birth

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 35

 dose hepatitis B vaccination, and Prevention and Control of Non-communicable
assisting in the establishment diseases (NCDs), Injuries and Mental Health
of costed national strategies for (2024)
hepatitis elimination. Expanding
sentinel surveillance systems and In 2024, Africa continued to face a
increasing healthcare workforce rising burden of non-communicable
capacity in hepatitis management diseases (NCDs), mental health
will further bolster these efforts. conditions, and injuries, driven by
demographic shifts, urbanization,
 Strengthen Health Workforce and and evolving health risk factors.
Regional Coordination: Recognizing Chronic diseases such as diabetes,
the need for a skilled and well- cardiovascular conditions, and
equipped workforce, Africa CDC cancer placed immense pressure
will strengthen health workforce on healthcare systems already
capacity and regional coordination
stretched by persistent infectious
by expanding IPC and disease
prevention training programs for disease outbreaks. Simultaneously,
healthcare workers across the mental health disorders, exacerbated
continent. Establishing regional by socioeconomic stressors,
technical working groups will climate change, and humanitarian
ensure continuous capacity- crises, remained underfunded and
building, knowledge sharing, and insufficiently integrated into national
coordinated implementation of IPC health strategies.
measures in response to outbreaks
and endemic disease control Africa CDC prioritized a comprehensive
efforts. and integrated approach to NCDMHI,
aligning with its 2023–2027 strategic
 Advance Research and Evidence-Based plan. Key focus areas included
Policy: To promote sustainable, strengthening national health systems,
evidence-based decision-making, advancing data-driven surveillance,
Africa CDC will advance research fostering multisectoral collaboration,
and policy development by expanding mental health leadership,
supporting operational research
and integrating NCDMHI into
on infectious disease prevention,
antimicrobial resistance, and viral emergency preparedness and response
hepatitis management. Digital (EPR) mechanisms. Through high-level
health solutions will be leveraged engagement with African Union (AU)
to enhance data collection, Member States, partners, and technical
analysis, and reporting, improving experts, Africa CDC solidified its role
the continent’s ability to respond to as a continental leader in tackling these
public health challenges effectively. pressing public health challenges.
 Ensure Rapid IPC Support During Disease Key Achievements in the Prevention and
Outbreaks: Africa CDC will ensure Control of NCDs, Mental Health Problems and
rapid IPC support during disease Injuries
outbreaks, reinforcing its ability to
provide technical assistance and Strengthening Health Systems Capacity for
emergency response to Member NCDMHI
States. Strengthening Africa CDC’s
outbreak response mechanisms A landmark achievement in 2024
will allow for swift deployment of was the development of a tailored
IPC strategies during epidemics, assessment tool to evaluate country-
while tailored IPC tools will be level health system capacities for
developed for rapid assessment NCDMHI. Unlike other health system
and intervention. By ensuring assessment tools, this innovative
a proactive and coordinated model incorporated a peer-to-peer
response, Africa CDC aims to learning approach, fostering cross-
mitigate the impact of infectious country knowledge exchange and
disease outbreaks and protect strengthening national ownership of
public health across the continent. reforms.

36 | 2024 Annual Report

Africa CDC supported seven countries— 25 standardized indicators with clear
Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Ghana, definitions and metadata sheets was
Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia— finalized.
to conduct national action plan
assessments, identify critical gaps, and A critical component of this initiative
refine their NCDMHI strategies. These was a cross-country learning visit in
assessments led to concrete policy Cotonou, where participants observed
recommendations and capacity-building Benin’s Ministry of Health efforts to
initiatives, ensuring that Member integrate NCDMHI surveillance into
States could scale up evidence-based national health information systems.
interventions to address NCDs and These engagements reinforced Africa
mental health challenges effectively. CDC’s role in driving evidence-based
policy development and strengthening
Testimonial from Peer Review surveillance systems for better decision-
Exercise in Lesotho: “Again, we making.
cannot overemphasize our gratitude
for being part of this peer review. Strengthening Multisectoral Coordination at the
Great developments have been made AU Level to Address NCDMHI
since the visit, and we look forward to Africa CDC convened the second
sharing them in our next meeting.” — meeting of the AU Multisectoral
Dr. Lephosa Likobe, Program Director/ Taskforce, refining its governance
Non-Communicable Diseases Technical framework and endorsing a two-
Advisor, Ministry of Health, Lesotho. year roadmap. A key outcome was
Advancing Surveillance for NCDMHI the proposal for an AU statement on
advancing multisectoral coordination
Africa CDC facilitated the development for NCDMHI, positioning Africa CDC
of core continental indicators to at the forefront of high-level policy
establish a harmonized NCDMHI mobilization ahead of the 2025 UN High-
surveillance and reporting system. Level Meeting on NCDs.
Collaborating with seven Member
States (Morocco, Nigeria, Burundi, DRC,
Benin, Botswana, and Chad), a set of

Africa CDC Delegation briefing the Honorable Minister of Health, The Gambia on
the support to develop a costed national cancer control strategy, August 2024

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 37

 Technical Assistance to Member States to Expanding the Mental Health Response
prevent and control NCDMHI Workforce

Africa CDC provided direct technical In 2024, 19 MHPSS experts were

support to several Member States, recruited into the African Volunteer
facilitating: Health Corps (AVOHC) rapid response
team. Equipped with extensive
 The first multisectoral mental training, these experts are now
health strategy in the Democratic positioned to lead mental health
Republic of Congo (DRC). initiatives during public health
emergencies across Africa.
 Development of a costed cancer
control strategy in The Gambia. Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative

 A peer-to-peer learning visit for Africa CDC hosted the Continental

Somalia’s Ministry of Health NCD Consultative Meeting on Cervical
Unit to Kenya, enhancing their Cancer Elimination in Addis Ababa,
capacity-building initiatives. Ethiopia, with participation from 30 AU
Member States and key partners. The
Advancing Mental Health Leadership and meeting resulted in:
MHPSS in Emergency Preparedness and
Response  The establishment of a Continental
Technical Working Group (TWG).
The Mental Health Leadership
Programme, a flagship initiative,  The identification of three Centers
achieved major milestones: of Excellence (CoE).
 46 residents enrolled in the  The development of an action
advanced and intermediate Field plan to drive the 90-70-90 targets
Epidemiology Training Program for vaccination, screening, and
(FETP) - Mental Health track. treatment.
 63 public health leaders trained Lessons Learned in the Prevention and
in mental health leadership and Control of NCDMHI
system reforms.
1. Peer-to-peer assessments drive
 Five mental health professionals impactful learning by fostering
selected for the prestigious Kofi collaboration, performance
Annan Global Health Leadership assessment, and multidisciplinary
Fellowship. feedback, leading to tangible
policy improvements.
Africa CDC also conducted a
continental survey on MHPSS 2. Early preparedness efforts enabled
readiness, informing strategies to the seamless integration of
enhance mental health support in MHPSS into emergency response,
emergencies. Additionally, MHPSS strengthening Africa’s resilience
integration into the Mpox and Marburg for future health crises.
virus response strengthened mental
health services in crisis settings, Priorities for 2025 and Beyond for the
reinforcing Africa CDC’s approach to Prevention and Control of NCDMHI
holistic emergency response.
 Enhancing policy frameworks,
workforce capacity, and
sustainable financing for NCDMHI:
Africa CDC will focus on enhancing
policy frameworks, workforce

38 | 2024 Annual Report

 capacity, and sustainable  Innovative and sustainable
financing for NCDMHI. Regional financing for NCDs and mental
initiatives will include developing health: Finally, Africa CDC will
a Mental Health Action Plan support two Member States
for North Africa, conducting in policy reform and securing
peer review workshops in East sustainable financing for NCDs
Africa, and organizing simulation and mental health, particularly
exercises across five regions to through costed tobacco control
integrate MHPSS into emergency strategies, ensuring long-term
preparedness strategies. investment in prevention and
treatment efforts.
 Foster NCDMHI Surveillance and
Regional Peer Assessments on
NCD Integration: To strengthen
health systems, Africa CDC
will expand training initiatives
such as the Training of Trainers
on NCDMHI Surveillance and
Regional Peer Assessments on
NCD Integration into Primary
Healthcare. The Africa CDC
Mental Health Leadership
Programme will scale up efforts
by training 150 advocates,
enrolling 30 FETP residents,
and supporting 20 civil society Roundtable discussion on partnerships to
organizations. support implementation of the agreed roadmap
on cervical cancer elimination agenda in Africa

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 39

 Building proactive disease surveillance and
intelligence gathering and early warning systems:
Ensuring continental health security

A frica continues to face a and continental levels to bolster

significantly high number of existing capacities during times of
public health emergencies need.
each year. In 2023 alone, the Africa
CDC detected and monitored 166 In 2024, Africa CDC continued to
public health events, 53 (29%) of take significant steps to strengthen
which were high-risk. By the end of public health surveillance and
2024, the Africa CDC had tracked 212 response capabilities across the
public health events reported from continent. Key achievements include
44 African Union Member States, supporting 16 countries in enhancing
which claimed over 11,599 lives out early-detection capabilities through
of 3,835,267 individuals who suffered event-based surveillance, developing
an ill-health condition due to these guidelines for five AU Member
events in 2024. States, improving systems for event
management in two AU MS, and
Since its establishment, Africa CDC training 338 surveillance officers
has been working to enhance early from seven (7) AU member states
warning systems in all 55 Member using the one health approach.
States of the African Union to detect Africa CDC launched a continental
public health events promptly. This partner dashboard for event-based
support includes strengthening surveillance coordination and
capacity for early detection through developed a strategic concept for a
Event-Based Surveillance, Health continental public health intelligence
Information Exchange, Antimicrobial report.
Amidst the ongoing Resistance Surveillance, Integrating
mpox outbreak, the the One Health approach into Under One Health approach,
Rwanda Biomedical routine surveillance, and Epidemic
Center introduced a Africa CDC has supported various
new set of Event-Based Intelligence. Africa CDC is also AU MS in strengthening their
Surveillance guidelines expanding its support by investing in national health programs focusing
designed to enhance epidemic intelligence and advanced
the country’s public
on AMR, zoonotic diseases, food
health response.
tools for early detection at regional safety and climate change. Specific

40 | 2024 Annual Report

interventions ranged from supporting Key Achievements in Strengthening Disease
zoonotic disease programs in countries Surveillance in Africa in 2024
such as Cabo Verde, Malawi, and
Egypt, to enhancing AMR programs  Nine (9) comprehensive
in Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Namibia, Surveillance Strategic Frameworks,
among others. Additionally, technical guidelines, and Standard Operating
assistance for food safety monitoring Procedures (SOPs) developed
was extended to Senegal and Kenya, to and disseminated, strengthening
strengthen and protect public health. surveillance capacities across the
continent.
As climate change emerges a one  Strengthened seven (7) AU Member
of our time’s most pressing public States Early Warning Systems
health challenges, with its impacts (EWS) using a One Health approach
becoming increasingly evident with 338 surveillance officers
across Africa. The continent faces trained, including supporting four
a disproportionate burden despite (4) countries across the Western,
contributing minimally to greenhouse Southern, and Central regions to
gas emissions. Extreme weather develop and implement One Health
events, shifting disease patterns, food strategies.
insecurity, and waterborne illnesses
 A continental Strategic Framework
are intensifying, posing significant
for Strengthening Cross-border
risks to the health and well-being of
Surveillance and Information
communities. These climate-induced
sharing rolled out, bolstering
vulnerabilities exacerbate existing
response efforts for Mpox, Marburg
public health challenges and introduce
Virus Disease (MVD), and other
new threats, such as altered disease
health threats.
vectors, disrupted food supplies, and
more frequent natural disasters, with  Five (5) Member States including
profound implications for public health Mali, Ghana, Tanzania, Senegal,
systems. and Kenya supported in securing
$1,750,000 to implement sample-
In response to climate change based mortality surveillance
challenges, Africa CDC launched the programs, enhancing data-driven
Strategic Framework for Climate health interventions.
Change and Health, a comprehensive  Spearheaded high-level advocacy
roadmap that unites evidence-based at global platforms (WHA, 79th
actions across sectors to address the UNGA, Jedda Ministerial Meeting),
intersection of climate and health. This driving Africa’s AMR agenda,
framework emphasizes the need for including releasing the Africa
sustainable, cross-sectoral strategies to Landmark Report on Antimicrobial
mitigate the health impacts of climate Resistance, outlining Africa’s
change and build resilience within priorities and galvanizing continent-
African communities. To advance this wide action.
critical agenda, Africa CDC partnered  A Continental Climate Change
with Zambia and Ethiopia, offering and Health Strategy published,
expert technical support to enhance providing a roadmap for AU
their national health plans and Member States to build climate-
integrate climate change adaptation resilient health systems and
strategies, ensuring a more resilient mitigate the health impacts of
and sustainable health framework for climate change and extreme
both countries. weather events.
 Ten scientific publications and
news articles published, furthering
research and discourse on key
public health issues across the
continent.

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 41

 Ensuring robust emergency preparedness
and response capabilities for all public health
emergencies

I n 2024, Africa CDC provided overall Member States, mobilise resources

support to all 55 AU Member and encourage partners to double
States to build their capacities to their efforts to fight these outbreaks.
prevent and respond to outbreaks
using different avenues. In addition The Joint External Evaluation
to the response to mpox and (JEE) reports demonstrated that
Marburg virus disease outbreak, most Africans still have limited
Africa CDC in 2024 has supported capacity to prevent, detect, prepare
15 countries affected by cholera in for, and respond timely to public
Africa by bringing cholera vaccines, health events. This prompted the
laboratory detection, and other Heads of State and Government,
public health interventions. through decision Assembly/
AU/Decl.3(XXIX), to call for an
Moreover, Africa CDC effectively accelerated implementation of
responded to additional epidemics, International Health Regulation (IHR)
including meningitis, Marburg, and requested Africa CDC, WHO,
heavy metal poisoning, Malaria with and the African Union Commission
malnutrition, and natural disasters, to provide necessary support to
across eight Member States African Union Member States
(Angola, Comoros, DRC, Ethiopia, in strengthening their IHR core
Mozambique, Nigeria, Zambia, capacities. Africa CDC continues to
and Zimbabwe). These outbreaks, support the African Union Member
which had significant social and States in addressing capacity gaps
economic impacts, were met with and supporting their needs during
swift action. Africa CDC deployed emergencies as a stop-gap measure
experts, coordinated with local to complement what exists.
ministries and international partners,
and provided essential technical Africa CDC is currently working to
and material support. The response establish Public Health Emergency
also focused on strengthening local Operation Centres (PHEOC) in
capacities through targeted training, Member States in response to a
resource mobilization, and fostering Call to Action made during the 41st
cross-border collaboration at both Ordinary Session of the Executive
political and technical levels. This Council of the African Union and
comprehensive strategy ensured a the 4th Mid-Year Coordination
coordinated and impactful response, Meeting in Lusaka, Zambia. During
mitigating further spread and the 2024 financial year, Africa CDC
reducing the burden on affected and has supported 23 Member States in
neighbouring countries. establishing their PHEOC worth 8
million USD, an initiative which will
The responses to these epidemics be finalised by June 2025. In line with
also called for cross-border the PHEOC support, Africa CDC is
coordination efforts. Hence, two strengthening its continental medical
high-level ministerial and Heads of countermeasure by renovating and
State regional meetings on Cholera equipping the continental logistics
(with the SADC Secretariate) and base in Douala, Cameroon, with an
Mpox (with the Ministry of Public investment of 2 million USD.
Health Hygiene and Prevention of the
DRC) were held to leverage the high- In 2024, the Emergency Preparedness
level political engagements, foster & Response (EPR) Division of Africa
cross-border collaboration between CDC set strategic targets to enhance

42 | 2024 Annual Report

the continent’s preparedness, Under AVoHC, the goal was to recruit
readiness and response capabilities and enroll more than 500 experts in
to public health emergencies. emergency response, expand training
The division’s objectives were on core competencies, and deploy
categorized under three main members to support public health
thematic areas: Preparedness, emergencies. The division also aimed
Strengthening Response capabilities to update and refine key AVoHC
and infrastructure, and expanding governance documents, including the
the African Volunteer Health Corps strategic framework and operations
(AVoHC). manual, to improve operational
efficiency and effectiveness. A key
Under Preparedness, Africa CDC priority was to explore the expansion
aimed to support 13 Member States of AVoHC by introducing the Africa
(MS) in enhancing their readiness CDC Emergency Medical Team (EMT)
capacities through various initiatives, to further enhance the continent’s
including Joint External Evaluations emergency response capabilities.
(JEEs) to have a baseline assessment
for the IHR core capacities of the AU Achievements in Emergency Preparedness
Member States, risk ranking exercises and Response
to identify the priority threats and
hazards at continental and regional Africa CDC EPR division successfully
level, and the development of implemented a majority of the
simulation exercises (SIMEX) to test planned activities for 2024,
response readiness. Additionally, achieving significant milestones in
efforts were directed towards preparedness, response, and AVoHC
generating and disseminating at least expansion.
55 scientific reports and operational
Under Preparedness, the division
research findings to inform decision-
exceeded its target by supporting
making and policy development.
16 Member States instead of the
In Response Capabilities and planned 13, achieving more than
infrastructure, the division planned 100% of the goal. Key initiatives
to improve emergency response included conducting JEEs in
coordination in 23 Member States South Africa, South Sudan, and
by strengthening Public Health Eswatini, supporting nine MS in
Emergency Operations Centers SIMEX training, and implementing
(PHEOCs) through infrastructure a cross-border SIMEX exercise
investment, equipment procurement, for Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia,
and personnel training. Africa and Namibia. Africa CDC also
CDC also set a goal to enhance successfully conducted two risk
its internal response capabilities ranking and prioritization exercises
through strengthening it EOC at at both the continental and regional
HQ level and in three Regional levels, meeting its target with a
Coordination Centers (RCCs) 100% completion rate. Additionally,
by providing equipment and the division generated 50 out of
conducting specialized training. the planned 55 scientific reports
The division aimed to graduate 10 and publications, achieving a 91%
fellows under the six months Public success rate, thereby contributing
Health Emergency Management to evidence-based decision-making
(PHEM) Fellowship program, for public health emergency
ensuring a skilled workforce for preparedness.
future emergency management.
In Response Capabilities and
Additionally, support was planned
infrastructure, Africa CDC achieved
for at least 12 Member States
significant progress towards its
facing public health emergencies of
goal of equipping 23 MS with
grade 2 or 3, ensuring a rapid and
PHEOC infrastructure, ensuring that
coordinated response to disease
these countries have the necessary
outbreaks and natural disasters.
tools to coordinate emergency

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 43

 responses. Procurement process for competencies, preparing them for
the equipment was completed and effective emergency deployments.
countries received its equipment. Additionally, 31 AVoHC members
A total of 130 experts from four were deployed to seven Member
Member States and 19 information States, demonstrating the operational
management and technology officers impact of the initiative. The division
from 19 Member States received made significant progress in updating
training on PHEOC operations and the the AVoHC strategic framework,
Incident Management System (IMS). handbook, and operations manual.
Moreover, Africa CDC equipped two A consultative workshop was
RCCs (Eastern and Southern) with also conducted to explore AVoHC
PHEOC infrastructure while support expansion through the integration of
for the Central RCC remained ongoing. the Africa CDC Emergency Medical
The PHEM Fellowship program saw Team (EMT), ensuring a more
the graduation of eight fellows, comprehensive emergency response
reaching 80% of the target, with the structure for the continent.
second cohort’s selection already
completed. A new collaboration Overall, these achievements
with the Association of Public Health highlight Africa CDC’s commitment
Schools and Programs (APHSP) has to strengthening public health
started to review and enhance the emergency preparedness and
training curriculum and modules of response across the continent.
the fellowship. Investments in capacity building,
infrastructure, and scientific research
Emergency response activities far have significantly improved the
exceeded the initial projections. region’s ability to manage health
Instead of supporting 12 Member emergencies more effectively.
States, Africa CDC aided more than
30 Member States, achieving over Key Achievements in Emergency
100% of the goal. Responses included Preparedness and Response
outbreaks of cholera in Zimbabwe,
Zambia, and Comoros; Mpox in  Led a continental response
around 29 Member States such as to public health emergencies,
the Democratic Republic of Congo, providing support to over 32
South Africa, and Uganda; Marburg Member States across 7 major
virus in Rwanda; cerebrospinal events, including cholera,
meningitis in Nigeria; and heavy mpox, Marburg, cerebrospinal
metal poisoning in one Member meningitis, heavy metal
States. Additionally, Africa CDC poisoning, natural disasters, and
played a key role in responding to malaria with malnutrition.
natural disasters, including Storm
Daniel-induced flooding in Libya  Strengthened Emergency
and a landslide disaster in Ethiopia. Operations Centers (EOCs)
These interventions ensured timely across 23 Member States,
containment of outbreaks, improved delivering essential PHEOC
surveillance, and strengthened equipment, training 200 experts,
national emergency coordination and graduating 8 public health
mechanisms. emergency management (PHEM)
fellows.
Under AVoHC, the division recruited
additional 404 African experts,  Expanded the AVoHC network
reaching 77% of the target, with with 404 new members,
regional distribution as follows: including 385 epidemiologists
Eastern RCC (155 experts), Western and 19 MHPSS experts, trained
RCC (125 experts), Southern RCC (59 77 members on adaptive
experts), Central RCC (58 experts), competencies, and deployed 31
and Northern RCC (7 experts). Africa experts to support PHE response
CDC also trained over 77 AVoHC in 7 Member States
members in adaptive and relational

44 | 2024 Annual Report

 Enhanced Member States as delays in financial approvals and
emergency preparedness by disbursement of mission funds, need
conducting three simulation to be addressed. Streamlining these
exercises involving 12 Southern processes will be critical in ensuring
and Eastern Regions member that emergency response efforts
states to improve response are not hampered by bureaucratic
capabilities and coordination. bottlenecks.

 Trained 80 experts from 9 Logistical hurdles, such as delays

Member States (Northern RCC in equipment procurement
MS, Ethiopia and Botswana) on and distribution, also impacted
Simulation Exercise Management​ operations. Moving forward,
Africa CDC will focus on improving
 Completed the 2nd edition of procurement planning and logistics
continental risk ranking and management to ensure timely
disease prioritisation, producing delivery of critical supplies.
44 PHE grading reports and For 2025 and beyond, the EPR
publishing 6 scientific papers division will prioritize enhancing
to inform strategic health cross-border collaboration,
interventions. strengthening PHEOC infrastructure,
and expanding the AVoHC initiative
Lessons Learned and the Way Forward in to increase the number of trained,
Emergency Preparedness and Response deployable experts. In2025, Africa
CDC EPR division is targeting to
Despite the progress made in 2024,
recruit additional 1500 personnel
several challenges hindered the
representing the five AU regions
full realization of planned activities.
and widening the scope of the
Limited financial resources were a
expertise in the roster. Additionally,
major issue. Insufficient funds for
fostering stronger partnerships with
emergency response also posed
regional organizations, donors, and
challenges, particularly in mobilizing
technical agencies will be key to
resources for rapid response
securing the resources needed for
interventions. In 2025, Africa CDC will
sustainable emergency response
work toward establishing sustainable
operations. Africa CDC will also focus
funding mechanisms, including
on refining knowledge management
strengthening partnerships with
and evidence-based decision-making
donors and leveraging innovative
through expanded research and
financing models, domestic financing,
data-driven approaches to emergency
in addition to, operationalization
preparedness and response.
of Africa Epidemic Fund (AfEF).
Limited human resources placed a By building on the successes of 2024
strain on existing personnel. The and addressing identified challenges,
urgent recruitment of key staff and Africa CDC EPR division aims to
completion of the EPR structure further enhance Africa’s resilience
remains a priority to strengthen against public health emergencies,
internal capacity. ensuring a more coordinated,
efficient, and sustainable emergency
The occurrence of multiple,
response system for the continent
simultaneous disease outbreaks
highlighted the need for a more
sustainable internal mechanism to
support emergency response efforts
beyond reliance on EPR personnel
alone. To mitigate this, Africa CDC
will continue strategies to build
a more robust surge response
system, leveraging AVoHC and other
regional resources. Additionally,
administrative inefficiencies, such

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 45

 Strengthened National Public Health Institutes in
Africa: Institutionalizing Public Health Emergency
Responses in Africa

A rticle 3 (j) of the Africa CDC roadmap for the establishment of

Statute outlines “Supporting their NPHIs.
the establishment,
strengthening and networking of To strengthen NPHIs’ capacity,
public health assets” as one of foster knowledge exchange,
the objectives and functions of the promote regional collaboration,
Africa CDC. The Africa CDC has and develop an action plan to fast-
been engaged in the following track the establishment of NPHIs,
activities as part of this effort: the Africa CDC has facilitated a
peer-to-peer exchange program
Africa CDC has supported Member among NPHIs in Africa. In 2024,
States in setting up National peer-to-peer learning exchange
Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) programmes were facilitated for
to strengthen continental health 14 member states (Eswatini, Sao
security and consolidate key public Tome and Principe, Guinea Bissau,
health functions for improved Kenya, Liberia, and Mozambique,
health outcomes. As of December Cameroon, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya,
2024, 25 AU Member States have Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria,
been supported to establish their South Africa, Zambia, and
NPHI (45.5%), 19 (34.5%) are in Zimbabwe) to advance health
the process of developing theirs, security.
and the remaining 11(20.0%)
Member States are yet to start the Africa CDC supported the
processes for the establishment establishment of NPHIs Centres
of their NPHI. In 2024, Africa CDC of Excellence in each of the
provided technical support to five AU geopolitical regions to
the Republic of Tunisia, the Arab assist other NPHIs in enhancing
Republic of Egypt, Republic of their national capacities for
Togo, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and early detection and prompt
Progress of NPHI the Central Africa Republic to response to public health threats.
development across Africa develop a legal framework and
as of December 2024

30

25
25 23 23
22
21 21 21

20 19 19 19 19
18
17 17 17 17
15 15
15 13 13
11
10

0
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Year

Established NPHIs In development Not initiated 2 per. Mov. Avg. (Established NPHIs) 2 per. Mov. Avg. (In development) 2 per. Mov. Avg. (Not initiated)

46 | 2024 Annual Report

The Centres of Excellence (CoE) focus on Key Achievements in Supporting NPHIs
corporate governance, health information
systems, emergency response coordination,  Forty-four (44) Member States (80%) have
health workforce development, and public NPHIs at different stages of development,
health research. A joint action plan has been with 25 fully established and functional.
completed for the nine (9) NPHIs selected as
regional CoEs. Africa CDC, in collaboration  Designated 9 NPHIs as regional Centres
with the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), of Excellence​to serve as a hub for
Brazil and the International Association of knowledge exchange, technical assistance,
National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI), and capacity building, and public health
convened the G20 NPHI conference that emergency management.
resolved to build consensus around the
recommendations and initiatives proposed
 Facilitated peer learning exchange
by the G20 Health Working Group and to
programmes for 14 NPHIs. Additionally,
support the Health Ministers and the Heads of
State and Government of the G20 Decisions/ Africa CDC conducted 5 regional NPHI
Declarations on Health. acceleration meetings and a G20 NPHI
conference.

 Trained NPHI Director Generals and senior

leadership of Ministries of Health from 7
Member States on Leadership and change
management​

 Developed a Continental Strategic Plan

and Framework to guide establishment
and strengthening of NPHIs.

A Year of Innovation, Response, and Resilience | 47

 Expanded clinical and public health laboratory
systems and networks: Building capacity and
capabilities for early detection of pathogens in
Africa

E arly detection and characterisation resistance (AMR) surveillance in nine

of pathogens in Africa to respond Member States for public health
timely and with sufficient evidence decision-making. In 2024, Africa
to outbreaks have been hindered CDC provided major equipment
by limited laboratory capacity and (PCR machines, sequencing and IT
genomic sequencing capabilities. equipment, liquid nitrogen plant,
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, only temperature monitoring and barcoding
7 Member States in Africa could systems cumulatively for 30 AU
characterise the causative agents Member States. Test kits, sequencing
of outbreaks, including COVID-19 supplies and reagents were provided
itself. However, through the Africa for 46 Member States to bolster
Pathogen Genomic Initiative (Africa laboratory detection and response
PGI), Africa CDC has accelerated capabilities. In the year under review,
capacity expansion across the Africa CDC trained 418 laboratory
continent, increasing the number of experts from 48 Member States on
Member States with such capabilities molecular diagnostics, sequencing,
to 43 Member States by 2024. The bioinformatics, data analysis, and
launch of the Africa PGI 2.0 stresses reporting.
the African CDC’s commitment to
strengthening the systems and Africa CDC has improved access to
consolidating the capacity, expanding diagnostics, streamlined diagnostic
the use-cases for early detection and regulatory processes, expanded
characterisation of pandemic and biobanking networks, and modernised
epidemic-prone pathogens, sustaining specimen management in 12 biobanks
the progress made in capacity building across Africa. Continental Diagnostics
on genomics during the COVID-19 Advisory Committee continued its
pandemic, and advancing the research function to guide Member States
and development of vaccines and in the selection and adoption of
therapeutics in Africa. quality diagnostics, especially during
emergencies. Africa CDC has trained
The following are the progress made 44 laboratory experts from 25 Member
in Laboratory Systems and Networks States in quality management systems
for 2024: under the One Health approach and
certified 45 experts as Technical
Africa CDC, through the Africa PGI, Assessors for laboratory accreditation.
has expanded pathogen genomic These efforts have contributed to ISO
sequencing capacity from 7 Member accreditation for 1,026 laboratories
States in 2019 to 43 Member States by continent-wide. Additionally, 114
December 2024, ultimately planning laboratory experts from 32 Member
to reach all 55 AU Member States in States have received training on
2025. In partnership with BMGF and sample management and referral
EU/HERA, an integrated genomics and laboratory mapping, thereby
surveillance project supported cholera improving safety and access to
genomics surveillance in seven laboratory diagnostics across Africa.
Member States and antimicrobial This initiative promotes in-country

48 | 2024 Annual Report

training to tackle disease outbreaks, Key Achievements in Strengthening
fortifies the laboratory network, and Laboratory Systems in Africa in 2024
guarantees the secure transfer of
samples for rapid detection. Support Member States to strengthen
laboratory capacity by providing
Africa CDC has developed a model equipment to 30 Member States.
laboratory strategic plan for Member Additionally, 46 Member States have
States, leading to the completion of received laboratory supplies totaling
Laboratory Strategic Plans in Malawi, 78,324 test and sequencing kits.
Somalia, Seychelles, and Uganda.
Final documents have been submitted  Training and workforce
for approval, and Seychelles is also development​on Lab Systems​,
drafting a laboratory policy to align Genomics​and Diagnostic Access​
with its strategic plan. Malawi’s with a total of 845 experts trained
2025–2030 Strategic Plan and similar from 52 Member States, with
initiatives will support strengthening 38.3% being females.
the long-term laboratory system
strengthening efforts. Africa CDC,  On-site technical support for
in collaboration with WHO, has Member States​in the following
developed an mpox testing strategy,
areas:
which countries have started to
adopt.
 Twenty-seven Member States
received support for lab mapping,
Efforts to strengthen biosafety
and biosecurity systems include resulting in the mapping of over
establishing regional technical 4,660 laboratories. This support
working groups, customising the included training, technical
AU legal framework, and launching support and data collection tools. ​
training and certification programs.
To date, 200 experts have been  Twenty-six Member States
trained across various biosafety and supported to expand detection,
biosecurity domains. The Uganda sequencing, bioinformatics,
Virus Research Institute’s certification and Starlink connectivity. This
at the Star 4 level highlights includes 7 Member States for
significant progress in regulating Cholera, 9 for AMR, 10 for
high-consequence agents. Malaria, 8 for detection, and 5
Member States (17 sites) Starlink
Africa CDC has mapped over 4,600 connected to pilot genomics data
laboratories across 27 Member States transfer and sharing​.
to enhance network optimisation. This
initiative involves training experts  Fifteen Member States have been
in laboratory mapping and data supported to develop or review
management. Furthermore, 52 data national pathogen genomics
experts were trained in laboratory strategy​
mapping, validation, analysis, and
utilisation. The geospatial mapping
data supports strategic planning
and resource allocation, enabling
informed decision-making across the
continent.

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 49

 Expanded health product and technology
innovation and manufacturing: Paving the way
for self-reliance

T he year 2024 marked a pivotal By combining aggregated demand

moment in Africa’s journey from member states with a focus on
toward self-reliance in health locally manufactured products that
product manufacturing. meet global standards, the APPM
seeks to achieve both supply security
Following the February 2024 decision and reduced costs while building
Assembly/AU/Dec.877(XXXVII), Africa sustainable regional production
CDC embarked on an ambitious capacity for vaccines, therapeutics,
transformation of the Partnership diagnostics and other health products
for African Vaccine Manufacturing across the continent.
(PAVM) into the broader Platform
for Harmonised African Health Working in collaboration with
Manufacturing (PHAHM). This Afreximbank and the United Nations
expansion represented a strategic shift Economic Commission for Africa
from focusing solely on vaccines to (UNECA), Africa CDC designed
encompassing a comprehensive range a comprehensive APPM design
of medical countermeasures, including incorporating crucial elements such
medicines, diagnostics, and other as governance structures, product
health products. scope, client interface systems, quality
assurance protocols, and financing
PHAHM as defined by eight bold mechanisms. This initiative benefited
programs sets out to support the from the expertise of key global health
manufacturing ecosystem and partners, including WHO, Global Fund,
continental strategy including UNITAID, PAHO, UNICEF, Gavi, African
regulatory strengthening, market Development Bank, Afreximbank,
design and demand certainty, AUDA-NEPAD, and AfCFTA.
access to finance, technology
transfer, infrastructure, Research The APPM development process was
& Development hubs, and talent enriched through engagement with
development. Collectively this the Regional Economic Communities
creates and enabling and supportive and through a strategic partnership
environment and ecosystem for with the Pan-American Health
the AU Member States and African Organisation (PAHO), whose Regional
manufacturers. Revolving Fund provided valuable
insights from a similar operational
Since the establishment in early context. This partnership facilitated
2024, the PHAHM secretariat has knowledge transfer and helped adapt
made significant progress. A major best practices to the African context.
milestone was the development of the
African Pool Procurement Mechanism The APPM, with the support and buy-
(APPM). The African Pooled in form member states, will allow for
Procurement Mechanism (APPM) a mechanism that can work towards
serves a dual purpose: it aims to both affordably priced health products
improve access to quality, affordable made by African manufacturers,
health products while simultaneously and for these to become sustainable
promoting local manufacturing in though the leveraging for larger and
Africa through collective bargaining continental markets.
power and strategic procurement.

50 | 2024 Annual Report

The transformation of PAVM into is the low cost of production of
PHAHM catalysed significant large volumes among external
growth in the efforts to support manufacturers, and that we as
the continent’s manufacturing African countries must be willing
capabilities. Following extensive and able to adapt our testing
analysis and stakeholder consultation, algorithms to include tests made
and based on disease burden and in Africa.
impact, Africa CDC prioritized five key
disease areas for therapeutics and  Integration of medicines for
diagnostics manufacturing support: postpartum haemorrhage, and
HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, neglected
insulin into the start-up phase of
tropical diseases (NTDs), and
the African Pooled Procurement
diabetes. These diseases represent
Mechanism (APPM), through
significant health challenges for
the continent, with Africa bearing collaborating with the United
a disproportionate share of the Nations Economic Commission
global burden - including 94% of for Africa (UNECA) and by
global malaria cases, nearly 50% bringing the various initiatives
of new HIV cases, and about 30% together, such as the Global
of TB-related deaths. The approach Leadership Network for Women’s,
involved quantitative assessment Children’s and Adolescent’s
of over 50 diseases against patient health which includes the support
need, manufacturing feasibility, and and commitment of more that
market attractiveness, followed by seven African Heads of State. A
qualitative evaluation and validation landscape analysis manufacturing
against global health priorities. A of health products in Africa
comprehensive strategy and plan of reveals over 500 manufacturers
action is under development, with across 23 countries, with varying
initial focus on priority diseases capabilities in diagnostics
including malaria, TB, HIV, NTDs, and and therapeutics production.
non-communicable diseases. Notable With further development, this
achievements include: mapping provides a foundation
for targeted support and
 Development of a $12 million development of the sector, based
business case with MMV to on identifying the manufactures
support six antimalarial drug with the most relevant products,
manufacturers in achieving WHO and the pertinent capabilities and
pre-qualification, and which is capacities.
seeking the necessary funding to
enable that malaria in Africa can Furthermore, in 2025, Africa will be
be treated with quality medicines home to two new manufacturers of
made in Africa. insulin, in Egypt and South Africa
respectively, that will be crucial in
 Initiation of feasibility studies for addressing the increasing tide of
anti-TB drug API manufacturing, non-communicable diseases, that
and support to integrating African increasingly affects Africa. Africa CDC
manufacturers into the global we will engage these producers, in
procurement systems of HIV and collaboration with our member states,
TB drugs. to assure that we both increase
access and coverage to insulin
 Support for rapid diagnostic in Africa, while at the same time
test (RDT) manufacturing commit to African made products.
initiatives, with a focus on key In due course, this can spur further
morbidities, such as HIV and development and integration into
malaria. A significant challenge newer generation diabetes medicines,

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 51

 to secure that Africa produce state of  A 12 million USD business case
the art relevant treatments. was developed to support six
antimalarial drug manufacturers
An updated mapping of African in Kenya, Nigeria, Mozambique,
vaccine manufacturing initiatives Uganda, and Zambia in achieving
revealed remarkable progress, with WHO pre-qualification, and
25 ongoing projects spread across is seeking the necessary
13 AU Member States – a substantial funding from our partners to
increase from the pre-COVID-19 secure relevant anti-malaria
era. Three manufacturers are set to manufacturing in Africa for Africa.
manufacture eight vaccines for the
continental market in the coming three These funds are potentially
to five years. Africa CDC together with transformative. Though the space
partners have developed a roadmap between pledges to implementation
for the eight front-runner vaccines. remains considerable, the details of
Africa CDC provided crucial support how such finance is made available
to these manufacturers through matters. Africa CDC has advocated
various enablers, such as technology for the international financial
transfer facilitation; Enhanced access partners, to develop adaptive and
to flexible and long-term financing; flexible financing instruments and
Strengthened regulatory frameworks; funding products available for African
Talent development initiatives’ Market manufacturers. This is necessary,
shaping strategies. because medical manufacturing
necessitates long-term and at-risk
In 2024, Africa CDC in partnership with finance, and the end-to-end innovation
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and production process, including
Innovation (CEPI) conducted analysis the process of technology transfer,
of the vaccine manufacturing raw involves many different processes
materials and input materials supply that traditionally has not been funded
chain in Africa. Consequently, a or supported by our DFIs, such as
roadmap to promote the supply skills development, regulatory and
chain of input materials through 1) quality-control systems and off-take
Establishing a regional access and arrangements. All of these are part of
supply consortium, 2) Simplifying building the necessary ecosystem for
trade barriers and procedures, and our medical manufacturing sector to
3) Localizing production of input become sustainable.
materials
To address the chronic shortage
Financial Commitments and Support: of biomanufacturing workforce in
Africa, Africa CDC is establishing
The past year saw significant financial Regional Capability and Capacity
commitments to support African Networks (RCCNs). The Africa CDC
health manufacturing: Regional Capability and Capacity
Networks (RCCNs) unite educational
 The launch of the African Vaccine institutions, manufacturers, and R&D
Manufacturing Accelerator organizations to build a specialized
(AVMA), a 1.2 billion USD biomanufacturing workforce across
innovative financing mechanism Africa. These networks develop and
to support African vaccine implement training programs to
manufacturers for 10 years. create expertise in health products
manufacturing, R&D, and regulatory
 Afreximbank pledged 2 billion affairs, leveraging shared resources
USD to support healthcare and and best practices. Through this
health product manufacturing. collaborative approach, RCCNs
provide the foundation for sustaining

52 | 2024 Annual Report

Africa’s local manufacturing Looking Forward: Strategic Priorities for
capabilities while retaining top talent 2025 and Beyond in Local Manufacturing
within the continent. The selection of Initiatives
networks in the northern, southern,
eastern, and western African regions As we move forward, several key
has been finalized through an open priorities have been identified to
and competitive process. sustain and accelerate progress:

Key Achievements in Local Manufacturing Regulatory Strengthening:

Initiatives in Africa in 2024
Continued work with national
In 2024, Africa CDC has implemented regulators and with WHO on its
several activities to support local Pre-Qualification processes remains
manufacturing of health products in crucial, balancing the need to maintain
Africa. These include: rigorous quality standards while
ensuring these processes do not
 Ten commercial-scale vaccine (Vx) impede investment. Collaboration with
manufacturing facilities exist, and AUDA-NEPAD and advanced National
five new facilities have broken Regulatory Authorities will spearhead
ground since February 2023, for a the regulatory strengthening in Africa,
total of 15 facilities in Africa. The as we await the full operationalization
five new facilities include BioNtech of the African Medicines Agency.
(Rwanda), DEI Biopharma Africa CDC will continue to support
(Uganda), DEK (Ghana), VBC the National Control Laboratories of
(Egypt), and Mozambique NRAs to strengthen the vaccine lot
Holdings (Mozambique). Ten release function.
additional vaccine manufacturing
Market Development and Demand
initiatives are currently underway
Consolidation:
on the continent.
The APPM will enter its startup
 Secured a 1.2 billion USD through
phase in 2025, focusing on creating
the African Vaccine Manufacturing predictable demand and economies
Accelerator (AVMA), to fund of scale for local manufacturers. This
African Vaccine Manufacturing mechanism aims to address key
efforts for 10 years. challenges including limited offtake
certainty and fragmented demand that
 Secured a $2 billion pledge from have historically hindered investment
Afreximbank to support healthcare in local manufacturing.
and health product manufacturing
on the continent. The partnership between Africa
CDC and AfCFTA aims to ensure
 Developed a $12 million business African-made priority health products
case to help six antimalarial can effectively access continental
drug manufacturers in Kenya, markets. Economies of scale
Nigeria, Mozambique, Uganda, through protected market access
and Zambia achieve WHO pre- has historically proven essential for
qualification (PQ), with ongoing building competitive manufacturing
discussions for project funding. capacity. Like other regions’
development paths, Africa’s emerging
 Establishment of the Africa CDC pharmaceutical manufacturing sector
Regional Capability and Capacity requires both supportive policies
and measured market protections
Network (RCCN) to support
to achieve the scale needed for
biomanufacturing workforce
long-term sustainability and cost
development in Africa.
competitiveness.

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 53

 Workforce Development:  Competition from established
international manufacturers
The establishment of the Africa remains tough and puts African
CDC Regional Capability and manufacturers at a disadvantage
Capacity Network (RCCN) provides and necessitates policy initiatives
a foundation for developing the that put our manufacturers at
specialized workforce needed to an even and level playing field.
support biomanufacturing across the The APM and other supportive
continent. The selected RCCNs will be structures are part of such, yet not
operationalized in 2025. necessarily sufficient.
Challenges of Local Manufacturing Initiatives However, these challenges are
in Africa being actively addressed through
collaborative efforts. A vibrant local
Several key challenges remain in manufacturing sector offers numerous
developing Africa’s manufacturing benefits including reduced import
capacity, including: dependence, economic growth, job
creation, technology transfer, and
 The available capital and strengthened regulatory systems.
financial support must be better The transformation of Africa’s health
coordinated and for the purpose product manufacturing landscape
for infrastructure development and represents a crucial step toward the
R&D. continent’s second independence
– this time in healthcare security.
 Need for highly skilled workforce While significant progress has been
with specialized knowledge. made, sustained commitment from all
stakeholders, including governments,
 Market fragmentation and varying financial institutions, and development
regulatory requirements, which partners, will be essential to realize the
makes it incumbent upon us as vision of a self-reliant Africa in health
Africans, to work closer together product manufacturing.
to recognize our respective NRAs
and to commit to buy and support
continental manufacturers, and not
merely national ones.

54 | 2024 Annual Report

 Enhanced and integrated digital & analytics
approaches to public health in Africa: Ensuring
access to real-time data for informed decision
and response.

I n 2024, Africa CDC led several pioneering platform that brought

groundbreaking initiatives together key decision-makers and
that significantly shifted how stakeholders to discuss strategies for
digital technologies are applied integrating digital tools into PHC. This
to public health across Africa. roundtable enabled countries to share
These efforts addressed critical lessons learned, align on strategic
healthcare challenges and priorities, and co-develop innovative,
created new opportunities for people-centered PHC models tailored
collaboration, innovation, and system to the unique needs of African
strengthening. By bringing together communities. The outcomes of this
diverse stakeholders and leveraging forum laid a strong foundation for
strategic platforms, Africa CDC scaling digitally enabled PHC systems
demonstrated its commitment to across the continent.
making meaningful progress in digital
health. The milestones achieved In September 2024, Africa CDC hosted
during the year highlight the progress the Africa Digital Health Networks
made in building more resilient and (ADHN) Co-Creation Workshop, a
inclusive healthcare systems across pivotal event to shape the future of
the continent. digital health collaboration on the H.E. Dr. Jean
continent. The workshop brought Kaseya speaking
at the Africa
The Digital Primary Healthcare (PHC) together key stakeholders including HealthTech
Roundtable, held in April, was a professionals, governments, Summit, Kigali,
Rwanda

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 55

 entrepreneurs, and academia from during the Africa Health Tech Summit
across Africa to collaboratively define in Kigali, this youth-led initiative
the strategic direction, governance aims to amplify youth voices,
structure, and key initiatives of the promote leadership, and connect
ADHN. This platform has since become young innovators with multilateral
a dynamic space for professional organizations in the health and
development, networking, learning, technology sectors. A preceding two-
and problem-solving. By encouraging day co-creation workshop identified
cross-sectoral partnerships, the solutions to overcome barriers to
ADHN has catalysed innovation and youth-led innovation and enhance
advanced the implementation of youth participation in health policy and
impactful digital health solutions, decision-making processes within the
addressing critical public health health and technology sectors. The
challenges and driving transformative network’s strategic objectives include
change in healthcare delivery across empowering youth leadership through
Africa. digital literacy, increasing youth
participation in governance and policy,
The highlight of the year was the promoting innovation by facilitating
3rd Edition of the Africa Health Tech funding access, and fostering
Summit (AHTS), held in October collaboration with key stakeholders.
in Kigali, Rwanda. The summit
convened 2,800 participants from Another major achievement in
1,500 organizations across 90 2024 was the expansion of the
countries, providing a global stage for African Women in Digital Health
exchanging cutting-edge digital health (AWiDH) initiative, which introduced
innovations and best practices. The a mentorship program to support
resulting collaborations strengthened women entrepreneurs in digital health.
the capacity of African countries to This program enhances business skills,
implement scalable digital health strengthens professional networks,
systems, driving progress toward and develops leadership capabilities
more efficient and inclusive healthcare among participants. One of its key
delivery. events, the Silicon Savannah Retreat
in Mombasa, Kenya, included sessions
Alongside the AHTS, Africa CDC on product development, investment
launched the Health Tech Marketplace, strategies, and personal branding,
a groundbreaking initiative to promote while also promoting mental well-
innovation and scale successful digital being. This initiative addresses critical
health solutions across borders. challenges such as limited access to
Accessible at “https://apps.africacdc. resources and networks, advancing the
org”, this platform has created an role of African women in driving digital
ecosystem for innovators, funders, health innovation and leadership.
and policymakers to connect. By
implementing stakeholder alignment Through these accomplishments,
and peer learning, the marketplace has Africa CDC demonstrated its
accelerated the adoption of proven commitment to advancing digital
technologies, strengthening health health as a cornerstone of public
systems across the continent. health transformation. These
milestones collectively highlight the
In collaboration with the Deutsche progress made in building inclusive,
Gesellschaft für Internationale adaptive, and resilient health systems
Zusammenarbeit-African Union across the continent.
(GIZ-AU) office, Africa CDC launched
the African Youth in Digital Health Building upon the successes of
Network (AYiDHN) to empower African 2024, the Digital Health Division is
youths to drive and shape digitally embarking on an ambitious digital
enabled, equitable, and resilient transformation agenda for 2025.
healthcare systems. Announced This year 2025 strategic priorities

56 | 2024 Annual Report

are designed to solidify Africa CDC’s Long-Term: Developing a Robust Enterprise
leadership in digital health, enhance Resource Planning (ERP) System
institutional efficiency, and drive
sustainable health innovations across To achieve long-term institutional
the continent. The strategic priorities resilience, Africa CDC will invest
include: within the next 12 months in a
comprehensive ERP system to fully
1. Strengthening Africa CDC’s Internal Digital integrate its internal operations. This
Infrastructure system will:

A key focus in 2025 will be the  Unify all digital workflows across
digitalization of internal processes divisions.
to improve operational efficiency,
enhance data-driven decision-making,  Enable seamless data sharing
and streamline workflows. This and collaboration for informed
transformation will follow a two-phase decision-making.
approach:  Improve resource management
and governance at an institutional
Short-Term: Automating Key Divisions for level.
Immediate Impact
The adoption of a robust ERP-driven
Africa CDC will prioritize the digital infrastructure will allow Africa
automation of critical functions CDC to establish itself as a pioneering
within the next 3 months, including model of digital transformation in
Finance, Human Resources public health governance, ensuring
(HR), Planning, Accountability & scalability and sustainability in its
Reporting, and Grants Management. operations.
By implementing targeted digital
solutions, the organization aims to: 2. Accelerating Digital Health
Transformation Across Africa
 Increase efficiency by reducing
manual processes and In alignment with its mission to
administrative bottlenecks. support accessible, affordable, high-
 Enhance transparency in quality, and person-centric digital
financial tracking and reporting health systems, the Digital Health
mechanisms. Division will strengthen collaboration
with African Union Member States
 Optimize HR workflows for and global health organizations. These
seamless personnel management. efforts will be guided by four key
strategic initiatives:
 Improve grant management by
ensuring streamlined coordination
PHC Digitalization: Transforming Primary
and accountability for donor- Healthcare Through Digital Innovation
funded initiatives.
Africa CDC will drive Primary
These immediate interventions Healthcare (PHC) digitalization by
will enhance transparency, embedding digital health solutions
responsiveness, and accountability, into national health systems. By
enabling Africa CDC to execute its 2025, Africa CDC aims to digitize at
public health mandate with greater least 10,000 PHCs facilities across AU
precision. Member States, ensuring seamless
data exchange and improved service
delivery. The key pillars of this
initiative will include:

 Strengthening foundational

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 57

 infrastructure (electricity, gaps, making quality healthcare more
connectivity, water) to support accessible, efficient, and sustainable,
digital adoption at PHC level. and enhancing preparedness and
response to future epidemics.
 Interoperable digital health
ecosystems to facilitate seamless Leveraging AI for Real-Time Disease
data exchange. Surveillance
 Building workforce capacity to
ensure effective implementation In collaboration with the Surveillance
and sustainability. Division, the Digital Health Division
will deploy AI-driven tools to enhance
As a continental convener, leader real-time disease detection and
and coordinator, Africa CDC will response. This initiative will:
bring together stakeholders, foster
multi-sectoral collaboration and  Strengthen early warning systems
accelerate progress toward Universal for disease outbreaks.
Health Coverage (UHC). This will  Enable real-time analytics for
be achieved by aligning efforts with better public health preparedness.
governments, development partners,
and the private sector, ensuring  Facilitate rapid response
equitable access to high-quality mechanisms to contain health
healthcare, particularly for remote threats efficiently.
and underserved communities.
The AI-powered surveillance systems
A key focus in 2025 will be the will revolutionize disease monitoring
deployment of digital solutions for across the continent, ensuring that
Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, health authorities receive timely
and Child Health (RMNCH), including: and actionable insights to protect
populations.
 Mobile health applications for
maternal and child health tracking Establishing the Africa Digital Health
and births registration. Observatory (ADHOPT)
 AI-powered early warning Recognizing the need for
systems for high-risk pregnancies. comprehensive, real-time insights
 Digitized immunization records to into Africa’s digital health landscape,
enhance vaccine coverage. Africa CDC will establish the Africa
Digital Health Observatory (ADHOPT)
To reinforce health systems, Africa to serve as a centralized data and
CDC will advocate for increased knowledge hub. This initiative will:
investments in digital health
infrastructure, ensuring that health  Assess and track digital health
facilities—especially in underserved maturity across member states,
areas—have the necessary tools, identifying gaps, strengths,
technology, and connectivity and opportunities for targeted
to leverage digital innovations interventions.
effectively. Additionally, 2 million
 Provide evidence-based insights
Community Health Workers (CHWs)
will be equipped by 2027 with mobile to support policymaking and
technology, enabling real-time data strategic investments in digital
collection and reporting, improved health.
disease surveillance and faster  Facilitate knowledge-sharing by
decision-making at the frontline. connecting health ministries,
researchers, development
By driving PHC digitalization, Africa agencies and innovators across
CDC will bridge critical healthcare Africa.

58 | 2024 Annual Report

ADHOPT will offer a structured Africa CDC’s 2025 digital
approach to assessing gaps, transformation agenda
measuring progress, ensuring represent a bold commitment
that member states receive to institutional efficiency,
tailored technical support based health system digitalization,
on their needs, readiness and and strategic collaborations.
capabilities. Ultimately, ADHOPT With a focus on internal
will play a pivotal role in digitalization, primary
shaping digital health strategies, healthcare transformation,
ensuring that interventions are Digital observatory, AI-driven
both impactful and scalable surveillance, and governance
across diverse health system frameworks, Africa CDC will
contexts. pave the way for a digitally
empowered and health-secure
Advancing Digital Health Governance Africa.
Frameworks

To ensure the sustainability of

digital health transformation,
Africa CDC will support
African Union Member
States in establishing robust
digital health governance
frameworks. Through technical
support and capacity-building
initiatives, Africa CDC will assist
countries in: i) developing and
implementing digital health
policies; ii) Aligning regulatory
frameworks for interoperability
and security; and iii) Scaling
digital health solutions with
long-term sustainability.

This focus on fostering effective

governance structures will allow
Africa CDC to empower member
states in leveraging digital
health innovations responsibly
and effectively, ensuring
harmonized progress across the
continent.

Figure: Member States

represented in the Kofi
Annan Global Health
Leadership Program, 2024

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 59

 Targeted health workforce development initiatives
to build a best-in-class African public health
workforce

W orkforce development is 2024, bringing a total of 59 fellows

a key pillar of the New from 27 African Union Member
Public Health Order and a States since its inception. The
primary focus area for Africa CDC. program has onboarded its fourth
Effective public health interventions cohort of 25 fellows, including five
require a well-staffed, highly skilled, in the Mental Health Leadership
diverse, and interdisciplinary Program that brings the total to 84
workforce. However, the decreasing fellows from 32 Member States of
ratio of the African public health which 50% of the fellows are female
workforce to the continent’s dual as shown in figure xx below.
disease burden highlights the
urgent need to strengthen and build Mental Health Leadership Programme:
workforce capacity to meet current The Mental Health Leadership
demands. In response, Africa CDC programme aims to strengthen
has implemented the following key mental health systems on the
workforce programs in 2024. continent by promoting mental
health knowledge and training the
Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership public health workforce through
Program (KAGHLP): Launched by the structured courses. The AMHLP
African Union Commission under seeks to contribute to a critical mass
the Africa CDC, the KAGHLP pays of mental health advocates within
homage to Kofi Annan’s visionary African member states’ health
leadership. The KAGHLP Fellowship systems to promote prioritization
program successfully graduated 20 and investment. At the sideline of
fellows from 13 African countries in the 3rd Africa Health ExCon, the

60 | 2024 Annual Report

Africa CDC co-organised a session The African Epidemic Service (AES):
on Mental Health with the American The AES program endeavours to
University in Cairo. cultivate an elite health workforce.
It has three tracks drawn from the
Field Epidemiology Training Programme Africa CDC’s framework for workforce
(FETP): Africa CDC supported the development: applied Epidemiology,
training of 55 Frontline FETP fellows Laboratory Leadership, and Public
in Chad, South Sudan, and Gabon, Health Informatics. The program has
and 15 Advanced FETP fellows onboarded 10 fellows as part of the
from Cameroon, Gabon, Chad and AES epidemiology track, with the
Republic of Congo. In collaboration other two tracks to be operationalised
with the European and Developing in 2025.
Countries Clinical Trial Partnerships
(EDCTP), Africa CDC trained 151 African Union Health Workforce Task
fellows in MSc Epidemiology and Team: In alignment with the African
Biostatistics as part of the Epi-biostat Union (AU) Heads of State decision,
Fellowship Programme. This program significant strides have been made
also contributed to building the under the leadership of the PPR
capacities of 10 universities/academic champion H.E President Cyril
institutions across Africa. Ramaphosa, President of South Africa
in collaboration with Africa CDC to
Ministerial Executive Leadership address critical health workforce
Program (MELP): Ministerial Executive challenges. Key deliverables have
Leadership Program (MELP): The been achieved to date, including
program aims to address critical a comprehensive Baseline Review
health challenges and improve of Africa’s health workforce, an
health outcomes across Africa by Investment Case detailing financial
strengthening the leadership and needs and the return on investment
execution capacity of Health Ministers for workforce development, and
to ensure a lasting blueprint. The the Health Workforce Compact
Ministerial Executive Leadership accompanied by implementation and
Program (MELP) launched its first M&E plans.
cohort, comprising 11 countries:
Zambia, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Seminar on Public Health Governance,
Togo, Benin Republic, Ghana, DRC, Legal Preparedness and Diplomacy:
Ethiopia, Senegal, Sahrawi, and Seminar for AU Member States on
Liberia. A refined strategy that tailors Governance, International Health
the delivery approach for the MELP Law and Diplomacy in African Public
programme was developed Earlier Health Systems- Africa CDC hosted
this year in consultation with a its inaugural seminar on international
broader stakeholder, which included health law and diplomacy, convening
11 former Health Ministers and 10 senior officials from the Ministries
experts. As a crucial component of of Justice, Health, and Foreign
the programme, Ministers of Health Affairs of 18 AU Member States. This
in Benin, Togo, and the Sahrawi five-day in-person training aimed
Republic also benefitted from a hands- to strengthen the capacity of AU
on in-country session to develop Member States to engage effectively
their legacy initiatives delivery plans in legal preparedness, governance
in alignment with the needs of each and health diplomacy and its role in
Member State. shaping sustainable public health
policies. This initiative aligns with

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 61

 Africa CDC’s strategic priorities in advanced FETP from Central
under the New Public Health Africa Member States.
Order by emphasising leadership,
governance, and workforce  Developed foundational
development. It equipped documents for Member States’
participants with critical skills to Health Workforce Investment,
navigate complex governance and these include Baseline
frameworks, engage in global Reports, Investment Cases,
health diplomacy, and apply Health Workforce Compact,
international health law, enhancing Progress Metrics, Assessment
leadership in public health Plans, Implementation
governance at the national level
Roadmap, and Training
and across the continent.
Guidelines.

 Trained 55 Frontline FETP

Key Achievements in Health Workforce
Fellows from 3 Member States;
Development
South Sudan, Chad and Gabon.
 Trained 84 Fellows from 32
 As part of the Epi-biostatistics
Member States through the
Fellowship Programme, Africa
Kofi Annan Fellowship in
CDC trained 151 Fellows in MSc
Global Health Leadership.
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
and contributed to building the
 Enrolled 10 Fellows (6 Males
capacities of 10 Universities/
and 4 females) into the AES-
academic institutions across
Epi Track and trained 15 (8
Africa.
males and 7 females) fellows

Ministerial Executive Leadership Program brings health ministers up to speed with strategies to
address critical health challenges and improve health outcomes across Africa. During one of their
meetings, they visited the Emergency Operations Centre at Africa CDC.

62 | 2024 Annual Report

 Empowering African Youth in Health
governance and Decision-making Processes

T he Africa CDC’s Youth security. Given the strategic

Division seeks to involve and importance of the development
support the youth of Africa in of the African public health
public health initiatives, fostering workforce, Africa CDC points to
a sense of responsibility and the critical importance of young
leadership among young people people in the advancement of
in health-related matters. The public health agenda. With 65 The Bingwa
Division focuses on promoting per cent of the population of PLUS Initiative
active youth participation and Africa being young people, their
leadership in health governance active participation, meaningful empowers
and decision-making processes, as engagement and innovative young Africans
well as enhancing their capacity to leadership in the health sector
of the continent is important by building their
address health challenges within
their communities. and can greatly contribute to the capacity to
development of Africa. Theneed design, resource,
It is impossible to ensure the to build a structured cooperation
health security of 1.3 billion with Africa CDC cannot be and manage
Africans without a competent ignored. community health
public health workforce. The AU
Agenda 2063, the New Public As for the many and diverse initiatives.
Health Order and the Africa Health health concerns, the youth must
Strategy 2016– 2030 have also lead the way in the identification
identified strong human resources and solution of these challenges
for health as a critical condition to support and implement
for Africa to achieve universal measures that are important for
healthcare and collective health the population’s health. This also

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 63

 covers the very real issues that Therefore, these initiatives
affect the present as well as the represent the continuing vision of
future generations of Africans. A Africa CDC to identify and nurture
population of young people who talent, stimulate innovation, and
are trained and enlightened to play unite efforts towards the creation of
an active role in the formation of a a future in which Africa is healthy
healthy continent will be an asset and its potential is fully unleashed.
to the health of the continent in the
future. The youth play an important In 2024, we focused on establishing
role in the improvement of the the Youth Division at Africa CDC;
public’s health andin the creation of mobilizing and advocating for
a healthy and strong Africa in the resource allocation and HR support
face of increasing health threats. to coordinate and implement
various youth-related initiatives,
Africa CDC has resolved to activities and events by the Africa
inaugurate the Young Professionals CDC Youth Division.
Programme (a Youth Leadership
Fellowship Programme) and 1. Develop and launch the
to enhance its Network of Africa CDC Strategy for Youth
Youth in Digital Health, Bingwa Engagement and Participation
PLUS Initiative & Youth Health in Global Health to support the
Advocates Programme. These successful implementation of
innovative initiatives are expected the New Public health Order
“African youth to serve as useful channels for and the Africa CDC Strategic
Plan 2023-2027. This strategy
are more young professionals and youth
has been developed and
advocates to help carry out Africa
than just a CDC’s mission through dynamic finalized for implementation.
It will guide the Africa CDC
demographic; platforms. By leveraging the
commitment and engagement
vast potential of Africa’s youth,
they are agents Africa CDC is looking to tap into with young people in Africa.
of change, the youth bulge and build on its Further, the Strategy is
designed to mobilize, empower,
professionals, efforts in safeguarding the health
and engage young Africans
of the continent. In addition, the
innovators, programmes envisage fostering in shaping the continent’s
public health future. At its core,
advocates, regional representation by
this strategy will provide a
providing opportunities for young
and leaders professionals from historically platform for action on regional,
in the public underrepresented countries to continental, and global
health issues. It will set clear
health sector. participate in and contribute to
guidelines across strategic
Africa CDC’s activities.
Their role in thematic areas for engaging
young people on public health
Africa’s health These programmes are designed
across the African Union.
to equip young people with the
agenda is a necessary skills in advocacy, 2. Promote and support the
testament to policymaking, and community increased participation of Youth
their invaluable mobilization to enable them to Leadership in Public/Global
assume leadership positions Health and leverage on the
contribution in public health organizations potential of youth to achieve
to shaping and societies. By fostering the UHC: the Division has
fellowship/mentorship/advocacy
a healthier, opportunities with experienced
worked on a project to engage
young people, the Bingwa
prosperous, and health professionals, we can create PLUS Initiative, which aims to
more resilient a dynamic environment where empower young Africans (aged
youth can learn and contribute 18-35) to address public health
Africa”. - H.E. effectively to advancing PHC and issues in their communities.
Dr Jean Kaseya UHC strategies and the New Public
health order for Africa. The Bingwa PLUS Initiative builds
on the success of the African

64 | 2024 Annual Report

 The Youth in Digital Health
Union COVID-19 Vaccination ultimately strengthen Africa’s Network (YiDHN) by Africa
Bingwa Initiative and will identify, digital health ecosystem. The CDC in collaboration with the
Deutsche Gesellschaft für
incubate, and fund innovative Africa YiDHN aims to Empower Internationale Zusammenarbeit-
youth-led and community-based Youth Leadership through African Union office was
health initiatives. It is expected to capacity strengthening and announced on the sidelines
of the 2024 Africa HealthTech
broaden youths’ understanding of digital literacy (1), Promote Summit in Kigali, Rwanda.
various continental health agendas Participation of youth in
and strengthen their contribution governance and regulatory
to Africa CDC’s New Public Health spaces (2), Grow Innovation by
Order and Strategic Plan 2023-2027. facilitating access to funding
The Africa CDC has launched and sustainable growth (3).
a call for applications and 50 Facilitate Collaboration between
young people were selected to be youth and key stakeholders in
trained, equipped and enabled to digital health (4).
implement successful initiatives
tackling public health challenges in
their communities. The first cohort The Youth in Digital Health
will be graduating in April 2025. Ministerial Breakfast, on the
 Africa CDC in collaboration with margin of the AHTS 2024 brought
the Deutsche Gesellschaft für together and fostered dialogue
Internationale Zusammenarbeit- between high-level government
African Union (GIZ-African representatives, Africa CDC, young
Union) office launched the digital health leaders, partners, and
Africa Youth in Digital Health other key stakeholders. Building
Network (YiDHN), which is on the youth co-creation workshop
envisioned as a community discussions, key stakeholders in
of practice to amplify youth attendance made commitments to
voices in the digital health advance the YiDHN’s objectives,
ecosystem, promote youth- reinforcing a shared commitment
led innovation, and bridge the to youth-led digital health
gap between young leaders transformation in Africa.
and organizations. This will

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 65

 The YiDHN is driven by long-standing Planned activities for 2025 to Empower Youth
disparities and inefficiencies in in Health
healthcare delivery in Africa, which
have delayed the continent’s efforts In 2025, the Africa CDC Youth
to achieve universal health coverage Division’s focus for young people
and improved health outcomes for all. would center around several key
By engaging with the broader African areas of its Youth Strategy aimed at
Digital Health Network (ADHN), the enhancing their role in public health
YiDHN (Innovate. Inspire. Impact.) will initiatives. This will significantly
enhance the engagement and
contribute to enhanced innovation
empowerment of youth in public
capacity, transformative policymaking health, fostering a generation of
and implementation, and improved informed and proactive leaders
collaboration and support for young dedicated to improving health
innovators. outcomes across the continent. This
involves:

01 Support the operationalization of the Africa Youth in Digital Health Network (YiDHN), implementation
of the roadmap and organization of regional workshops and bootcamps for Youth/Innovators in Digital
Health.
02 Launch and operationalize the Africa CDC Strategy for Youth Engagement and participation in Global
Health at country level and Support Member States to establish and strengthen youth friendly services/
programs.

03 Strengthen Africa CDC Youth Division: hire staff, establish the Young Professional Programme (YPP)
(Learn. Lead. Impact.), launch the Mentorship Programme, strengthen the YAT4H and collaborate with
AUYVC Programme.
04 Conduct a Systematic Review on the State of Youth in PGHG in Africa:
Commissioned by the Africa CDC Youth Division, the ambition of this report is to serve as a catalyst for
change. It is envisioned to be a transformative document that not only provides a comprehensive analysis
of the current state of youth leadership in GHG but also lays down a clear roadmap for the future.
05 Co-host the Youth Summit with Amref Youth Directorate on the margins of Africa Health Agenda
International Conference (AHAIC) 2025

06 Organize the Africa CDC Youth Conference 2025 to amplify Youth Voices in public health in Africa and
globally.
07 Organize a Co-creation workshop on the next phase of AU Bingwa (AU Bingwa 2.0).

66 | 2024 Annual Report

 Secured and sustainable financing for
public health in Africa

Strengthening Health Financing Policies Driving Africa CDC’s overall sustainable

health financing agenda
One of the major objectives of the
Division in 2024 was to provide In 2024, significant progress was
technical support to Member States made in innovative health financing,
in structuring and implementing particularly with the establishment
more effective and sustainable health of the Africa CDC High-Level Panel
financing policies and framework. on Innovative Financing. The aim
Aligned to this, substantial technical of forming this Panel is to guide
assistance was provided to the Office Africa CDC’s strategic thinking on
of the President of South Africa, at sustainable and innovative financing
the request of national authorities, within the African context. This
to assess and project the cost of Panel was appointed at the Director
implementing the National Health General’s invitation and is composed
Insurance (NHI) plan for ten years of influential continental business
in South Africa. This analysis led to leaders, current or former Finance
a working mission from November Ministers, and key continental
11 to 17, 2024, in Pretoria, where voices. Through this initiative,
in-depth working sessions were Africa CDC aims to diversify funding
conducted with the Presidential sources for public health programs,
Advisor and NHI directors. The moving beyond traditional donor-
results and report were then officially driven models towards more
presented to the Honorable Minister autonomous and resilient financing
of Health and the Presidency Office, structures. The Panel, which will
providing valuable insights for be launched in the first quarter of
decision-making on the financial 2025, will be tasked with assessing
viability of the program and the the African health financing
necessary adjustments for its landscape, identifying best practices
implementation. in innovative health financing,
developing actionable policy
Similarly, the Democratic Republic of recommendations, and fostering
Congo (DRC) sought technical support public-private partnerships to
for the budgeting of its National mobilize resources and advocate for
Health Plan over a ten-year period. policy changes and implementation
To ensure a robust methodology, of recommended strategies. By
Africa CDC recruited and supervised leveraging innovative approaches and
a consultant specializing in health promoting collaboration, the Panel
economics. This mission aims will contribute to the sustainability
to establish a realistic financial and resilience of health systems in
framework that will facilitate the support of Africa CDC’s efforts to
effective mobilization of both national achieve universal health coverage
and international resources for the and strengthen pandemic prevention,
implementation of the plan. preparedness and response to better
health security across Africa.
These engagements reflect the
growing demand from African Over the past three decades, Africa
governments for evidence-based has made significant progress
health financing strategies that allow in addressing health challenges,
for more efficient resource allocation expanding treatment access, and
and long-term sustainability. reducing infections in priority
diseases like HIV/AIDS. However,

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 67

 evolving health threats demand intensified health financing innovation
a more resilient and holistic and increased domestic resource
approach to strengthen health allocations to health systems. Key
systems, especially considering outcomes of this convening included
the COVID-19 pandemic. The the global visibility and recognition
continent faces a growing burden of Africa’s health financing initiatives,
of both communicable and non- fostering global collaboration and the
communicable diseases, while reaffirmation of Africa’s commitment
sustaining domestic health financing to public health, advancing its
remains a challenge amid global global economic standing and
economic constraints, geopolitical demonstrating its unified vision
tensions, and climate change. in health financing. The Director
Regional initiatives, including the General strongly recommended
African Medicines Agency and institutionalizing this convening
Africa Medical Supplies Platform annually to ensure continuous
and the ongoing implementation monitoring of financial commitments
of the Africa Leadership Meeting and promote better budget allocation
(ALM) Declaration aim to enhance for health. By creating this structured
sustainable health financing, dialogue between Ministries of
underscoring Africa’s commitment to Finance and Health, Africa CDC has
resilient health systems. established a crucial mechanism
to advocate for increased national
It is against this backdrop that on the investments in health and lays the
margins of the 2024 Spring Meetings foundations to contribute towards the
of the International Monetary Fund realization of the Abuja declaration
(IMF) and the World Bank Group among Member States. This platform
(WBG), Africa CDC convened a closed will enable African governments to
High-Level Ministerial Roundtable develop more coherent and effective
of African Ministers of Finance on financial strategies that align health
the theme: Unveiling Pathways to sector needs with economic realities.
Sustainable and Innovative Financing
for Public Health in Africa. Other Ministers of Health from the Member
invited collaborators included the States were also engaged on the
African Union Department of Health, margins of the 77th World Health
Humanitarian Affairs and Social Assembly where Africa CDC hosted
Development (AU HHS), the African a high-level side event on the theme
Union Development Agency-NEPAD Setting Priorities and Optimizing
(AUDA-NEPAD), the Global Fund to Resources in Africa: The New Public
Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Health Order. The Ministers were
the Bureau of Global Health Security engaged in a panel discussion to
and Diplomacy/US Department of showcase continental progress
State (PEPFAR), the Joint United in strengthening priority-setting
Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and decision-making practices for
(UNAIDS) and the US Department of public health, amplify the immense
the Treasury. potential of evidence-based priority-
setting processes for Africa’s health
The Roundtable served as a platform security, and mobilize commitment
to refine the strategic case for across key constituencies for
health investments, aligning with catalytic approaches which foster an
the broader goals of Agenda 2063 enabling environment for evidence-
and the New Public Health Order. It informed priority-setting to serve as
embodied the shared resolve and an instrument for optimizing health
commitment of African Heads of resources and maximizing value in
State and Governments, as reflected health investment.
through the ongoing implementation
of the Africa Leadership Meeting
(ALM) Declaration, to secure and
sustain financing for health security
in Africa. The event sought to catalyze
momentum and commitment for

68 | 2024 Annual Report

Optimization of Resources and Support to Stakeholders involved in country-
Member States in Priority Setting level public health emergencies in
Nigeria, Mozambique, and South
Development and Launch of the Continental Africa as well as stakeholders based
Framework for Evidence-Informed Priority at continental and multilateral
Setting (EIPS) organizations (World Bank) were
interviewed. Four deep dive in-
A major milestone in 2024 was the
country missions to Uganda, Malawi,
development and launch of the
Burkina Faso, and Morocco were
Continental Framework for Evidence-
conducted to collect perspectives
Informed Priority Setting (EIPS). This
from high-level stakeholders from
framework provides Member States
Ministries of Health (MoH), Ministries
with a structured, scientific approach
of Finance (MoF), other relevant
to allocating their resources more
ministries, NPHIs, emergency
efficiently applying systematic priority
operations centers, national task
setting approaches. The framework
forces, and development partner
was officially presented in April 2024
in Addis Ababa, bringing together This document provides strategic
more than 40 Member States, with recommendations and guidance
the aim of harmonization of the to help Member States integrate
initiatives, demonstrating a growing resource optimization and priority
interest in adopting data-driven settings principles into crisis response
decision-making methodologies in planning, ensuring that funds are
public health budgeting. allocated effectively, even in times of
health emergencies (preparedness,
By leveraging this framework,
response and recovery).
countries can systematically assess
and prioritize health interventions To further strengthen national
based on impact, cost-effectiveness, capacities, Africa CDC organized a
and strategic importance. The capacity-building training session on
EIPS framework serves as a key Resource Optimisation in Emergency
instrument for governments seeking Preparedness and Response in
to maximize the return on their health Lusaka, Zambia, where 25 participants
investments while ensuring equity from 10 Member States received
and sustainability in service delivery. hands-on training on priority setting
in health emergencies. This training
Guidance on Resource Optimization in
equipped policymakers and technical
Emergency Preparedness and Response
experts with the necessary skills to
Beyond long-term planning, Africa make informed financial decisions
CDC also addressed the need for under high-pressure conditions.
an efficient resource management
Perspectives for 2025 and Beyond
approach in emergency contexts
by publishing a guidance note on Development of an Investment Case for
resource optimization for emergency Africa CDC
preparedness and response (EPR).
In 2025, Africa CDC will enter a new
The guidance draws on a landscaping phase of strategic consolidation. One
study conducted by the Africa CDC of the most significant initiatives will
for priority setting and resource be the development of an Investment
optimization within the context Case for Africa CDC, a strategic
of EPR. It involved a mapping of document aimed at demonstrating
global, continental, and regional the organization’s value proposition,
organizations supporting EPR, a estimating the public health and
literature review, and key informant economic return and mobilizing
interviews (KIIs). Key informant additional funding.
interviews were held with high-
level policymakers with institutional This Investment Case will highlight
memory, first-hand experiences and several key arguments:
tacit knowledge about priority setting
and resource optimization in EPR.  The economic impact of health
investments aligned to the Africa

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 69

 CDC programmatic priorities be complemented by a scaling-up
and enablers and their role in of training programs, equipping
fostering economic growth and policymakers with the tools and
stability across African nations. knowledge necessary to implement
best practices in health economics
 The importance of enhanced and financing.
financial autonomy to ensure
greater resilience of health In addition, Africa CDC aims to pilot
systems against future crises. an innovative approach to primary
healthcare (PHC) financing, working
 The need to diversify funding with selected Member States to test
sources, mobilizing increased cost-effective PHC service delivery
domestic contributions while models. This initiative will generate
exploring innovative financing valuable evidence on financing
models. strategies that optimize resources
while ensuring universal health
This document will serve as a crucial
coverage.
advocacy tool to persuade Member
States and international partners to The year 2024 represented a turning
increase their financial commitment point in the transformation of
to Africa CDC. By clearly and health financing in Africa. Through
scientifically articulating the return the active engagement of the
on investment in public health (the Health Economics and Financing
benefits and costs), the Investment Division, significant progress has
Case will support the organization’s been made in capacity building,
goal of achieving long-term financial evidence generation and translation,
sustainability. The investment case innovative financial mechanisms, and
will be developed through a series resource optimization.
of consultative approaches with
relevant stakeholders as well as In 2025, Africa CDC is committed
applying an economic modelling to sustaining these efforts by
approach. focusing on financial mobilization,
strengthening strategic partnerships,
Expanding Technical Assistance and and providing targeted technical
Capacity Building assistance to Member States. The
overarching goal remains clear: to
Beyond financial mobilization, Africa
build a more resilient, financially
CDC will also expand its technical
sustainable health system capable of
assistance to Member States,
effectively responding to the growing
providing targeted support in health
health needs of African populations.
financing, economic modelling,
and budget optimization. This will

70 | 2024 Annual Report

 Strengthened public health research and
innovation: Informing public health decision-
making and practice

T o strengthen the Africa CDC’s outbreak response

research capacity and optimally  Strengthen pharmacovigilance
support member states, the systems across the continent to
agency has restructured the science enhance capacities and capabilities
and innovation directorate and to monitor the safety of vaccines
increased the number of staff from and medical products including
2 to 16. Three divisions, namely the monitoring adverse events
division of research for health system following immunisation.
strengthening, the division of R&D
and clinical trials, and the division of  Strengthen scientific publication
capacity of African researchers
knowledge management, have been
and increase scientific publications
established. from Africa CDC.
The African Health Research Prioritization
In 2024, the Center for Science and Agenda and ethical conduct of research
Innovation aimed to: during emergencies

 Develop and validate framework To drive impact, health research in

documents and mechanisms to Africa should be ethically conducted
govern and coordinate research on addressing African priority health
the continent addressing priority problems, a major shift from the
public health problems current paradigm of donor-driven
and donor-based priorities. However,
 Support regional and member priority setting is a multicriteria multi-
states’ knowledge management stakeholder process that requires
hubs and translation of evidence a methodology that ensures health
into policy and practice issues with the potential of driving
utmost impact are addressed first.
 Support research during As such Africa CDC has developed
emergency as a key pillar in a health research prioritisation High-level panel
discussion on
innovative financing

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 71

 framework aimed at guiding Africa CDC as a leader in multi
Member States in defining national partner research coordination
health research priorities which during public health emergencies
will be aggregated at regional and
continental level to establish the The way forward in 2025 in Research
African continental health research Prioritization Agenda
agenda. Moreover, with over 240
 The validated research
outbreaks and emergency events
prioritisation and African
that happened on the continent
centred ethics frameworks will
in 2024, a remarkable proportion
be launched in March 2025. The
of health research is done during
prioritisation framework will be
emergencies in a context where
used to support Member States
study populations are vulnerable to
in establishing national health
research misconduct, thus the need to
research priorities through in-
regulate ethical conduct of research
country workshops with Member
in emergencies such that participants
States research stakeholders, to
are protected and respected in the
support 40 Member States in 2025
process of generating the evidence
required for science-based response  Establishment of a continental
to the health emergency. Africa research coordination and
CDC therefore developed an African governance mechanism with
centred health research ethics regional entities to ensure
framework for research during research addresses African
outbreaks and health emergencies priorities
that considers African cultural
values in the conduct of research.  Using the African centred
These two crucial documents, which research ethics framework
underwent numerous stakeholder for research in outbreaks and
consultations during development emergencies, Africa CDC will work
was validated in a workshop that was with national ethics committees to
held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from develop harmonised approaches
the 21st to 23rd November 2024, that to ethical review of health
brought together 47 African Union research on the continent
Member States and 130 stakeholders
(scientist, ethics committee experts
and academics). This validation
Scientific Publications to Disseminate
workshop was also an opportunity
Research Findings and Influence Policy and
to discuss setting up a continental
Practice
research governance mechanism
aimed coordinating research on the Africa CDC published 92 manuscripts
continent to be ethically conducted and position papers, increasing the
addressing African priorities. visibility of Africa CDC’s scientific
contributions and influencing
The key lessons learned in Research
public health policy and practice.
Prioritization Agenda
These scientific outputs were
 The need to include all key critical in informing decisions and
stakeholders at inception in responses, documenting the lessons
the process of developing key and best practices, and voicing
documents and frameworks on continental health perspectives
the continent and needs to the global health
community. The position papers
 A continental research on the Pandemic Agreement,
coordination mechanism to impacts of climate change, public
be created using the model of health emergencies during wars
research as response to the and conflicts, encouraging malaria
ongoing Mpox outbreak deeply vaccine innovations and uptake,
instituted in the Continental and recommendations on pandemic
Incident Management System financing were vital in communicating
Team (IMST), that positioned continental needs and perspectives

72 | 2024 Annual Report

and recommending alternative Strengthening Scientific Publishing
solutions to shape the global health Capacity of African Researchers
ecosystem. The list of publications
found in: The scientific publishing capacity
strengthening program was
Journal of Public Health in Africa: An targeted to equip early-career
Open-access Platform to Move Public researchers and public health
Health Discourse Forefront professionals with the necessary
As part of its efforts to create a skills to translate their findings into
platform and strengthen African impactful, publishable manuscripts.
health researchers’ publishing and African public health faces unique
disseminating capacity, Africa CDC challenges, and this program
has strengthened the Journal of emphasized the need for evidence-
Public Health in Africa (JPHIA). The based research to inform policies
JPHIA started receiving scientific and interventions. By gathering
manuscripts in May 2024 after Africa a diverse group of researchers,
CDC signed a publishing service academics, and practitioners, the
agreement with the AOSIS publisher. program served as a platform for
Since then, the journal has received capacity building, collaboration, and
221 manuscripts: 169 were sent to
mentorship under the guidance of
peer review, and 102 were accepted
for publication. Of the accepted 102 seasoned experts. We conducted
manuscripts, 31 were published two events (one scientific writing
online, and the remaining are in training and one consultative
production. African researchers meeting) as part of this initiative.
submitted over 70% of these The scientific writing training was
manuscripts. hands-on practical training of 20 JPHIA Submitted and
published articles by
country of origin

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 73

 early-career researchers selected knowledge management hub is
from the National Public Health accessible in all AU languages. In
Institutes (Figure X). During this 2025, we plan to implement this
training, the trainees worked knowledge management concept
on their manuscripts under and practice in AU member
the mentorship of prominent states.
professors. These manuscripts Strengthening pharmacovigilance
are now ready for submission (safety surveillance) systems in Africa
to JPHIA for publication. The
second event, the consultative Africa CDC established the
meeting with NPHIs and JPHIA Pharmacovigilance (PV)
editorial board members, was Unit to ensure the safety of
instrumental in crafting strategic pharmaceutical products and
documents to strengthen the medical interventions across
scientific publishing capacity of the continent. This initiative
African researchers and enhance aims to augment public health
the quality of JPHIA (Figure Y). interventions by strengthening
safety monitoring frameworks,
Africa CDC Knowledge Management
enhancing regulatory capacities,
Hub
and fostering collaboration
Africa CDC has also established among Member States to detect,
a knowledge management assess, and mitigate risks
hub to ensure the availability, associated with medical products.
accessibility and usability of
knowledge products to increase During the review period, the
stakeholders’ access to critical PV Unit successfully convened a
guidelines, best practices, continental pharmacovigilance
scientific outputs, and relevant meeting, bringing together
data to make informed decisions stakeholders from 22 Member
and responses. This is critical to States, representatives from
ensuring that the best lessons pharmacovigilance centres,
are scaled up and translated and implementing partners in
The Continental into practice and policies. The
Pharmacovigilance
workshop took place in,
Accra, Ghana

74 | 2024 Annual Report

collaboration with the Ghana
FDA. This meeting served as a
platform to share experiences,
identify key challenges, and
formulate actionable strategies
to strengthen pharmacovigilance
systems. The meeting
established the groundwork for
enhanced safety surveillance
and regulatory harmonisation
across the continent by
leveraging existing resources
and structures.

The PV Unit played a pivotal

role in the Mpox response by
developing a Cohort Event
Monitoring (CEM) protocol.
This protocol was designed
to systematically assess the
safety of the Mpox vaccine
and identify potential adverse
events following immunization.
By implementing robust safety
monitoring mechanisms, the
PV Unit contributed to the
generation of critical safety
evidence to support informed
decision-making and ensure the
safe deployment of vaccines
during outbreak response efforts.

Building on the achievements

of the first phase of the Saving
Lives and Livelihood (SLL)
Programme, the PV Unit, in
collaboration with implementing
partners, conducted in-
depth microplanning further
to strengthen the safety
surveillance systems of AU
Member States under the follow-
up implementation phase.
This effort aimed to ensure the
systematic generation of safety
evidence for pharmaceutical
products, reinforcing public
confidence in medical
interventions. Additionally, the
PV Unit actively collaborated
with various divisions and
workstreams at Africa CDC
to jointly respond to multiple
disease outbreaks, ensuring
an integrated and coordinated
approach to public health
emergencies.

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 75

 Coordinated, respectful and action-oriented
public health partnerships and strengthened
engagements with communities on public health
needs

A frica CDC’s 2023-2027 Strategic Mobilization Strategy and develop

Plan is very deliberate on a Grant Management Information
our intention to build new System.
and retain existing partnerships
that are respectful and action Partnership and Resource Mobilization
oriented. To effectively support Strategy
our member states, Africa CDC
engaged with a wide range of In our review, we sought to align
partners: Funders/donors, global the Partnership and Resource
health peers, implementing partners, Mobilization Strategy to the 2023-
academic institutions, civil society 2027 institution-wide strategic plan.
organizations and communities as We also took a decision to develop an
well as the private sector. Africa CDC investment case that would serve as
is also supporting coordination of a tool for our resource mobilization
partnerships on the continent to avoid efforts. At the end of 2024, the
duplication of efforts and ensure review of the strategy was completed
synergies at the country level. and work toward the revision of
the Partnership and Resource
Recognizing the importance of partner Mobilization strategy was underway,
retention, we started off 2024 with a with the investment case expected
primarily objective of enhancing how to inform the resource mobilization
we manage the existing partnerships, component. Work toward finalizing
with a scope to enter new ones. The an investment case had advanced
mpox outbreak in the second half significantly by end of 2024.
of the year led to some adjustment
of focus towards strengthening Grant Management Information System
partnerships on emergency response.
In 2024, Africa CDC was managing
Development of tools to enhance our funds from 30 funders. Our ability to
partnership management analyze expenditures, identify cost
drivers and report on sources and
In 2024, Africa CDC had several active uses of funds is key to strengthening
Memorandums of Understanding our relationship with our funders
with African-based and International and donors. Africa CDC has made
Development partners. Africa CDC considerable progress on developing
is progressively strengthening its the user requirements for a system
external relations and strategic that will help us achieve the
engagements through building highest level of transparency and
robust systems to sustain existing accountability for donor funds.
alliances and collaboration with all This system, once development is
health stakeholders and attract new finalised, will be integrated into an
partnerships. To be able to manage enterprise-wide resource platform that
better the existing partnerships, will incorporate human resources,
Africa CDC undertook to review and financial planning and budgeting
publish the Partnership and Resource as well as reporting, among other

76 | 2024 Annual Report

functions. Our ability to generate Support Team (IMST) organized
financial reports and submit timely under a one team approach with one
reports to our funders is possible in plan, one budget, one monitoring and
2025. accountability framework.

Enhanced Collaboration with WHO The IMST is testament to a much

stronger collaboration between
Under Article 26 of the Africa CDC Africa CDC and WHO. To further
Revised Statute, it is stated that “the improve the collaboration, Africa CDC
Africa CDC and WHO shall develop proposed the inclusion of WHO in
a clear framework for collaboration its Governing Board to ensure much
to avoid overlap in their support to stronger engagement and alignment.
Member States to fulfil the objectives
on disease control and prevention Africa CDC supported WHO
as well as the implementation of and the World Bank’s efforts to
the Africa CDC’s objectives and continually provide a transparent
strategies.” In 2024, Africa CDC and overview of financial contributions
WHO continued to implement the and implementation compared to
Joint Emergency Preparedness and resource needs. The financial tracker
Response Action Plan (JEAP) which was presented to the G20 Joint
was launched in 2023. Financing and Health Task Force
during the G20 meetings in Rio de
Together, Africa CDC and WHO made Janeiro. This level of transparency
significant progress to harmonize and accountability builds trust among
and coordinate efforts for improved our funders and donors, our member
prevention, preparedness, early states and other key stakeholders.
detection, rapid response, and control
of public health emergencies in the The IMST brings together all
continent. Both Africa CDC and WHO partners that are engaging on the
co-lead the Incident Management mpox outbreak response through

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 77

 weekly Partner Meetings. This weekly Later in 2024, Africa CDC established a
coordination meetings ensures that Continental Secretariat for the Lusaka
all partners are fully informed on how Agenda Implementation to ensure
the mpox response is progressing, that there is a structural mechanism
including emerging health threats such to oversee the monitoring and
as Marburg in Rwanda. accountability framework and report
back to the Executive Council.
Ensuring Accountability for the
implementation of the Lusaka Agenda Africa stands at a critical juncture,
where the lessons learned from the
The February 2024 Assembly of AU COVID-19 pandemic as well as Ebola
Heads of State endorsed a decision and mpox outbreaks underlined the
related to the Lusaka Agenda in Africa need for increased self-reliance in our
(ref: Dec.880(XXXVII) and tasked continent’s health systems. The Lusaka
Africa CDC with the responsibility Agenda ensures harmonization of
of establishing a Monitoring and efforts among GHIs while leveraging
Accountability mechanism to ensure domestically sourced financial
the effective implementation of the resources to fund health in the
Lusaka Agenda in Africa and report continent. The Secretariat is a structure
back to the Executive Council on a that will conduct periodic reviews of
regular basis. the Lusaka Agenda implementation in
line with the Lusaka Agenda roles and
In 2024, Africa CDC sought to responsibilities as articulated in the
advance progress in implementing Accountability Framework and produce
the Assembly decision. Considerable a scorecard that can be accessed
progress has been made in mobilizing by Member States, so they are
the Global Health Initiative (GHI) empowered to act based on progress
partners and the regional health with the implementation.
organizations through a consultative
process to develop an inclusive Advancing Africa’ health agenda through
monitoring and accountability South Africa’s Presidency of the G20
framework accompanied with a
balanced scorecard for implementing Under the theme Accelerate Health
the Lusaka Agenda. Equity, Solidarity, and Universal

The February 2024

Assembly of AU Heads
of State endorsed a
decision related to the
Lusaka Agenda in Africa
(ref: Dec.880(XXXVII)
and tasked Africa CDC
with the responsibility of
establishing a Monitoring
and Accountability
mechanism to ensure
effective implementation.

78 | 2024 Annual Report

Access, South Africa’s G20 Health Memorandum of Understanding with
Working Group has committed to Sabin Vaccine Institute, a joint action
focus on the following priorities: (1) plan with the Coalition for Epidemic
Accelerating UHC through a PHC Prevention Initiative (CEPI) as well as
approach; (2) Strengthening human with the International AIDS Vaccine
resources for health; (3) Stemming Initiative (IAVI).
the tide of NCDs; (4) Pandemic
Prevention Preparedness and In 2024, we made a commitment
Response (PPPR); and (5) Science and to work with our partners on 10
innovation for health and economic joint initiatives and we were able
growth. All five priorities are aligned to achieve 100% of this target. We
with the priorities of Africa CDC. mapped out potential partners that
would enhance health in the African
In 2024, Africa CDC participated in continent and developed a plan
the co-branded event co-hosted with to engage more than 50 partners.
PATH and other partners. Emphasis Partner reach-out intensified toward
was made on the need to translate the end of 2024 and will continue into
the pledges for Mpox response into 2025.
commitments so disbursements can
be realized. The importance of using Resource Mobilization
digital tools to track the response,
including financial resources was also Through engagements partners such
emphasized. as CEPI, the GAVI, and the World
Diabetics Foundation (WDF), Africa
As South Africa took over the G20 CDC has been able to mobilize just
Presidency, Africa CDC engaged with over 30 million USD. This significant
the Joint Financing and Health Task funding helps to safeguard the
Force as well as the Health Working financial health of the institution and
Group to position our mandate as contributes to safeguarding health for
given by our Member States. Africa our member states.
CDC will serve as a resource for the
Health Working Group under South
Africa’s G20 Presidency, especially
providing content on strengthening
integrated health systems for PPPR,
advancing local manufacturing and
ensuring that the continent has the
best health workforce to support
routine health programs and respond
to public health emergencies.

Forging New Partnerships As Africa CDC is co-leading the Mpox

response and supported affected
While we emphasized relationship member states in 2024, our resource
management in 2024, we also took mobilization was leaning heavy
steps to forge new relationships with toward Mpox response. Following
new partners. Our aim is to make sure the declaration of Mpox as a Public
that our partnerships lead to effective Health Emergency of Continental
collaboration and joint actions aligned Security (PHECS) in August 2024, we
with Africa CDC’s vision and mission. sought the approval of the Permanent
We were able to sign new working Representatives Committee (PRC)
agreements with the UK Government to allocate initial funds to kick start
on Anti-Microbial Resistance on the the Mpox response. In addition, we
margins of the UN General Assembly pursued funders that supported us
in September 2024, a collaborative during COVID-19 epidemic response
agreement with the Pan African to reprogram the funds toward
Health Organization (PAHO), a Mpox response. With the support of

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 79

 H.E President Cyril Ramaphosa, our all the Program Implementation
champion for Pandemic Prevention, Units (PIUs) into a Joint PIU that
Preparedness and Response (PPPR), manages large and complex funds
we were able to secure over $1.6 from external partners. The Grant
billion towards Mpox response Management Information System
throughout the continent. will help Africa CDC to manage these
grants in a more effective manner.
Our resource mobilization extended
to mobilization of vaccines. In 2024, Highlights of Key Partnerships Achievements
we were able to secure the following in 2024
doses of mpox vaccines:
In 2024, we have had the following
These generous contributions enabled notable key achievements:
Africa CDC to work through the IMST
to allocate these to affected countries  Ecosystem Mapping of Africa
so they can control the spread of CDC Partners in North Africa:
Mpox. Strategic Partner Mapping and
Initiative Development to Enhance
Country Quantities (Doses) Coordination and Address Gaps in
Japan 3 million Northern Africa
United States 1 million
European Union 0.802 million  Creation of Regional Partnership
GAVI 0.5 million Forums: Eastern RCC-successfully
Canada 0.2 million
held first ever regional partners
Total 5.502 million
meeting with over 20 partners
in attendance. Western RCC
In addition, the continent received conducted a regional Stakeholders
technical assistance from, the UK Forum with 37 partners in
Government who deployed technical attendance.
experts from UK Health Security
Agency and the London School of  Engagement as a tool to
Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the
strengthen partnerships:
Korean Government who deployed
Strengthened Partnerships
epidemiologists into the continent,
through reach out and
and the Chinese Government who
deploys on a more long-term basis engagements with Diplomatic
epidemiologists stationed at Africa Representatives, Government
CDC headquarters. Agencies, and Private Sector in
Beijing and Shenzhen.
Grant Management
Capacity to engage strategically
Over the 12 months period in 2024,
CDC oversaw the implementation of To be able to engage externally and
a total of 71 grants worth 369 million build meaningful relationships, we
USD. Over the course of the year, we used 2024 to strengthen our internal
successfully took 20 grants through a capacity for external engagement.
close out process. We also started 10 In 2024, Africa CDC established the
new grants and reprogrammed 9, to Directorate of External Relations and
align with the developments related Strategic Engagement. In addition, we
to Mpox outbreak. We sought and hired a substantive Head of Division
received approval to extend 8 grants, for Partnerships & International
and we closed off the year with 3 Cooperation and sought to strengthen
grants in the pipeline, getting ready to the team through additional staffing.
be signed.
Our value proposition as an
We continue to strengthen our institution lies in our convening
capacity to manage all grants power – however, we recognize
internally. In 2024, we consolidated that we should have the capacity to

80 | 2024 Annual Report

implement programmes in support of that will give our funders and partners
our member states and demonstrate comfort in working with Africa CDC.
such a capacity to attract additional
resources. In 2024, we developed Africa CDC needs a strong External
a Capacity Statement, profiling the Engagement architecture, and we will
work of Africa CDC and the impact we continue to strengthen our capacity to
were able to achieve. This capacity manage partnerships through strong
statement will complement the relationship management.
investment case and serve as tools for
our resource mobilization efforts. Partnership Forums create a platform
for our esteemed partners to come
As a support function to Africa together and reflect on the work
CDC’s Programmes, we have we do together to improve health
organized the Partnerships teams into and wellbeing for Africans in the
Relationship Managers to strengthen continent. Africa CDC will host at least
communication with Technical Teams one partnership convening in a year
internally, Partners, Donors, and in order to maintain connectedness
Stakeholders. with our partners.

Looking ahead With the need for Africa to look

domestically for resources, Africa
There is a lot of goodwill among CDC will initiate and implement
partners to work with Africa CDC. at least one Innovative Financing
We will continue to leverage on initiative in the coming year. This
this opportunity to strengthen the will ensure predictability and
existing relationships and cultivating sustainability of funding for our
new ones. Our priority is to build projects as we strengthen the capacity
trust through increased transparency of our member states to secure the
and accountability. We will prioritize health of their citizens.
building internal business systems

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 81

 Strengthened engagement and support of
Member States through RCCs and in-country
presence: Africa CDC Without Walls

I n 2024, the Africa CDC’s five • Enhanced Governance: The Northern

Regional Coordinating Centres and Western RCCs joined the
made significant strides in rest in establishing the regional
operationalizing the organizational governance structures, these
mandate. The RCCs, established being the steering and technical
to strengthen the public health advisory committees. The
systems in the member states, foster engagements in these structures
regional collaboration, and enhance have strengthened oversight,
Africa’s capacity to respond to health and continuous engagement
emergencies. improved strategic alignment with
health priorities, and fostered
This report highlights the progress more effective decision-making
achieved in the operationalization processes.
of the RCCs, showcasing key • Strengthened Regional Networks
milestones in regional collaboration, of Public Health Assets and
governance, capacity building, and Capacities: The establishment and
program implementation. These operationalization of the Regional
efforts have contributed to improved Integrated Surveillance and
health security across the continent, Laboratory Networks (RISLNET)
reinforcing Africa CDC’s role as a in the Central, Eastern, Southern,
leader in public health coordination and Western RCCs, along with
and response. the Regional Cholera Taskforce in
the Eastern and Southern RCCs,
As Africa continues to face complex have enhanced coordination and
health challenges, the achievements resource sharing. In Southern
outlined in this report demonstrate and Eastern Africa, RISLNET has
the pivotal role of the RCCs in been instrumental in improving
driving regional health initiatives regional response efforts through
and building resilient health systems efficient networking of public
to safeguard the well-being of all health assets.
Africans. Key achievements common • Operational Readiness: The
to the five RCCs in 2024 include: deployment of staff to RCC
structures has accelerated
• Strengthened Regional Collaboration: operationalization, enabling
Host agreements with Zambia, timely and responsive public
Kenya, Gabon, and Nigeria have health operations. Donations of
fortified partnerships enhancing critical assets and equipment
regional cooperation and to member states have further
commitment to public health. reinforced health systems,
Improved collaboration with enhancing engagement and
Regional Economic Communities readiness to address regional
(RECs) and organizations such as health security challenges.
WHO and UNICEF has ensured • Improved Program Implementation:
alignment with the organisational Continuous engagement with
strategies such as Africa CDC Member States has streamlined
program implementation,
– WHO Joint Mpox Continental
ensuring that Africa CDC
Response Plan, streamlining
initiatives are tailored to regional
efforts and maximizing impact.

82 | 2024 Annual Report

 needs. In-country teams have regional stakeholder coordination
strengthened collaboration with and collaboration; strengthening
Ministries of Health and other functional Knowledge sharing
stakeholders, delivering timely and promote information; and
technical support and facilitating strengthening RCC governance
effective communication between framework.
Africa CDC RCCs and Member
States. Several initiatives were undertaken
• Enhanced Capacity Building: These to strengthen the engagement and
efforts have empowered regional support of Member States in Central
and national health systems to Africa. The launch of the Knowledge
address health challenges more Management Centre in the Central
effectively. Notable examples African Republic brought together 37
include the successful responses experts from seven Member States
by Rwanda and Uganda to and regional economic communities
Marburg and Ebola virus to enhance knowledge sharing
outbreaks, as well as cost-effective and capacity building. Strategic
virtual training programs for engagement missions were conducted
community-based organizations in Chad, Congo, Cameroon, and
in Kenya to enhance mpox Gabon, providing an opportunity
surveillance and reporting, led to present Africa CDC’s New Public
by the Eastern RCC. Finally, the Health Order, advocate for the signing
RCC Centre made a significant of the data-sharing agreement by
contribution to the Mpox response Member States, and assess the
in the DRC by deploying ten staff operational status of the Regional
to contribute to the continental Coordination Centre for Central Africa.
response against Mpox. Additionally, knowledge-sharing
• Increased Visibility: The efforts were reinforced through seven
operationalization of RCCs and ECHO sessions, which facilitated
the establishment of in-country the exchange of information among
presence have significantly nearly 400 public health experts
elevated Africa CDC’s profile, and clinicians from nine Central
positioning it as a central figure in African Member States and beyond,
national, regional and continental strengthening regional collaboration
health security initiatives and improving the flow of critical
health information.
These achievements have laid a
robust foundation for the RCCs to The following were the key
effectively coordinate regional health achievements of the Central RCC
efforts, strengthening health security
systems and driving impactful  Strengthened governance and
outcomes across the continent. Member States engagement
Through enhanced governance, in achieving regional health
capacity building, and collaboration, security and disease control
Africa CDC continues to support and prevention and data
Member States in building resilient sharing agreement in 4 Member
health systems and addressing public States (Chad, Congo Republic,
health priorities. Below we highlight Cameroon, and Gabon)
the achievements in individual RCCs.  Strengthened knowledge
and sharing and promote
Africa CDC Central Regional Coordinating health information’s with the
Centre establishment of regional
knowledge center in Central Africa
In 2024, Central RCC committed region.
to strengthening engagement  Developed of a manual of
and support of Member States in operating procedures for Central
Central Africa Region; strengthening Africa RCC offices with a clear

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 83

 definition of the responsibilities commitment to addressing regional
and expectations for each position health challenges. These achievements
or function. provide a strong foundation for
 Strengthened collaboration and advancing health security, fostering
coordination among 45 health resilience, and ensuring the well-being
research centers in Central Africa. of populations across Central Africa.
 Supported Member State for the
Establishment of NPHI: A regional Africa CDC Eastern Regional Coordinating
best practice sharing with NPHI Centre
directors and technical experts
from the Ministry of Health in the The Africa CDC Eastern Regional
Central African region, support Coordinating Centre (RCC) outlined
CAR in establishing NPHI a strategic plan for 2024, focusing on
 Strengthened the health system strengthening governance structures
through by reinforcing cold chain and enhancing health systems to
equipment in five Member States safeguard health security across
(Burundi, Congo, Equatorial Member States and the broader
Guinea, Gabon, Chad) region. A 100-day strategy was crafted
 Strengthened cross-border to guide the focus for the second half
coordination and information of the year. Significant progress has
sharing on cholera epidemic been made in advancing the health
between (DRC, Burundi, Zambia) security agenda through high-level
 Developed the roadmap for advocacy, strategic partnerships,
the operationalisation of the and impactful interventions.
collaboration and coordination The RCC has fostered stronger
framework for health security collaboration with Member States,
in Central Africa region and bolstered pandemic preparedness,
validation by members of the and significantly improved health
regional technical committee. infrastructure. This report highlights
 Developed the national framework key achievements that demonstrate
for strengthening mortality the RCC’s unwavering commitment to
surveillance and drafting of building resilient health systems and
national mortality surveillance addressing pressing health challenges
plans for two Member States in Eastern Africa, paving the way for a
(Chad, CAR). healthier and more secure future.

Significant progress has been achieved  Advancing the Regional Health Security
in strengthening health security and Agenda: The Eastern RCC facilitated
systems in the Central African region for the Director General engaged
through the operationalization of the high-level advocacy across Eastern
RCC. Key milestones include enhanced Africa, emphasizing the need
governance, improved Member for African-led manufacturing
State engagement, and strengthened of medical countermeasures.
collaboration among health research At the AfCFTA Biashara Africa
centres. The establishment of a Conference in Rwanda, discussions
regional knowledge centre, the with President Paul Kagame and
development of operational manuals, Minister Nsazimana highlighted
and the promotion of best practices the importance of strengthening
for National Public Health Institutes Africa’s vaccine and medical
(NPHIs) have bolstered knowledge supply capacity. Engagements
sharing and capacity building. with seven Heads of State at the
Additionally, investments in cold 23rd COMESA Summit addressed
chain infrastructure, cross-border critical health challenges, including
coordination for cholera response, and mpox, Marburg outbreaks,
frameworks for health security and and climate change impacts. A
mortality surveillance reflect the RCC’s

84 | 2024 Annual Report

 meeting with President Museveni These forums provided critical
underscored Uganda’s leadership oversight, strategic direction, and
in responding to HIV/AIDS, Ebola, redefined health security priorities
and other outbreaks. These for the region.
efforts bolstered partnerships and
solidified Africa CDC’s position  Enhanced Cholera Response: The RCC
in advocating for resilient health inaugurated the Regional Cholera
systems and self-reliance. Taskforce, improving coordination
for outbreak response. Staff
 Enhanced Regional Coordination: were deployed to Comoros and
Strengthened collaboration with South Sudan to support cholera
Member States and regional interventions, leveraging in-
entities through seven country country capacities to enhance
engagement missions (Kenya, regional response efforts.
Comoros, Tanzania, South
Sudan, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and  Strengthened Cross-Border Surveillance
Madagascar) and partnerships and Health Security: Hosted
with all four regional economic regional cross-border workshops
communities. These efforts and targeted meetings with
improved alignment and regional partners and economic
implementation of regional health communities to improve
security initiatives. surveillance and strengthen health
security across borders.
 Improved Health Infrastructure
for Immunization and Pandemic  Securing Resources for RCC
Preparedness: The Eastern Operationalization: Finalized
RCC, in collaboration with legal agreements and secured
the Mastercard Foundation’s land for the construction of a
Saving Lives and Livelihoods permanent RCC office, with a
(SLL) Programme, delivered $2 million commitment from
$2.5 million worth of cold chain the Government of Kenya.
equipment to Tanzania, Comoros, Additionally, $27,000 was
South Sudan, and Somalia. mobilized to renovate temporary
These efforts enhanced vaccine office spaces, advancing
storage and distribution systems, operational readiness.
facilitating the integration of
COVID-19 vaccination into  Amplifying the voices of the Africa
routine immunization and CDC: The Eastern RCC amplified
bolstering preparedness for future the leadership and influence
pandemics. of the Africa CDC by delivering
keynotes at international forums
 Strengthened Strategic Partnerships: like the Tanzania Health Summit,
Africa CDC deepened its International Health Ministers’
collaboration with Kenya’s Meeting, and Lake Region Digital
Ministry of Health through Health Conference among others.
five high-level engagements. These engagements reinforced
These discussions advanced the its role in shaping health security,
operationalization of the Eastern digital health, and collaborative
RCC and aligned health strategies public health strategies.
for the region.
The achievements of the Eastern
 Effective Governance and Oversight: RCC demonstrate its pivotal role in
The RCC successfully convened enhancing regional health security
the 2nd Regional Steering and fostering collaboration among
Committee, 6th Regional Technical Member States and partners.
Advisory Committee, and two By prioritizing local solutions,
extraordinary ReTAC meetings. strengthening health systems, and
addressing emerging threats, the

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 85

 RCC has laid a strong foundation system preparedness.
for sustainable and effective public  Capacity Building for Pandemic
health interventions. These efforts Preparedness: Collaborated with
reaffirm Africa CDC’s leadership in Africa CDC Business Units and
advancing the continent’s health Divisions to strengthen Member
agenda and building resilience State capacities in critical areas,
against future health challenges. including, mortality surveillance;
Africa CDC Northern Regional community health workers
Coordinating Centre (CHWs); Hepatitis C Virus
(HCV) initiatives; Kofi Annan
The Africa CDC Northern Regional Leadership training; One Health
Coordinating Centre (RCC) has and event-based surveillance
achieved significant milestones (EBS); response to emergencies,
in advancing health security and simulation exercises (SIMEX),
pandemic preparedness across and points of entry (PoE;
Member States. By fostering biosafety and biosecurity; and
collaboration, enhancing National Public Health Institute
governance, and implementing (NPHI) strengthening.
critical initiatives, the Northern RCC  Strengthened Cross-Border
continues to strengthen regional Surveillance and NPHIs: Hosted
health systems and promote regional cross-border
resilience against health challenges. surveillance workshop to
The following are the key highlights improve surveillance and
on the achievements of the Northern information sharing among
RCC: Member States. Support
provided to Member States in
 Strengthened Coordination and the establishment of National
Collaboration with Member States: Public Health institutes and
The RCC held engagements in bolstering NPHI key functions
high-level advocacy missions, to strengthen health security
resulting in mapping member across the region
states capacities and identifying  Enhanced the Community Health
priorities, followed with Workers Program: Convened
continued discussions on and facilitated the Regional
host agreements to solidify cross-country learning and
partnerships. experience sharing on the
 Strengthened Governance and continental community health
Coordination: Convened the workers program in Egypt
inaugural Regional Technical with 34 Member States.
Advisory Committee (ReTAC) Supported Member States in
meeting, with the election of the the development of joint action
first female chair. Furthermore, plan to strengthen the capacity
the RCC organized Data Sharing and capability of the community
Workshop to enhance regional health workers program.
health coordination.
 Advancements in the Saving Lives The achievements of the Africa
and Livelihoods (SLL) Programme: CDC Northern RCC highlight its
Delivered cold chain equipment commitment to enhancing regional
worth over $450,000 to health systems and strengthening
the Sahrawi Republic and pandemic preparedness. Through
Morocco. Initiated Phase II of collaboration, strategic initiatives,
Pharmacovigilance efforts, and capacity building, the Northern
and conducted microplanning RCC is laying the foundation for
exercises in seven Member sustainable health security across
States, fostering better health the region.

86 | 2024 Annual Report

Africa CDC Southern Regional Coordinating instruction of SADC Secretariat
Centre convene an urgent meeting of
Ministers of Health to assess the
The Southern Regional Coordinating impact of the Mpox outbreak and
Center (RCC) of the Africa CDC has coordinate a regional response
demonstrated exceptional leadership in collaboration with Africa
and impact through its commitment CDC. This initiative ensured a
to strengthening regional health unified and strategic approach
security and pandemic preparedness. to mitigating the outbreak,
Through high-level engagements, reinforcing regional cooperation
regional collaboration, and innovative and epidemic preparedness
initiatives, the Southern RCC has across Member States.
addressed critical health challenges,
including mpox, cholera, and  Improved Legislative and Policy
other public health emergencies. Advocacy: Made a significant
By enhancing community health contribution to the 12th Annual
systems, upgrading infrastructure, Conference of Speakers of
and empowering Member States, the African National and Regional
RCC has solidified its role as a vital Parliaments, organized by the
pillar in advancing Africa’s health Pan-African Parliament. As a
resilience and sustainable public result, Speakers of Parliament
health outcomes. committed to ensuring that AU
policies and decisions on health
 Strengthened Regional Leadership: emergencies are effectively
Facilitated high-level meetings formulated, advocated for, and
between Dr. Kaseya and Heads implemented in Member States,
of State, including H.E. President reinforcing legislative support for
João Lourenço of Angola, H.E. public health initiatives.
Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa,
and H.E. Dr. Lazarus Chakwera of  Enhanced Health Security and
Malawi. Secured Mpox’s inclusion Infrastructure: Successfully
in the SADC Summit agenda, launched and operationalized
resulting in regional commitments the Southern Africa Regional
for enhanced outbreak response, Integrated Surveillance and
including resource mobilization, Laboratory Network (SA RISLNET)
laboratory capacity building, Framework and established
and surveillance under the the Southern Africa Regional
One Health approach. Elevated Taskforce for Cholera Control
Africa CDC’s leadership, with (SATFCC). These initiatives have
President Ramaphosa pledging enhanced regional coordination
continued support and co-hosting and response mechanisms,
a Financial Sustainability meeting particularly in addressing public
with Rwanda and Ethiopia. health emergencies such as
 Enhanced Regional Health Response: cholera outbreaks. Additionally,
Played a pivotal role in supporting the SA-RCC facilitated the
the 44th SADC Summit of Heads delivery of world-class Cold Chain
of State and Government, hosted equipment to Malawi, Namibia,
by the Government of Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Zambia, and Zimbabwe,
and successfully facilitated the significantly improving vaccine
Director General’s participation storage and distribution capacity
in the 23rd COMESA Summit of
Heads of State and Government,  Improved country engagement:
hosted by the Government of Conducted successful
Burundi. The SADC high-level engagement missions to six
engagements resulted into the Member States in the Region
(Angola, Botswana, Eswatini,

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 87

 Malawi, South Africa, and economy.”
Zimbabwe). This strategic  Improved Emergency Response
engagement yielded Capacity: Activated the first-
significant outcomes, notably; ever Regional Emergency
strengthened partnership build Operations Center (EOC) to
trust, confidence, and fostered support cholera outbreak
country ownership between responses in Zambia and
countries and Africa CDC that Zimbabwe, enabling timely and
paved a way for improved efficient management of health
health security across the emergencies.
region. As well as introduction
of Knowledge Hub in Namibia The achievements of the
 Empowered Community-Based Southern RCC underscore its
Health Systems: Trained and pivotal role in transforming
deployed 1,000 community public health in the region. From
health workers in Zambia and engaging high-level leadership
Zimbabwe, reaching over to operationalizing frameworks
737,000 households. This that enhance preparedness and
effort enhanced community- response, the RCC has delivered
based surveillance, cholera tangible improvements in
prevention, and response. health security and community
Commended by the Minister of resilience. These milestones
Health of Zambia for the pivotal reflect a collective commitment to
role of Africa CDC-trained safeguarding the health of Africa’s
health workers in controlling populations, fostering stronger
cholera outbreaks. Hon. Sylvia partnerships, and building a
T. Masebo, Minister of Health, sustainable foundation for future
Zambia, “praised Africa CDC’s health interventions. Through
efforts to combat cholera by these efforts, the Southern
training and deploying young RCC continues to be a beacon
people, mostly girls, which of excellence in public health
helped end the outbreak, coordination and leadership.
Donation of Cold Chain created jobs, and boosted the
equipment to the Federal
Government of Nigeria

88 | 2024 Annual Report

Africa CDC Western Regional Coordinating  Facilitated coordination between
Centre NPHIs, REC (WAHO) ministries
of health, and stakeholders
The Western Regional Collaboration (15 countries) to improve health
Centre (RCC) has made significant security coordination in the region
strides in enhancing public health – NPHI Acceleration Workshop.
security in West Africa. Through
strategic partnerships, governance  Provided technical assistance
improvements, and focused to NPHIs and Ministries of
engagement with Member States Health across West Africa (15
(MS) and regional stakeholders, the countries) for efficient program
RCC has successfully bolstered its implementation with TAs
capacity to respond to emerging
deployed and integrated into MoH
health needs. The achievements
and NPHI in 11 MS.
outlined below reflect the RCC’s
dedication to strengthening regional
cooperation, maximizing resource  The Western Africa Regional
utilization, and ensuring the effective Technical Advisory Committee
implementation of public health (ReTAC) was held between
initiatives. Some key highlights on September 30 –October 1, 2024,
the achievement of the Western RCC in Abuja, Nigeria. Eleven Member
include: States including the host country,
Nigeria, partners including
 Signing of the Hosting Agreement Economic Community of West
for Africa CDC Western RCC: The African States-Regional Centre for
government of Nigeria and Surveillance and Disease Control
Africa CDC signed the hosting (ECOWAS RCSCDC), UNICEF,
agreement to host Africa CDC AFENET, GIZ, UKSH participated
Western Africa RCC in Nigeria. in the meeting. There was an
This gives Africa CDC a legal election of the executive member
status to fully operate in Nigeria of the ReTAC, where the Gambia
and the Western Africa Sub and Cabo Verde emerged as the
region. The host agreement was Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson
signed by the Nigerian honorable respectively. Afterwards, the
Minister of Health and Social committee was inaugurated, and
Welfare and the Director General the Terms of Reference were read
of Africa CDC, H.E Dr. Jean and shared with the committee on
Kaseya. their roles in moving the agenda
of Africa CDC in the region.
 The Africa CDC-Western Africa
Regional Coordinating Center  A preparatory meeting to the
(WA RCC) held a regional Joint planning meeting with
stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, Regional Economic Communities
Nigeria, from August 29 – 30, in West Africa was held with
2024. The forum introduced the ECOWAS Centres for Surveillance
Africa CDC-WA RCC to regional and Disease Control (RCSDC)
public health stakeholders, from August 19–20, 2024. The
enhanced collaboration, and goal of the meeting was to foster
aligned regional interventions in strategic collaboration between
public health. Representatives Africa CDC Western RCC and
from diverse organizations, ECOWAS-RCSDC leadership
including ECOWAS Regional for the effective coordination of
Centre for Surveillance and regional public health efforts.
Disease Control (RCSDC),
 The WA RCC conducted Public
Health Resources mapping

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 89

 within the region. A tool was of the Illumina MiniSeq by Africa
developed to collect data on CDC, the country’s capacity
relevant resources within the for high-throughput genomic
region which could be used for sequencing was limited. In
an informed decision as soon as response, Africa CDC, through
they are needed. The mapping its Pathogen Genomics Initiative,
includes getting data on Member donated an Illumina MiniSeq
States with Human Resource for to the Central Public Health
Health Registry, Member States Reference Laboratory (CPHRL)
with functional Public Health EOC, in Sierra Leone. This donation is
Member States with functional part of a broader strategy to build
NPHIs, Member States with genomic sequencing capacity
across Africa, empowering
Capacity to perform Pathogen
national laboratories to
Genomics Sequencing (PGI),
independently conduct molecular
Centres of Excellence and Member
diagnostics, monitor pathogen
States that been supported with
evolution, and contribute to
Cold Chain Equipment among regional and global genomic data-
others. After the mapping sharing platforms.
exercise, a database was created,  Health Systems Strengthening and
and an interactive dashboard was Public Health Institutes (HSS &PHIs):
developed. WA RCC supported the NPHI
Centres of Excellence (CoE) joint
 Facilitating knowledge exchange activity planning meeting for
and sharing of health information Liberia NPHI and Burkina Faso
in a timely manner INSP, from 9th – 11th July 2024
in Monrovia, and from 6th to 8th
 The Western Africa RCC August 2024 in Ouagadougou
facilitated the participation of respectively. The meeting brought
2 Member States (Nigeria and together key stakeholders to
Mali) in a training on knowledge review gaps and challenges
management organized by Africa identified during the NPHI CoE
CDC science office to develop a assessment and develop a 3-year
pool of knowledge management work plan for improving NPHI’s
experts to support sustainable operational capacity and technical
operationalization of in-country, expertise. The output of the
regional and continental workshops was the development
knowledge management and of a comprehensive 3-year
information exchange. work plan with activities across
6 strategic areas of Corporate
 Pathogen Genomics Initiative: The Governance, Health Information
West Africa RCC, through its Management System, Public
Pathogen Genomic Initiatives, Health Workforce Development,
was embarked on various support Public Health Emergency
activities aimed at bolstering the Response Coordination, and
genomic surveillance capabilities Public Health Research. The
with the western Africa region. implementation of the plan will
The WA RCC facilitated the MiSeq strengthen their capacity as CoE
Installation at Central Public Health as well as provide support to
Reference Laboratory (CPHRL), other NPHIs within continent,
Sierra Leone. The Central Public fostering regional cooperation and
Health Reference Laboratory knowledge sharing).
(CPHRL) serves as the national
hub for disease diagnostics and
public health laboratory services.
However, prior to the donation

90 | 2024 Annual Report

 Strengthened governance, internal
structures, processes, and capacity, enabling
Africa CDC to deliver on its mandate

A frica CDC advanced ATC meetings) are necessary to

governance and operational ensure accountability and smooth
efficiency in 2024 by decision making on matter related
embedding key reforms into its to the operations of Africa CDC.
institutional frameworks: In 2024, Africa CDC organized
7 strategic forums across all
Institutional Autonomy: Fully three bodies organized to form
operationalized its autonomy as a synergies in public health policies.
technical institution of the African This was more than the three that
Union (AU), enabling agility to we committed to organize over the
address public health challenges, course of the year.
contributing to the continent’s
socio-economic growth while We also provided technical
reinforcing accountability and assistance to all 55 member states
alignment with AU principles. on policy and health diplomacy
activities. In May 2024 on the
Regional Coordination Centres (RCCs): margins of the World Health
Africa CDC’s RCCs play a crucial Assembly, Africa CDC supported
role as structural centres designed the discussion among member
to serve as a collaborative states for a common position
and coordination platform for during the Intergovernmental
all stakeholders within each Negotiating Body (INB) process
geopolitical region of the African for the Pandemic Treaty and
Union. The RCC creates the Africa amendment to the International
CDC without walls positioned to Health Regulations (IHR) of 2005.
assist its Member States at a time These engagements ensure that
of need through a decentralized we collectively advance Africa’s
approach and Africa CDC has health interests through advocacy
operationalized the RCCs’ by and lobbying. The negotiations
finalizing host agreements and for a Pandemic agreement are
inaugurating regional advisory still ongoing and Africa CDC
committees. Key successes include continues to provide support to
deploying field staff and initiating Member States by leveraging
cross-border health interventions our convening power to bring
such as trainings for cross-border Member States together to
mpox screening, coordination strengthen the Common African
with the Regional Economic Position on Pandemic Prevention,
Communities (RECs) and other Preparedness and Response (CAP
stakeholders. PPPR) as the guiding framework
for Africa’s priorities.
Strengthening our Governance
Structures In 2024, we implemented multiple
Regular engagements with strategic initiatives on public
Africa CDC Governing bodies health issues in collaboration with
(CHSG, Governing Board and the African Union Commission,

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 91

 other African Union Agencies and strides in implementing its 2023-
Regional Entities (ECOWAS, EAC, 2027 Strategic Plan. This roadmap
ECCAS, SADEC, AME, COMESA etc.). emphasizes the New Public
Health Order, which focuses on
Regular engagements and policy six critical priorities: expanding
support rendered to AU Member the local manufacturing of health
States during the Pandemic products, strengthening public
agreement negotiations and the health institutions, fostering
amendments of the IHR 2005, partnerships, building a robust
strengthened Africa’s Common public health workforce, improving
position and negotiation capacity. disease surveillance, and mobilizing
domestic resources.
Africa CDC identified skill gaps in
health diplomacy as a challenge Africa CDC’s operationalization
amongst African health experts advanced remarkably. By December
and diplomats at the diplomatic 2024, 70% of the positions in its
missions. In 2024, we partnered approved structure were filled with
with the Diplomacy Institute in the remaining 30% lacking resources
Geneva to develop a program for to be allocated by Member States.
the implementation of the Africa All Regional Coordinating Centres
Health Diplomacy course, to build (RCCs) operationalized.
capacity in health diplomacy across
the continent. The implementation of Forging new partnerships
the Africa health diplomacy course
presents the platform to bridge this Africa CDC has several active
gap. This will also help strengthen Memorandums of Understanding
our negotiating capacity and firm up with various partners. Africa CDC
our Africa Common Position. is progressively strengthening its
partnership and external relations
Improving Africa CDC capacity to better systems to sustain existing alliances
serve the continent and collaboration with all health
Strengthening Operational Capacity stakeholders and attract new
partnerships. Africa CDC entered
Africa CDC has taken significant new partnerships with various
additional partners like CEPI, Gavi,

92 | 2024 Annual Report

World Diabetics Foundation, Financial system strengthening
Canada, Novo Disk and other
partners from the private sector During 2024, Africa CDC Finance
brining more than $52 million for has made significant progress,
its operations. especially in terms of integrated
financial management, budget
Africa’s voice in global health ceiling increase, Africa Epidemics
governance has been amplified Fund design and approval,
through active participation in as well as in terms of sound
G20, G7, and other international financial management through the
platforms. These engagements development of risk management
ensure that African priorities are policy and internal control
reflected in global health policies. framework.
Integrated Finance
Leveraging more domestic resources
and ensuring alignment with external Progress in putting in place Africa
resources. CDC Integrated Finance with all
funds under Finance Directorate
Under the leadership of the African management and supervision,
Champion for domestic resources, as well as aligning and updating
H.E. President Kagame of Rwanda, Africa CDC internal processes
Africa CDC will convene for a and systems with internationally
closed session of Heads of State recognised standards to support
that will take place on 14th Feb to funds management. As opposed
discuss more innovative resources to the prevailing situation of
for the health systems in Africa fragmented finance in Africa
and for Africa CDC. CDC until March 2024, Africa
CDC integrated Finance is fully
In 2024, after several months of implemented as per the 2025
negotiation, Africa CDC managed budget as proposed by Africa
to open the book of the US CDC and approved by AU policy
interventions in Africa per sector organs, which includes:
and per country. This information
was shared to all African Ministers  In the Main Budget, resources
of Health to ensure that they from International Partners will
know and capitalize on that for be received in cash in addition
their planning process. This to MS contributions
operation will continue with all
 In the Technical Assistance
other international partners to
Budget, resources in kind
ensure total alignment under the
leadership of the Government. (previously called extra-mural)
are included in the formal
Additionally, the African Epidemic budget for the first time.
Fund (AfEF) and its related This integration of all resources
framework of operations was collected into the Budget allows
approved by the AU policy organs. MS to declare funds in accordance
This is a major success after more with the FR within the budget
than 2 years of hard work. AfEF process before the Policy Organs.
is set to become a cornerstone of It reinforces compliance with
our preparedness and response applicable regulations and ensures
capabilities, providing much- transparency of funds under
needed financial support during management, which increases
health emergencies. oversight and sound financial
management.

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 93

 As accompanying measures, terms register as well as Internal control
of reference of monitoring and framework developed in line with
assurance over resources in kind are international recognised standards,
developed. and cleared internally and by the
WB. Contracting process is ongoing.
This achievement has been made
although the budget process has 2024 Budget Performance
already been initiated without
including this goal initially Africa CDC’s approved budget
ceiling for 2024 was 56 million
(integrated finance).
USD; of which, 43.6 million USD
Risk management and Internal control was released (made available
system via donations). The provisional
utilization rate of the total released
From starting point where risk budget is 84%.
management as concept and
Africa Epidemics Funds approval by Joint
policy where not articulated in the
institution and constituted a full Sitting of Innovative Instrument as Trust
gap in all assessments processes/ Fund
due diligence, Finance Directorate Progress was made on establishing
a draft Framework of AfEF
worked to connect Africa CDC to
operationalisation, with the aim of
wider AU policies on the matter establishing a facility to mobilize
and developed ToRs toward resources for preparedness and
establishing a proper and adapted response to disease threats on the
risk management policy including continent.
risk management framework and risk

Table: Africa CDC budget execution rate, 2024

Approved Released
Expenditure Balance (mil- Execution
Budget Ceiling Budget
(million USD) lion USD) %
(million USD) (million USD)
Program 39.9 33.5 26.8 6.7 80%
Supplementary - Mpox 6.9 5.0 4.6 0.4 92%
Supplementary - Ref Lab 4.5 0.0
Operational 5.1 5.1 5.0 0.0 99%
Total 56 44 36 7 84%

94 | 2024 Annual Report

Chapter 3
Africa CDC
Support
to African
Member States:
Disaggregated by
Country

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 95

 167 $26.7m 56 9.62K $49.1M
Exeperts Infrastructure Number of Number of Supplies
deployed and equipment persons trained persons trained deployed to
to Member in long-term in short-term MS
States courses (LC) courrses (SC)

Summary of Africa CDC support to Member States

I
n 2024, Africa CDC has provided 136 various
types of technical assistance, deployed 167
technical experts, provided short-and long-
term training for more than 9,600 participants,
and donated supplies and equipment worthing
more than $75.8 million USD to support the
member states’ capacities and capabilities to
prevent, detect and respond to public health
threats and outbreaks.

96 | 2024 Annual Report

 Table: Summary of Country-level supports provided by Africa CDC to Northern RCC countries

Category Algeria Egypt Libya Mauritania Morocco Saharawi Tunisia

Republic
Long course 3 11 5 13 24 6 30
Experts deployed 0 0 2 0 1 0 0
Equipment $ - $ 10,958.81 $ - $ 304,592.69 $ - $ - $ -
Short course 0 2 198 0 1 0 1
Supplies $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -
Technical assistance 0 1 2 0 2 1 1

Table: Summary of Country-level supports provided by Africa CDC to Southern RCC countries

Category Angola Botswana Eswatini Lesotho Malawi Mozambique Namibia South Africa Zambia Zimbabwe

Long course 6 27 12 52 40 21 38 29 69 18
Experts de- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 501 1
ployed
Equipment $ $ - $ - $ $ - $ 293,562.92 $ - $ - $ 373,358.45 $ 66,002.00
- 274,190.96
Short course 0 2 0 1 6 36 3 2 8 646
Supplies $ $ - $ - $ $ 2,200.00 $ 2,200.00 $ - $ - $ 2,200.00 $ -
422,167.00 -
Technical 3 3 2 3 7 2 4 5 9 6
assistance

Table: Summary of Country-level supports provided by Africa CDC to Eastern RCC countries
A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 97

Category Co- Dji- Er- Ethiopia Kenya Madagas- Mauri- Rwanda Sey- Somalia South Su- Uganda Tanzania
moros bouti itrea car tius chelles Sudan dan
Long course 13 7 1 69 74 14 9 129 13 17 34 11 75 44
Experts de- 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 0
ployed
Equipment $ $ - $ $ $ $ 277,191.63 $ - $ 275,241.76 $ - $ 264,191.05 $ 264,736.00 $ $ 35,325.69 $ 437,720.51
335,335.05 - 680,966.82 - -
Short course 224 0 0 27 21 36 1 1641 1 2 22 0 7 9
Supplies $ $ - $ $ $ $ - $ - $ 341,002.63 $ - $ 1,100.00 $ 3,300.00 $ $ 181,502.16 $ 12,377.55
- - 1,100.00 3,300.00 -
Technical 1 0 0 5 5 2 0 6 2 2 2 0 6 6
assistance
 Table: Summary of Country-level supports provided by Africa CDC to Western RCC countries
98 | 2024 Annual Report

Burkina Cape Guinea-Bis-

Category Benin Faso Verde Gambia Ghana Guinea sau Liberia Mali Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo
Long course 19 24 11 20 31 18 16 15 62 19 74 22 19 12
Experts
deployed 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Equipment $ $ $ $ $ $ $
274,190.96 285,092.43 - 15,666.00 306,021.51 274,190.96 $ 289,859.12 $ 275,095.89 - $ 5,760.00 $ 71,859.31 $ 85,267.38 $ 340,192.96 $ 274,191.32
Short
course 9 3 8 1 3 2 6 33 4 12 6 5 3 2
Supplies $ $ $ $ $ $ $
- - - - - - $ - $ 2,200.00 - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -
Technical
assistance 0 2 2 4 3 0 0 5 2 0 3 2 1 0

Table: Summary of Country-level supports provided by Africa CDC to Central RCC countries

Equatorial
Category Burundi Cameroon CAR Chad Congo DRC Guinea Gabon São Tomé and Príncipe
Long course 81 42 45 42 19 53 5 10 13
Experts deployed 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Equipment $ 76,960.81 $ - $ 346,194.52 $ 291,952.49 $ - $ 305,517.40 $ - $ - $ 290,191.83
Short course 512 12 30 23 1 1416 0 2 6
Supplies $ 434,068.98 $ 18,089.00 $ 106,966.31 $ - $ 43,349.70 $ 1,639,829.29 $ - $ - $ -
Technical assistance 3 7 1 3 1 5 0 1 1
 A-B
1. Algeria  Participated in the regional NPHI Establishment
Acceleration Meeting for Southern Africa, 16-18
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Algeria includ- July 2024, Windhoek, Namibia. The meeting
ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long- focused on supporting Member States in accel-
term trainings), technical assistance, and provision erating the establishment of their institutions and
of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports providing capacity-building initiatives to already
include: established NPHIs. Several tailored action points
were identified, depending on the development
 Participated in the NPHI Regional Meeting for stage of each NPHI.
Northern Africa in Nouakchott, Mauritania, from  Two experts participated in the capacity building
29th September to 1st October 2024. The meet- training for Member States on Priority Setting
ing focused on the review of the previous action and Resource Optimisation of Emergency Pre-
points, updates on NPHI establishment from paredness and response, helping efficient use of
Member States and key challenges, development resources during emergencies.
of 2024 Regional NPHI priority activity plans,  Short course training provided on one or more
Introduction to the Member States the revised of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
Framework for the Development of NPHIs in Africa men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
2.0, validation of the Africa CDC strategic Plan biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
for NPHI development in Africa and promotion of sequencing and bioinformatics. This capacity
knowledge sharing among the Member States. strengthening training contributed to enhancing
 Three experts obtained capacity building trainings laboratory diagnostic capacity of the health work-
on clinical management, laboratory diagnosis, and force in the country.
comprehensive intervention for viral hepatitis. This  Three Southern RCC technical experts deployed to
training contributed to strengthening the preven- support mpox response
tion and control of viral hepatitis in the country.  The country received 200 diagnostic items
 Four experts participated in the capacity building $22,00USD as part of mpox response.
training for Member States on Priority Setting
and Resource Optimisation of Emergency Pre- 3. Benin
paredness and response, helping efficient use of
resources during emergencies. In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Benin including
 Short course training provided on one or more capacity strengthening activities (short and long-term
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci- trainings), technical assistance, and provision of equip-
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and ment and supplies. Some of these supports include:
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
sequencing and bioinformatics. This capacity  Two experts participated in the capacity building
strengthening training contributed to enhancing training for Member States on Priority Setting
laboratory diagnostic capacity of the health work- and Resource Optimisation of Emergency Pre-
force in the country. paredness and response, helping efficient use of
resources during emergencies.
2. Angola  Short course training provided on one or more
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Angola includ- men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long- biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
term trainings), technical assistance, and provision sequencing and bioinformatics. This capacity
of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports strengthening training contributed to enhancing
include: laboratory diagnostic capacity of the health work-
force in the country

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 99

A-B
 Site level technical assistance provided to ad-  Two technical experts deployed through SLL part-
vance laboratory services. nership, two technical experts deployed to support
 The Ministerial Executive Leadership Programme the adaptation of EBS guidelines and one RCC
provided training for 2 representatives to help the technical expert deployed to facilitate a training of
health minister to develop the legacy project on trainers for simulation exercise
reducing the maternal mortality rate from 391 per  Donated cold chain equipment worth 112,652 USD.
100,000 live births to 200 per 100,000 live births by  Public Health Emergency Operations Centre pro-
2030. vided $285,092.43 USD.
 Two senior managers received Training on CHWs  The Logistics Technical Working Group supported
service package, CH strengthening, EPR & Surveil- and assessed the International Clinical Laboratory
lance. system strengthening through joint mission with
 Three cold rooms provided, Cold chain equipment partners and member state valued at $227,278.78.
worth $233,135.87, which includes 35 refrigerators,  Supported the Expanded Programme on Immuni-
3 cold rooms, 162 Vaccine Carriers, 20 Cold Boxes, zation (EPI) staff to provide 10 regional Technical
were donated Supply Logistics training with partnership with
 1 technical assistant deployed under SLL World Food Program
 11,040 diagnostics items donated

5. Burkina Faso
4. Botswana
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Burkina Faso
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Botswana
including capacity strengthening activities (short
including capacity strengthening activities (short
and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and
and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and
provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these
provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these
supports include:
supports include:
 Participated in the West Africa regional meeting,
 Participated in the regional NPHI Establishment held from March 11-14, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria,
Acceleration Meeting for Southern Africa, 16-18 was organized by Africa CDC in collaboration with
July 2024, Windhoek, Namibia. The meeting several health organizations, including WAHO, Ni-
focused on supporting Member States in accel- geria CDC, USCDC, and IANPH. The meeting was
erating the establishment of their institutions and a significant step towards enhancing public health
providing capacity-building initiatives to already resilience in West Africa through improved col-
established NPHIs. Several tailored action points laboration and resource sharing among countries.
were identified, depending on the development Also, The Africa CDC conducted planning with
stage of each NPHI. the country as it is one of selected NPHIs Cen-
 Two experts participated in the capacity building tres of Excellence. The outcomes of the planning
training for Member States on Priority Setting and session included structured and budgeted activity
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared- planning tools, emphasizing key indicators to be
ness and response tracked.
 Short course training provided on one or more  Two candidates are enrolled in Kofi-Annan Public
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci- Health Leadership Fellowship and African Epidem-
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and ic Services Epi-track Fellowship
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and  Participated in the regional capacity building
sequencing and bioinformatics workshop of French-speaking clinical research-
 Site level technical assistance provided to ad- ers working on Hepatitis Care in Good Clinical
vance laboratory services. Practice

100 | 2024 Annual Report

 B-C
 Two experts participated in the capacity building sequencing and bioinformatics
training for Member States on Priority Setting and  Provided mpox detection kits, MiniSeq sequencing
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared- equipment, and sequencing reagents have been
ness and response donated to enhance the molecular detection and
 Short course training provided on one or more genomic characterization of Mpox. Site level tech-
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci- nical assistance provided to advance laboratory
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and services.
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and  Site level technical assistance provided to ad-
sequencing and bioinformatics vance laboratory services.
 Site level technical assistance provided to ad-  8 experts (3 epidemiologist, 1 lab expert, 2 experts
vance laboratory services. IPC, 1 consultant and1 adviser) deployed to sup-
 Supported development of 5-year national strate- port the mpox response
gic plan for mortality surveillance.  Donated cold-chain equipment worth 346.648 USD
 Provided Training for 40 experts on antimicrobial  410 CHWs trained on Marburg and mpox respons-
use (AMU), antimicrobial consumption (AMC), es
and the AMR surveillance system using the AMR  1 expert deployed to support CHW training and
surveillance guidance developed for the African deployment
Continent.  $53,585 USD worth of supplies to support CHWs
 Two senior managers received Training on CHWs activities supported
service package, CH strengthening, EPR & Surveil-
lance 7. Cameroon
 Cold chain equipment worth $2,446,319.07 (165
refrigerators) was donated. In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Cameroon
including capacity strengthening activities (short
6. Burundi and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and
provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Burundi includ- supports include:
ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long-
term trainings), technical assistance, and provision  Participated in the Launch of the African Public
of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports Health Institutes Collaborative (APHIC) program,
include: 13-17 May 2024, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and 2nd
meeting of the African Public Health Institutes
 A candidate has been enrolled in African Epidemic Collaborative (APHIC) from 24-26 September 2024
Services Epi-track Fellowship in Yaoundé, Cameroun. These meetings Increased
 An expert participated in a capacity building train- knowledge the 10 countries’ experiences integrat-
ing on clinical management, laboratory diagnosis, ing the HIV response into NPHIs and public health
and comprehensive intervention for viral hepatitis systems. The country participated in NPHI Re-
 Two experts participated in the capacity building gional Meeting for Central Africa in N’Djamenda,
training for Member States on Priority Setting and Chad from 16 – 17 September 2024. The outcomes
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared- included a review of progress on the 2023 Re-
ness and response gional NPHI Meeting action points, updates from
 Deployed one expert to support socio-ecological Member States on the status of NPHI establish-
study protocol development and approval on the ment and key challenges, validation of the Africa
barriers and enhancers to mpox vaccines and CDC Framework 2.0 and the Strategic Action Plan
health seeking behavior for NPHI development, and the creation of priority
 Short course training provided on one or more activity plans for 2024.
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-  Two candidates have been enrolled in Kofi-Annan
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and Public Health Leadership Fellowship and African
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and Epidemic Services Epi-track Fellowship

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 101

C
 Three experts participated in a regional capacity geria CDC, USCDC, and IANPH. The meeting was
building workshop of French-speaking clinical a significant step towards enhancing public health
researchers working on Hepatitis Care in Good resilience in West Africa through improved collab-
Clinical Practice oration and resource sharing among countries
 Four experts participated in a capacity building  Two experts participated in the capacity building
training on clinical management, laboratory diag- training for Member States on Priority Setting and
nosis, and comprehensive intervention for viral Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
hepatitis ness and response
 Four experts participated in the capacity building  Short course training provided on one or more
training for Member States on Priority Setting and of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared- men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
ness and response biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
 Short course training provided on one or more sequencing and bioinformatics
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-  Site level technical assistance provided to ad-
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and vance laboratory services.
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and  Provided technical assistance through National
sequencing and bioinformatics Advocacy on strengthening the One Health co-
 Site level technical assistance provided to ad- ordination mechanism and implementing the One
vance laboratory services. Health approach in Cabo Verde. The workshop
 Supported development of 5-year national strate- successfully brought together 40 participants from
gic plan for mortality surveillance. the human, animal, and environmental health sec-
 Provided Training for 40 experts on antimicrobial tors. The workshop focused on raising awareness
use (AMU), antimicrobial consumption (AMC), and advocating for the implementation of the One
and the AMR surveillance system using the AMR Health approach, as well as conducting a rapid
surveillance guidance developed for the African risk assessment of its implementation in Cabo
Continent. Verde.
 Two experts received training on CH strengthen-  148 cold chain equipment items were donated
ing, EPR & Surveillance
 Africa CDC supported the development of Commu-
nity Health Acceleration Plan
 Supported an NPHI candidate in scientific writing 9. Central African Republic
training and mentoring to turn available evidence In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Central African
into manuscripts to publish in the Journal of Public Republic including capacity strengthening activities
Health in Africa
(short and long-term trainings), technical assistance,
and provision of equipment and supplies. Some of
these supports include:
8. Cape Verde
 Provided technical assistance and mentorship
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Cape Verde in drafting legal Framework/ Road map, and/or
including capacity strengthening activities (short concept note for the establishment of NPHI.
and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and  Participated in NPHI Regional Meeting for Central
provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these Africa in N’Djamenda, Chad. 16 – 17 September
supports include: 2024. The outcomes included a review of progress
on the 2023 Regional NPHI Meeting action points,
 Participated in the West Africa regional meeting, updates from Member States on the status of
held from March 11-14, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria, NPHI establishment and key challenges, validation
was organized by Africa CDC in collaboration with of the Africa CDC Framework 2.0 and the Strate-
several health organizations, including WAHO, Ni- gic Action Plan for NPHI development, and the

102 | 2024 Annual Report

 C
creation of priority activity plans for 2024. Strategic Action Plan for NPHI development, and
 Two experts participated in the capacity building the creation of priority activity plans for 2024.
training for Member States on Priority Setting and  Two candidates have been enrolled in Kofi-Annan
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared- Public Health Leadership Fellowship and Field
ness and response Epidemiology Training Program Fellowship
 Short course training provided on one or more  Two experts participated in the capacity building
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci- training for Member States on Priority Setting and
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and ness and response
sequencing and bioinformatics  Short course training provided on one or more
 Provided mpox detection kits, MiniSeq sequencing of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
equipment, and sequencing reagents have been men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
donated to enhance the molecular detection and biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
genomic characterization of Mpox. sequencing and bioinformatics
 Provided site level technical assistance provided  A computer server has been donated to enhance
to strengthen laboratory systems the data infrastructure for genomic analysis.
 Supported development of 5-year national strate-  Provided site level technical assistance provided
gic plan for mortality surveillance. to strengthen laboratory systems
 Trained 39 national experts on mortality surveil-  Supported development of 5-year national strate-
lance gic plan for mortality surveillance.
 Trained 30 experts on PHEOC  Africa CDC donated cold chain equipment estimat-
 Deployed 3 AVoHC (1 PEC, 1 Épi and 1 IPC) to sup- ed at cold chain equipment worth $792,294 USD
port response to public health emergencies  Africa CDC provided EBS training for 40 experts
 Two experts received training on CH strengthen-  Africa CDC provided mortality surveillance training
ing, EPR & Surveillance for 36 national experts
 Support 56 International Clinical Lab transport re-  Two experts received training on CH strengthen-
quest, worked with WFP to support remote district ing, EPR & Surveillance
with transport for 1,162,325 vaccines dose and  PHEOC support $286192.49
1,030,245 ancillary units during vaccination
 23,000 doses of mpox vaccine valued 11. Comoros
$237833.92USD, 1292 diagnostic items at $40.411.55
and PHEOC support $280,192.52 was provided In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Comoros
including capacity strengthening activities (short
10. Chad and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and
provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Chad including supports include:
capacity strengthening activities (short and long-term
trainings), technical assistance, and provision of equip-  Participated in NPHI Regional Meeting for Eastern
ment and supplies. Some of these supports include: Africa, 2-4 December 2024, Dar es Salaam, Tan-
zania. The participants engaged in discussions
 Participated in NPHI Regional Meeting for Central on challenges faced by Member States, shared
Africa in N’Djamenda, Chad from 16 – 17 Sep- experiences, and developed a strategic roadmap
tember 2024. The outcomes included a review for better governance of NPHIs.
of progress on the 2023 Regional NPHI Meeting  Two experts participated in the capacity building
action points, updates from Member States on the training for Member States on Priority Setting and
status of NPHI establishment and key challenges, Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
validation of the Africa CDC Framework 2.0 and the ness and response

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 103

C
 Short course training provided on one or more of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci- men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and sequencing and bioinformatics
sequencing and bioinformatics  Provided detection kits for mpox molecular testing
 Provided site level technical assistance provided  Provided site level technical assistance provided
to strengthen laboratory systems to strengthen laboratory systems
 The Eastern Africa RCC trained 114 CHWs, who  Africa CDC donated 3110 cold chain equipment
included 100, 4 Lab staff, and 10 other community worth 561.728, 92 USD
health workers were trained in cholera response.  1192 diagnostic items, Ministry of Health EPI staff
 Eastern Africa RCC provided 120 -CHWs kits, IEC trained on Transport Supply Logistics, Training of
materials for mpox and Cholera, 3000 Cholera test Trainers with WFP support.
kits, 41 cold chain equipment valued at USD 437,  PH ESCM training for 25 people
650,43 including 274 vaccine carriers, 32 refrig-  Medical supplies worthy $ 43349.70
erators, 49 solar panels, 17 freezers, and other  Supported an NPHI candidate in scientific writing
accessories was donated. training and mentoring to turn available evidence
 110 CHWs were trained and deployed for Cholera into manuscripts to publish in the Journal of Public
Response Health in Africa
 410 CCE items, PHEOC gave $335,335.05
13. Cote d’Ivoire
12. Congo Republic
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Cote d’Ivoire
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Congo Repub- including capacity strengthening activities (short
lic including capacity strengthening activities (short and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and
and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these
provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports include:
supports include:
 Participated in the West Africa regional meeting,
 Participated in NPHI Regional Meeting for Central held from March 11-14, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria,
Africa in N’Djamenda, Chad. 16 – 17 September was organized by Africa CDC in collaboration with
2024. The outcomes included a review of progress several health organizations, including WAHO, Ni-
on the 2023 Regional NPHI Meeting action points, geria CDC, USCDC, and IANPH. The meeting was
updates from Member States on the status of a significant step towards enhancing public health
NPHI establishment and key challenges, validation resilience in West Africa through improved collab-
of the Africa CDC Framework 2.0 and the Strate- oration and resource sharing among countries
gic Action Plan for NPHI development, and the  Four experts participated in the capacity building
creation of priority activity plans for 2024. training for Member States on Priority Setting and
 Two experts participated in the capacity building Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
training for Member States on Priority Setting and ness and response
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-  Short course training provided on one or more
ness and response of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
 Provided technical support for socio-ecological men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
study protocol development and approval on the biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
barriers and enhancers to mpox vaccines and sequencing and bioinformatics
health seeking behavior  Sequencing reagents and deep freezers with UPS
 Short course training provided on one or more have been donated to support genomic character-

104 | 2024 Annual Report

 D
ization and expand biobanking capacity. systems for outbreak response
 Provided site level technical assistance provided  Supported development of 5-year national strate-
to strengthen laboratory systems gic plan for mortality surveillance.
 Seven experts received training on CH strengthen-  Trained 70 Point of Entry staff from three provinces
ing, EPR & Surveillance in DRC on enhanced surveillance for Point of Entry
 Supported the development of Community Health in response to mpox.
Acceleration Plan  Africa CDC deployed 7 staff experts (epidemiolo-
 200 diagnostic items valued at $2,200 gists, IPC) to support the
 Logistic TWG supported and assessed for ICL  2000 CHWs trained and deployed for mpox and
system strengthening through joint mission with Marburg response
partners and member state  $167,500 USD worth of supplies deployed to sup-
 Cold chain equipment worth of $1,203,151.66 inclu- port the CHWs activities
sive of 70 refrigerators, 448 vaccine carriers, 224  Support 34 International Clinical Laboratory trans-
cold boxes, 4000 RTMDs, 2 cold rooms, 3 refriger- port requests.
ated vehicles  Transport of 17.69million vaccine doses (COVID-19
vaccine, routine vaccines) and 17.67 million ancil-
laries by working with WFP
14. Democratic Republic of Congo  $270,191.71 allocated infrastructure and equipment
deployment
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Democratic  MELP accorded two representatives technical
Republic of Congo including capacity strengthening assistance to help the health develop legacy
activities (short and long-term trainings), technical project on improving supply chain and procuring
assistance, and provision of equipment and supplies. health commodities for the health minister on 12-
Some of these supports include: 13 September 2024
 Six experts participated in a capacity building
training on clinical management, laboratory diag- 15. Djibouti
nosis, and comprehensive intervention for viral
hepatitis In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Djibouti includ-
 Two experts participated in the capacity building ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long-
training for Member States on Priority Setting and term trainings), technical assistance, and provision
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared- of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports
ness and response include:
 Deployed five experts to support mpox research to
support mpox response  Participated in NPHI Regional Meeting for Eastern
 Provided training for 170 research assistants for Africa, 2-4 December 2024, Dar es Salaam, Tan-
socio-ecological and epidemiological study. zania. The participants engaged in discussions
 Launched socio-ecological study with the first on challenges faced by Member States, shared
4000 data collected. experiences, and developed a strategic roadmap
 Launched the first therapeutic trial for mpox. for better governance of NPHIs. Notably, only 6
 Short course training provided on one or more out of the 14 countries in the Eastern Region cur-
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci- rently have legally established NPHIs, indicating
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and a pressing need to enhance these institutions for
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and improved national health security.
sequencing and bioinformatics  Two experts participated in the capacity building
 Provided PCR mpox detection kits and Mpox training for Member States on Priority Setting and
Xpert cartridges for mpox testing as part of the Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
response. ness and response
 PCR equipment and accessories donated.  Short course training provided on one or more
 Site level technical assistance provided over sev- of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
eral occasions to strengthen national laboratory men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 105

D-E
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and  Five persons were trained in lab by Eastern Africa
sequencing and bioinformatics RCC
 Supported development of 5-year national strate-  Four senior managers received training on CH
gic plan for mortality surveillance. strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
 One Permanent Africa CDC staff deployed for the
entire year
 Two senior managers received training on CH 17. Equatorial Guinea
strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Equatorial
16. Egypt Guinea including capacity strengthening activities
(short and long-term trainings), technical assistance,
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Egypt including and provision of equipment and supplies. Some of
capacity strengthening activities (short and long-term these supports include:
trainings), technical assistance, and provision of equip-
ment and supplies. Some of these supports include:  Participated in NPHI Regional Meeting for Central
Africa in N’Djamenda, Chad. 16 – 17 September
 Provided with technical assistance and mentor- 2024. The outcomes included a review of progress
ship in drafting legal Framework/ Road map, and/ on the 2023 Regional NPHI Meeting action points,
or concept note for the establishment of NPHI. updates from Member States on the status of
 Participated in NPHI Regional Meeting for North- NPHI establishment and key challenges, validation
ern Africa in Nouakchott, Mauritania, from 29th of the Africa CDC Framework 2.0 and the Strate-
September to 1st October 2024. The meeting fo- gic Action Plan for NPHI development, and the
cused on the review of the previous action points, creation of priority activity plans for 2024.
updates on NPHI establishment from Member  Two experts participated in the capacity building
States and key challenges, development of 2024 training for Member States on Priority Setting and
Regional NPHI priority activity plans, Introduction Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
to the Member States the revised Framework for ness and response
the Development of NPHIs in Africa 2.0, validation  Short course training provided on one or more
of the Africa CDC strategic Plan for NPHI devel- of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
opment in Africa and promotion of knowledge men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
sharing among the MS. biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
 Four experts participated in the capacity building sequencing and bioinformatics
training for Member States on Priority Setting and  Africa CDC donated 291 cold chain equipment
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared- worthing 122 658,90 USD
ness and response
 Short course training provided on one or more 18. Eritrea
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Eritrea includ-
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long-
sequencing and bioinformatics term trainings), technical assistance, and provision
 Supporting in reviewing priorities and plans for of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports
Vaccine Manufacturing through the EVMA (Egypt include:
Vaccine Manufacturers Association)
 Provided support provided to Egypt in conducting  Participated in NPHI Regional Meeting for Eastern
a five-day training of trainers’ workshop for 50 Africa, 2-4 December 2024, Dar es Salaam, Tan-
participants on the enhancement of One Health zania. The participants engaged in discussions
with a focus on zoonotic diseases. The objective on challenges faced by Member States, shared
of the training was to build capacity for One Health experiences, and developed a strategic roadmap
workforce and to strengthen multisectoral com- for better governance of NPHIs. Notably, only 6
munication, coordination, and collaboration. out of the 14 countries in the Eastern Region cur-

106 | 2024 Annual Report

 E
rently have legally established NPHIs, indicating country activities
a pressing need to enhance these institutions for  Helped through training of 40 participants on
improved national health security. antimicrobial use (AMU), antimicrobial consump-
 Two experts participated in the capacity building tion (AMC) and the AMR surveillance system using
training for Member States on Priority Setting and the AMR surveillance guidance developed for the
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared- African Continent.
ness and response
 Short course training provided on one or more
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci- 20. Ethiopia
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Ethiopia includ-
sequencing and bioinformatics ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long-
term trainings), technical assistance, and provision
19. Eswatini of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports
include:
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Eswatini
including capacity strengthening activities (short  Participated in the launch of the African Public
and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and Health Institutes Collaborative (APHIC) from May
provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these 13 to 17, 2024, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the
supports include: second meeting of the collaborative from Septem-
ber 24 to 26, 2024, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. These
 Participated in a peer exchange programme to meetings enhanced the knowledge of ten coun-
National Public Health Institute of Liberia, as a re- tries regarding their experiences in integrating the
sult of the exchange programme, NPHI staff from HIV response into National Public Health Institutes
both mentor and mentee institutions acquired new (NPHIs) and public health systems.
knowledge, skills, and competencies, strength-  Took part in the NPHI Regional Meeting for
ened collaboration and networking among NPHIs, Eastern Africa, held from December 2 to 4, 2024,
Key challenges and needs of NPHI development in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Participants engaged
in each participating countries identified, and Plan in discussions about challenges faced by member
of action developed to fast track development of states, shared experiences, and developed a stra-
NPHIs. tegic roadmap for better governance of NPHIs.
 Participated in the regional NPHI Establishment  The Africa CDC conducted planning sessions with
Acceleration Meeting for Southern Africa, 16-18 the country, recognizing it as one of the selected
July 2024, Windhoek, Namibia. The meeting NPHI Centers of Excellence. The outcomes of
focused on supporting Member States in accel- these planning sessions included structured and
erating the establishment of their institutions and budgeted activity planning tools, with a focus on
providing capacity-building initiatives to already key indicators to be monitored.
established NPHIs. Several tailored action points  Three experts participated in a capacity building
were identified, depending on the development training on clinical management, laboratory diag-
stage of each NPHI nosis, and comprehensive intervention for viral
 Two experts participated in the capacity building hepatitis
training for Member States on Priority Setting and  Two experts participated in the capacity building
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared- training for Member States on Priority Setting and
ness and response Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
 Short course training provided on one or more ness and response
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-  Short course training provided on one or more
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
sequencing and bioinformatics biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
 Four technical experts deployed to support the sequencing and bioinformatics

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 107

E-G
 Tapestation equipment, NextSeq 2000 sequenc- 21. Gabon
ing equipment, and sequencing reagents have
been donated to enhance the country’s genomic In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Gabon includ-
surveillance capacity and capabilities. ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long-
 Site level technical assistance provided to term trainings), technical assistance, and provision
strengthen national laboratory systems of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports
 Trained 40 participants on Climate change and include:
health including conduct of regional and district
level vulnerability and adaptation assessment  Two experts participated in the capacity building
and development of health regional adaption plan training for Member States on Priority Setting and
comprising 27 Regional staff (Climate change Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
and health focal points, Environmental safeguard ness and response
officers, Surveillance focal points and WASH focal  Short course training provided on one or more
points) and 13 MoH and EPHI staff at the national of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
levels. men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
 Forty-one Ministry of Health staff were provided biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
with event-based surveillance training, two Africa sequencing and bioinformatics
CDC staff were deployed for the whole year by the  Supported development of 5-year national strate-
Eastern Africa RCC. Technical support was pro- gic plan for mortality surveillance.
vided in the development, revision, finalization and  Trained 45 participants on antimicrobial use
submission of the Saving Lives and Livelihoods (AMU), antimicrobial consumption (AMC), and the
Phase II micro-plans with IPS. AMR surveillance system using the AMR surveil-
 Five Africa CDC staff provided technical assis- lance guidance developed for the African
tance in the development of MVD guidelines, two  Africa CDC donated cold chain equipment worth-
people were trained in Knowledge Management in ing 1,134,000.00 USD
Public Health for 14 days.  One senior managers received training on CH
 Supportive supervision was provided during the strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
national polio outbreak response campaign from  119 refrigerators provided through UNICEF
Oct 7 to 12, 2024. Three in-country team and 4
staff from the Africa CDC HQ provided technical 22. Gambia
assistance to the landslide incidence in Gofa zone,
the southern region of Ethiopia In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Gambia includ-
 Three senior managers received training on CH ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long-
strengthening, EPR & Surveillance term trainings), technical assistance, and provision
 Public Health Emergency Operations Centre pro- of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports
vided worth of $268,191.17 include:
 112 Refrigerators and 10 Refrigerated vehicles
provided through UNICEF  Participated in the West Africa regional meeting,
 100 diagnostic items, held from March 11-14, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria,
 PHEOC support of $268191.17 was organized by Africa CDC in collaboration with
 Medical supplies worth $1100 several health organizations, including WAHO, Ni-
 Supported an NPHI candidate in scientific writing geria CDC, USCDC, and IANPH. The meeting was
training and mentoring to turn available evidence a significant step towards enhancing public health
into manuscripts to publish in the Journal of Public resilience in West Africa through improved collab-
Health in Africa oration and resource sharing among countries
 Participated in capacity building training on
clinical management, laboratory diagnosis, and
comprehensive intervention for viral hepatitis.
 Technical support provided during a national
stakeholder workshop to strengthen timely uptake

108 | 2024 Annual Report

 G
of the hepatitis Birth Dose vaccine donated to support pathogen genomic surveil-
 Two experts participated in the capacity building lance efforts
training for Member States on Priority Setting and  Site level technical assistance provided to
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared- strengthen national laboratory systems
ness and response  Supported development of 5-year national strate-
 Short course training provided on one or more gic plan for mortality surveillance.
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-  Six senior managers received training on CH
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and  The country received 8,179,200 doses of Covid-19
sequencing and bioinformatics vaccines, PHEOC provided $270191.51
 Sequencing reagents and equipment have been  1 technical assistant deployed under SLL
donated to support pathogen genomic surveil-
lance efforts 24. Guinea
 Site level technical assistance provided to
strengthen national laboratory systems In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Guinea includ-
 Trained 40 participants on antimicrobial use ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long-
(AMU), antimicrobial consumption (AMC), and the term trainings), technical assistance, and provision of
AMR surveillance system using the AMR surveil- equipment and supplies. More specifically,
lance guidance developed for the African
 Participated in the West Africa regional meeting,
held from March 11-14, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria,
23. Ghana was organized by Africa CDC in collaboration with
several health organizations, including WAHO, Ni-
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Ghana includ- geria CDC, USCDC, and IANPH. The meeting was
ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long- a significant step towards enhancing public health
term trainings), technical assistance, and provision resilience in West Africa through improved collab-
of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports oration and resource sharing among countries
include:  Two experts participated in the capacity building
training for Member States on Priority Setting and
 Participated in the West Africa regional meeting, Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
held from March 11-14, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria, ness and response
was organized by Africa CDC in collaboration with  Short course training provided on one or more
several health organizations, including WAHO, Ni- of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
geria CDC, USCDC, and IANPH. The meeting was men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
a significant step towards enhancing public health biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
resilience in West Africa through improved collab- sequencing and bioinformatics
oration and resource sharing among countries  Two senior managers received training on CH
 Two experts participated in the capacity building strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
training for Member States on Priority Setting and  PHEOC gave $274190.96
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
ness and response 25. Guinea-Bissau
 Short course training provided on one or more
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci- In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Guinea-Bis-
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and sau including capacity strengthening activities (short
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and
sequencing and bioinformatics provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these
 Sequencing reagents and equipment have been supports include,

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 109

G-K
 Participated in a peer exchange programme to  Three staff members from the National Public
Mozambique National Institute of Health, as a re- Health Institute (NPHI) participated in the Change
sult of the exchange programme, NPHI staff from Management and Leadership Training for NPHIs,
both mentor and mentee institutions acquired new held from November 19-22 in Addis Ababa, Ethio-
knowledge, skills, and competencies, strength- pia. The country also participated in the Launch of
ened collaboration and networking among NPHIs, the African Public Health Institutes Collaborative
Key challenges and needs of NPHI development (APHIC) from May 13-17, 2024, and in the second
in each participating countries identified, and Plan meeting of the APHIC, held from September 24-26,
of action developed to fast track development of 2024, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. These meetings
NPHIs. The country has participated in the West increased knowledge of the experiences of ten
Africa regional meeting, held from March 11-14, countries in integrating the HIV response into
2024, in Abuja, Nigeria, was organized by Africa NPHIs and public health systems.
CDC in collaboration with several health organi-  Outcomes of the Training: For countries like Kenya
zations, including WAHO, Nigeria CDC, USCDC, and Zimbabwe, which are in the process of estab-
and IANPH. The meeting was a significant step lishing their NPHIs, participants were equipped
towards enhancing public health resilience in with practical advocacy skills to mobilize support.
West Africa through improved collaboration and They developed clear communication plans aimed
resource sharing among countries at raising awareness and engaging with key
 Two experts participated in the capacity building stakeholders in the development of their NPHIs.
training for Member States on Priority Setting and  Additionally, the country participated in a peer
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared- exchange program with the National Public Health
ness and response Institute of Liberia. As a result of this exchange,
 Short course training provided on one or more NPHI staff from both mentor and mentee institu-
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci- tions acquired new knowledge, skills, and compe-
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and tencies, strengthening collaboration and network-
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and ing among NPHIs. Key challenges and needs for
sequencing and bioinformatics NPHI development in each participating country
 Sequencing reagents and equipment have been were identified, and a plan of action was devel-
donated to support pathogen genomic surveil- oped to expedite the progress of NPHIs.
lance efforts  Moreover, the country participated in the NPHI
 Site level technical assistance provided to Regional Meeting for Eastern Africa, which took
strengthen national laboratory systems place from December 2-4, 2024, in Dar es Salaam,
 Two senior managers received training on CH Tanzania. Participants engaged in discussions on
strengthening, EPR & Surveillance the challenges faced by member states, shared
 Supported 55 International Clinical Labs transport experiences, and developed a strategic roadmap
request to move 3.7 million vaccines doses and 1.4 for improved governance of NPHIs. Notably, only
million ancillaries unit to 11 destinations within the six out of the fourteen countries in the Eastern
country with the support of WFP. Region currently have legally established NPHIs,
 608 cold chain equipment items worth of $592,003 indicating a pressing need to enhance these insti-
were donated, PHEOC presented $274190.96 tutions to improve national health security.
 Two candidates have been enrolled in Kofi-Annan
Public Health Leadership Fellowship
26. Kenya  Two experts participated in the capacity building
training for Member States on Priority Setting and
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Kenya includ- Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long- ness and response
term trainings), technical assistance, and provision
of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports
include,

110 | 2024 Annual Report

 K-L
 Supported socio-ecological study protocol July 2024, Windhoek, Namibia. The meeting
development and approval on the barriers and focused on supporting Member States in accel-
enhancers to mpox vaccines and health seeking erating the establishment of their institutions and
behavior providing capacity-building initiatives to already
 Short course training provided on one or more established NPHIs. Several tailored action points
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci- were identified, depending on the development
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and stage of each NPHI
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and  Two experts participated in the capacity building
sequencing and bioinformatics training for Member States on Priority Setting and
 NextSeq 2000 sequencing equipment and se- Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
quencing reagents have been donated to enhance ness and response
the country’s genomic surveillance capacity and  Short course training provided on one or more
capabilities. of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
 Site level technical assistance provided to men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
strengthen national laboratory systems biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
 Supported development of 5-year national strate- sequencing and bioinformatics
gic plan for mortality surveillance.  Cold chain equipment worth 113,446.29 USD donat-
 Trained 50 participants on antimicrobial use ed including one refrigerated vehicle
(AMU), antimicrobial consumption (AMC), and  Two technical experts deployed to support
the AMR surveillance system using the AMR in-country activities
surveillance guidance developed for the African  Three Africa CDC staff were deployed to provide
Continent. technical guidance on Reproductive Health policy
 Eastern Africa RCC had 2 permanent Africa CDC development from the Eastern RCC
staff deployed for the entire year, Kenya got 2,500  Two senior managers received training on CH
Cholera test kits. strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
 Technical support was provided in the develop-  PHEOC donated $274190.96
ment, revision, finalization and submission of the
SLL Phase II micro-plans with IPS 28. Liberia
 Technical assistance was provided for pandemic
proposal writing for the 2nd Call; In-country staff In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Liberia includ-
supported in the development of case investiga- ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long-
tion for Mpox, EVD, & MVD. term trainings), technical assistance, and provision
 Two senior managers received training on CH of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports
strengthening, EPR & Surveillance include,
 Kenya got 300 diagnostic items valued at
$3300  Participated in the West Africa regional meeting
 Supported an NPHI candidate in scientific writing held from March 11-14, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria.
training and mentoring to turn available evidence This event was organized by the Africa CDC in
into manuscripts to publish in the Journal of Public collaboration with several health organizations, in-
Health in Africa cluding WAHO, Nigeria CDC, USCDC, and IANPH.
The meeting represented a significant step toward
27. Lesotho enhancing public health resilience in West Africa
through improved collaboration and resource
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Lesotho includ- sharing among countries.
ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long-  A candidate has been enrolled in Kofi-Annan
term trainings), technical assistance, and provision Public Health Leadership Fellowship
of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports  Two experts participated in the capacity building
include, training for Member States on Priority Setting and
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
 Participated in the regional NPHI Establishment ness and response
Acceleration Meeting for Southern Africa, 16-18  Short course training provided on one or more

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 111

L-M
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci- training for Member States on Priority Setting and
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and ness and response
sequencing and bioinformatics  Short course training provided on one or more
 Provided technical support to Liberia in the of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
comprehensive review of its National One Health men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
Strategy document in November 2024 with 40 biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
participants. sequencing and bioinformatics
 A country risk communication and community  Provided technical assistance through a National
engagement readiness assessment to identify the Training of Trainers on One Health Coordinated
country capacities in RCCE was conducted by Surveillance in Tripoli, Libya for 42 participants.
three technical experts.  56 CHWs supervisors received ToTs on service
 Three senior managers received training on CH package for CHWs. 2 Directors benefited from
strengthening, EPR & Surveillance capacity building for CH strengthening a, EPR and
 Two experts deployed to support the development Surveillance
of community health acceleration plan
 Supported the development of community health 30. Madagascar
acceleration plan
 Received 10,800 doses of vaccine ($1,116,785.34), In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Madagascar
200 diagnostic items valued $2200, 313 cold chain including capacity strengthening activities (short
items, PHEOC helped with $275095.89 and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and
 70 refrigerators provided through UNICEF provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these
 Logistic TWG supported and assessed for ICL supports include:
system strengthening through joint mission with
partners and member state  Participated in NPHI Regional Meeting for Eastern
 1 technical assistant deployed under SLL Africa, 2-4 December 2024, Dar es Salaam, Tan-
 Supported an NPHI candidate in scientific writing zania. The participants engaged in discussions
training and mentoring to turn available evidence on challenges faced by Member States, shared
into manuscripts to publish in the Journal of Public experiences, and developed a strategic roadmap
Health in Africa for better governance of NPHIs.
 A candidate has been enrolled in Kofi-Annan
29. Libya Public Health Leadership Fellowship
 Three experts participated in a capacity building
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Libya including training on clinical management, laboratory diag-
capacity strengthening activities (short and long-term nosis, and comprehensive intervention for viral
trainings), technical assistance, and provision of equip- hepatitis
ment and supplies. Some of these supports include,  Technical assistance provided during a stakehold-
er workshop to develop national strategy for viral
 Participated in NPHI Regional Meeting for North- hepatitis
ern Africa in Nouakchott, Mauritania, from 29th  Two experts participated in the capacity building
September to 1st October 2024. The meeting fo- training for Member States on Priority Setting and
cused on the review of the previous action points, Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
updates on NPHI establishment from Member ness and response
States and key challenges, development of 2024  Short course training provided on one or more
Regional NPHI priority activity plans, Introduction of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
to the Member States the revised Framework for men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
the Development of NPHIs in Africa 2.0, validation biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
of the Africa CDC strategic Plan for NPHI devel- sequencing and bioinformatics
opment in Africa and promotion of knowledge  Eastern RCC deployed 1 permanent Africa CDC
sharing among the MS. staff for the entire 2024.
 Two experts participated in the capacity building  PHEOC donated $277191.63

112 | 2024 Annual Report

 M
31. Malawi  Four senior managers received training on CH
strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Malawi includ-  Two experts deployed to support the development
ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long- of community health acceleration plan
term trainings), technical assistance, and provision  Logistic TWG supported and assessed for ICL
of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports system strengthening through joint mission with
include: partners and member state
 23 Refrigerators provided through UNICEF
 Participated in the launch of the African Public  200 diagnostic items valued $2200, 2810 cold chain
Health Institutes Collaborative (APHIC) from May equipment items
13-17, 2024, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as well as in
the second meeting of the APHIC from September 32. Mali
24-26, 2024, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. These meet-
ings enhanced knowledge sharing among the 10 In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Mali including
participating countries regarding their experienc- capacity strengthening activities (short and long-term
es in integrating the HIV response into National trainings), technical assistance, and provision of equip-
Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) and public health ment and supplies. Some of these supports include:
systems.
 Took part in the regional NPHI Establishment  Participated in the West Africa regional meeting,
Acceleration Meeting for Southern Africa, held held from March 11-14, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria,
from July 16-18, 2024, in Windhoek, Namibia. This was organized by Africa CDC in collaboration with
meeting focused on supporting member states in several health organizations, including WAHO, Ni-
accelerating the establishment of their institutions geria CDC, USCDC, and IANPH. The meeting was
and providing capacity-building initiatives for a significant step towards enhancing public health
already established NPHIs. Several tailored action resilience in West Africa through improved collab-
points were identified based on the development oration and resource sharing among countries
stage of each NPHI.  A candidate has been enrolled in Kofi-Annan
 Four experts participated in the capacity building Public Health Leadership Fellowship
training for Member States on Priority Setting and  Three experts participated in a capacity building
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared- training on clinical management, laboratory diag-
ness and response nosis, and comprehensive intervention for viral
 Short course training provided on one or more hepatitis
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-  Two experts participated in the capacity building
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and training for Member States on Priority Setting and
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
sequencing and bioinformatics ness and response
 Supported development of 5-year national strate-  Short course training provided on one or more
gic plan for mortality surveillance. of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
 Training on antimicrobial use (AMU), antimicrobial men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
consumption (AMC), and the AMR surveillance biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
system using the AMR surveillance guidance sequencing and bioinformatics
developed for the African Continent for 40 partic-  Supported development of 5-year national strate-
ipants. gic plan for mortality surveillance.
 Provided technical support for Malawi’s One  Two senior managers received training on CH
Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization (OHZDP), strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
trained 12 in-country facilitators on the OHZDP  Cold chain equipment worth of $609,342.74,
process and prioritizing critical zoonotic diseases inclusive of 54 refrigerators, 70 vaccine carriers,
(ZDs) through a multisectoral One Health (OH) 40 cold boxes, 23 remote temperature monitoring
approach. A total of 35 participants from human, systems, and 2,000 Fridge-tag 2E devices
animal and environmental sectors participated.

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 113

M
33. Mauritania out of the 14 countries in the Eastern Region cur-
rently have legally established NPHIs, indicating
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Mauritania a pressing need to enhance these institutions for
including capacity strengthening activities (short improved national health security.
and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and  Two experts participated in the capacity building
provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these training for Member States on Priority Setting and
supports include: Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
ness and response
 Participated in NPHI Regional Meeting for North-  Short course training provided on one or more
ern Africa in Nouakchott, Mauritania, from 29th of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
September to 1st October 2024. The meeting fo- men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
cused on the review of the previous action points, biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
updates on NPHI establishment from Member sequencing and bioinformatics
States and key challenges, development of 2024  Sequencing reagents have been donated to sup-
Regional NPHI priority activity plans, Introduction port pathogen genomic surveillance efforts.
to the Member States the revised Framework for  Trained on antimicrobial use (AMU), antimicrobial
the Development of NPHIs in Africa 2.0, validation consumption (AMC), and the AMR surveillance
of the Africa CDC strategic Plan for NPHI devel- system using the AMR surveillance guidance
opment in Africa and promotion of knowledge developed for the African Continent.
sharing among the MS.  Two senior managers received training on CH
 Two experts participated in the capacity building strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
training for Member States on Priority Setting and
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared- 35. Morocco
ness and response
 MiniSeq sequencing equipment and sequencing In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Morocco
reagents have been donated to enhance the including capacity strengthening activities (short
country’s genomic surveillance capacity and and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and
capabilities. provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these
 Two senior managers received training on CH supports include:
strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
 PHEOC donated $238,590.69  Participated in NPHI Regional Meeting for North-
 200 diagnostic items valued at $2200, ern Africa in Nouakchott, Mauritania, from 29th
 PHEOC gave $274,127.92 September to 1st October 2024. The meeting fo-
cused on the review of the previous action points,
34. Mauritius updates on NPHI establishment from Member
States and key challenges, development of 2024
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Mauritius Regional NPHI priority activity plans, Introduction
including capacity strengthening activities (short to the Member States the revised Framework for
and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and the Development of NPHIs in Africa 2.0, validation
provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these of the Africa CDC strategic Plan for NPHI devel-
supports include: opment in Africa and promotion of knowledge
sharing among the MS.
 Participated in NPHI Regional Meeting for Eastern  Two experts participated in the capacity building
Africa, 2-4 December 2024, Dar es Salaam, Tan- training for Member States on Priority Setting and
zania. The participants engaged in discussions Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
on challenges faced by Member States, shared ness and response
experiences, and developed a strategic roadmap  Short course training provided on one or more
for better governance of NPHIs. Notably, only 6 of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-

114 | 2024 Annual Report

 M-N
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
sequencing and bioinformatics sequencing and bioinformatics
 Site level technical assistance provided to  Sequencing reagents and extraction kits have
strengthen national laboratory systems been donated to support pathogen genomic sur-
 Provided technical support to the Ministry of veillance efforts.
Health Morocco in facilitating the revision of the  Site level technical assistance provided to
National One Health Roadmap. The workshop strengthen national laboratory systems
convened 40 experts from human, animal, and  Two senior managers received training on CH
environmental health sectors, along with repre- strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
sentatives from regional partners, including the
WHO, FAO, and key non-governmental organiza- 37. Namibia
tions (NGOs).
 Two senior managers received training on CH In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Namibia
strengthening, EPR & Surveillance including capacity strengthening activities (short
 Supported an NPHI candidate in scientific writing and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and
training and mentoring to turn available evidence provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these
into manuscripts to publish in the Journal of Public supports include:
Health in Africa
 Three staff from NPHI participated in the Change
36. Mozambique Management and Leadership Training for NPHIs,
19-22 November, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The par-
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Mozambique ticipants of the training gained a solid understand-
including capacity strengthening activities (short ing of essential change management processes
and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and necessary for transitioning to autonomous bodies.
provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these They also learned strategies for addressing poten-
supports include: tial challenges and resistance. The participants
were equipped with practical advocacy skills to
 Participated in the launch of the African Public mobilize support. They developed clear commu-
Health Institutes Collaborative (APHIC) from 13-17 nication plans aimed at raising awareness and
May 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as well as in engaging with key stakeholders in the develop-
the 2nd meeting of the APHIC from 24-26 Septem- ment of their NPHIs.
ber 2024 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. These meetings  Participated in the regional NPHI Establishment
enhanced knowledge-sharing among represen- Acceleration Meeting for Southern Africa, 16-18
tatives from ten countries regarding their experi- July 2024, Windhoek, Namibia. The meeting
ences integrating the HIV response into National focused on supporting Member States in accel-
Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) and public health erating the establishment of their institutions and
systems. providing capacity-building initiatives to already
 Three experts participated in a capacity building established NPHIs. Several tailored action points
training on clinical management, laboratory diag- were identified, depending on the development
nosis, and comprehensive intervention for viral stage of each NPHI
hepatitis  Two experts participated in the capacity building
 Two experts participated in the capacity building training for Member States on Priority Setting and
training for Member States on Priority Setting and Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared- ness and response
ness and response  Short course training provided on one or more
 Short course training provided on one or more of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci- men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 115

N
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and public health resilience in West Africa through im-
sequencing and bioinformatics proved collaboration and resource sharing among
 Cold chain equipment worth 312,807.21 USD countries.
donated  The Africa CDC conducted planning sessions with
 Two technical experts deployed through the SLL the country, as it is one of the selected NPHI Cen-
and two technical experts form RCC deployed to tres of Excellence. The outcomes of these plan-
Namibia to facilitate the adaptation of EBS training ning sessions included structured and budgeted
manual and one health strategy activity planning tools, emphasizing key indicators
 Provided technical support to the Namibia in the to be tracked.
development and the launch of the Namibia One  A candidate has been enrolled in Kofi-Annan
Health National Strategy 2024 - 2028. Public Health Leadership Fellowship
 Supported the Government of Namibia as they  Six experts participated in a regional capacity
demonstrated commitment to addressing shared building workshop of French-speaking clinical
health threats between human, animals, and researchers working on Hepatitis Care in Good
environment. 80 participants took part in the Clinical Practice
workshops.  Two experts participated in the capacity building
 Two senior managers received training on CH training for Member States on Priority Setting and
strengthening, EPR & Surveillance Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
 Through WFP supported Ministry of Health and ness and response
Social Services with 9-month contract extension  Short course training provided on one or more
of warehouse staff to support ICL and warehous- of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
ing activities men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
 1700 JnJ covid vaccine doses, 226 cold chain biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
equipment items sequencing and bioinformatics
 A computer server has been donated to enhance
38. Niger the data infrastructure for genomic analysis.
 Site level technical assistance provided to
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Niger including strengthen national laboratory systems
capacity strengthening activities (short and long-term  Two senior managers received training on CH
trainings), technical assistance, and provision of equip- strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
ment and supplies. Some of these supports include:
 Participated in the launch of the African Public
Health Institutes Collaborative (APHIC) from May 39. Nigeria
13-17, 2024, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as well as
the second meeting of the APHIC from September In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Nigeria includ-
24-26, 2024, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. These meet- ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long-
ings increased knowledge about the experiences term trainings), technical assistance, and provision
of ten countries in integrating the HIV response of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports
into National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) and include:
public health systems. The country also took part
in a West Africa regional meeting held from March  Participated in the launch of the African Public
11-14, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria. This event was Health Institutes Collaborative (APHIC) from May
organized by the Africa CDC in collaboration with 13-17, 2024, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as well as
several health organizations, including WAHO, the second meeting of the APHIC from September
Nigeria CDC, USCDC, and IANPH. The meeting 24-26, 2024, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. These meet-
represented a significant step toward enhancing ings increased knowledge about the experiences

116 | 2024 Annual Report

 N-R
of ten countries in integrating the HIV response  Five senior managers received training on CH
into National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) and strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
public health systems.  21,000 doses of Mpox vaccine valued at
 Took part in a West Africa regional meeting held $2186003.90,
from March 11-14, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria. This  2127 cold chain equipment items Cold worth of
event was organized by the Africa CDC in collabo- $3,520,198inclusive of 349 SDD refrigerators, 1000
ration with several health organizations, including temperature monitoring devices, and 778 vaccine
WAHO, Nigeria CDC, USCDC, and IANPH. The carriers
meeting represented a significant step toward  One IPC to support Mpox Response
enhancing public health resilience in West Africa  Nine technical assistants deployed under SLL
through improved collaboration and resource  Supported an NPHI candidate in scientific writing
sharing among countries. training and mentoring to turn available evidence
 The Africa CDC conducted planning sessions with into manuscripts to publish in the Journal of Public
the country, as it is one of the selected NPHI Cen- Health in Africa
tres of Excellence. The outcomes of these plan-
ning sessions included structured and budgeted
activity planning tools, emphasizing key indicators 40. Rwanda
to be tracked.
 Two candidates have been enrolled in Kofi-Annan In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Rwanda
Public Health Leadership Fellowship including capacity strengthening activities (short
 Three experts participated in a regional capacity and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and
building workshop of French-speaking clinical provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these
researchers working on Hepatitis Care in Good supports include:
Clinical Practice
 Four experts participated in the capacity building  Participated in the NPHI Regional Meeting for
training for Member States on Priority Setting and Eastern Africa held from December 2-4, 2024, in
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared- Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Participants engaged
ness and response in discussions regarding the challenges faced
 Short course training provided on one or more by member states, shared their experiences, and
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci- developed a strategic roadmap for enhancing the
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and governance of NPHIs.
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and  Africa CDC conducted planning sessions with the
sequencing and bioinformatics country, recognizing it as one of the selected NPHI
 Site level technical assistance provided to Centers of Excellence. The outcomes of these
strengthen national laboratory systems sessions included structured, budgeted activity
 Supported development of 5-year national strate- planning tools that emphasize key performance
gic plan for mortality surveillance. indicators to be tracked.
 Trained 35 participants on antimicrobial use  Participated in the G20 National Public Health In-
(AMU), antimicrobial consumption (AMC), and stitutes Conference held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
the AMR surveillance system using the AMR from September 9-11, 2024. This conference was
surveillance guidance developed for the African attended by approximately one hundred repre-
Continent. sentatives from NPHIs of G20 countries, invited
 Provided technical support in a workshop on nations, and partner institutions. Discussions
Strengthening One Health Approach in Nigeria covered various topics, including the relationship
Field Epidemiology Training Program was con- between climate and health, equity in care, and
ducted to enhance the One Health approach the importance of building more resilient health
within the Nigeria Field Epidemiology Training Pro- systems.
gram. 30 participants took part in the workshop.  A candidate has been enrolled in Kofi-Annan

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 117

R-S
Public Health Leadership Fellowship 41. Saharawi Republic
 Two experts participated in the capacity building
training for Member States on Priority Setting and In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to the Saharawi
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared- Republic including capacity strengthening activities
ness and response (short and long-term trainings), technical assistance,
 Supported with the deployment of Remdeservir for and provision of equipment and supplies. Some of
the mpox research response these supports include:
 Supported socio-ecological study protocol
development and approval on the barriers and  Participated in NPHI Regional Meeting for North-
enhancers to mpox vaccines and health seeking ern Africa in Nouakchott, Mauritania, from 29th
behavior September to 1st October 2024. The meeting fo-
 Short course training provided on one or more cused on the review of the previous action points,
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci- updates on NPHI establishment from Member
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and States and key challenges, development of 2024
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and Regional NPHI priority activity plans, Introduction
sequencing and bioinformatics to the Member States the revised Framework for
 Sequencing reagents, mpox and Marburg mo- the Development of NPHIs in Africa 2.0, validation
lecular detection kits, and a computer server for of the Africa CDC strategic Plan for NPHI devel-
genomic analysis. opment in Africa and promotion of knowledge
 Site level technical assistance provided to sharing among the MS.
strengthen national laboratory systems  Two experts participated in the capacity building
 Supported with development of SOPs for mortality training for Member States on Priority Setting and
surveillance in epidemic settings Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
 Eastern Africa RCC deployed three permanent ness and response
Africa CDC staff deployed for the entire year, 22  Short course training provided on one or more
Africa CDC experts deployed to tackle MVD. of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
 The country got MVD Testing kits for 3264 tests, men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
MVD extraction kit for 4250 samples, MPox biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
sample collection, extraction, and test kits for 200 sequencing and bioinformatics
samples, Sequencing reagents for 600 samples  The Ministerial Executive Leadership Program
for both MVD and Mpox, two high performance provided 15 people from the health ministry with
computers and evaluation kits: 20 RDTs and 1000 technical assistance to develop projects on
PCR test. strategies for improving mental health care for the
 Technical support was provided in the develop- health minister.
ment, revision, finalization and submission of the  Two senior managers received training on CH
SLL Phase II micro-plans with IPS as well as tech- strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
nical assistance provision for pandemic proposal  Two refrigerated vehicles provided through
writing for the 2nd call. UNICEF
 Two senior managers received training on CH  Eight cold chain equipment items
strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
 18,620 doses of Mpox vaccine valued at
$1,925,420.65), 5584 diagnostics items worth 42. São Tomé and Príncipe
$81,512,
 PHEOC gave $264721.76 In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to São Tomé and
 8 refrigerators provided through UNICEF Príncipe including capacity strengthening activities
 Supported an NPHI candidate in scientific writing (short and long-term trainings), technical assistance,
training and mentoring to turn available evidence and provision of equipment and supplies. Some of
into manuscripts to publish in the Journal of Public these supports include:
Health in Africa

118 | 2024 Annual Report

 S
 Participated in a peer exchange programme to  Sequencing reagents and extaraction kits have
Mozambique National Institute of Health, as a re- been donated to support pathogen genomic sur-
sult of the exchange programme, NPHI staff from veillance efforts.
both mentor and mentee institutions acquired new  Site level technical assistance provided to
knowledge, skills, and competencies, strength- strengthen national laboratory systems
ened collaboration and networking among NPHIs,  Provided technical assistance through training
Key challenges and needs of NPHI development for 40 participants on antimicrobial use (AMU),
in each participating countries identified, and Plan antimicrobial consumption (AMC) and the AMR
of action developed to fast track development of surveillance system using the AMR surveillance
NPHIs. guidance developed for the African Continent.
 Two experts participated in the capacity building  Two senior managers received training on CH
training for Member States on Priority Setting and strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-  2 technical assistants deployed under SLL
ness and response
 Short course training provided on one or more
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci- 44. Seychelles
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Seychelles
sequencing and bioinformatics including capacity strengthening activities (short
 PHEOC infrastructure and equipment $290191.83 and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and
provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these
43. Senegal supports include:

In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Senegal  Participated in NPHI Regional Meeting for Eastern
including capacity strengthening activities (short Africa, 2-4 December 2024, Dar es Salaam, Tan-
and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and zania. The participants engaged in discussions
provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these on challenges faced by Member States, shared
supports include: experiences, and developed a strategic roadmap
for better governance of NPHIs. Notably, only 6
 Participated in the West Africa regional meeting, out of the 14 countries in the Eastern Region cur-
held from March 11-14, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria, rently have legally established NPHIs, indicating
was organized by Africa CDC in collaboration with a pressing need to enhance these institutions for
several health organizations, including WAHO, Ni- improved national health security.
geria CDC, USCDC, and IANPH. The meeting was  Two experts participated in the capacity building
a significant step towards enhancing public health training for Member States on Priority Setting and
resilience in West Africa through improved collab- Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
oration and resource sharing among countries ness and response
 A candidate has been enrolled in Kofi-Annan  Short course training provided on one or more
Public Health Leadership Fellowship of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
 Six experts participated in a regional capacity men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
building workshop of French-speaking clinical biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
researchers working on Hepatitis Care in Good sequencing and bioinformatics
Clinical Practice  Supported development of 5-year national strate-
 Two experts participated in the capacity building gic plan for mortality surveillance.
training for Member States on Priority Setting and  Trained 40 participants on antimicrobial use
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared- (AMU), antimicrobial consumption (AMC), and
ness and response the AMR surveillance system using the AMR
 Short course training provided on one or more surveillance guidance developed for the African
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci- Continent.
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and  Two senior managers received training on CH
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
sequencing and bioinformatics 45. Sierra Leone

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 119

S
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Sierra Leone 542,934.69 inclusive of 62 refrigerators, 300 vac-
including capacity strengthening activities (short cine carriers, 100 cold boxes
and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and  PHEOC infrastructure and equipment $274,190.96
provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these  Two technical assistants deployed under SLL
supports include:  Supported an NPHI candidate in scientific writing
training and mentoring to turn available evidence
 Three staff from NPHI participated in the Change into manuscripts to publish in the Journal of Public
Management and Leadership Training for NPHIs, Health in Africa
19-22 November, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The
participants gained a solid understanding of
essential change management processes neces- 46. Somalia
sary for transitioning to autonomous bodies. They
also learned strategies for addressing potential In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Somalia includ-
challenges and resistance. The participants were ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long-
equipped with practical advocacy skills to mobilize term trainings), technical assistance, and provision
support. They developed clear communication of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports
plans aimed at raising awareness and engaging include:
with key stakeholders in the development of their
NPHIs.  Participated in NPHI Regional Meeting for Eastern
 Participated in the West Africa regional meeting, Africa, 2-4 December 2024, Dar es Salaam, Tan-
held from March 11-14, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria, zania. The participants engaged in discussions
was organized by Africa CDC in collaboration with on challenges faced by Member States, shared
several health organizations, including WAHO, Ni- experiences, and developed a strategic roadmap
geria CDC, USCDC, and IANPH. The meeting was for better governance of NPHIs.
a significant step towards enhancing public health  A candidate has been enrolled in Kofi-Annan
resilience in West Africa through improved collab- Public Health Leadership Fellowship
oration and resource sharing among countries  Two experts participated in the capacity building
 A candidate has been enrolled in Kofi-Annan training for Member States on Priority Setting and
Public Health Leadership Fellowship Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
 Three experts participated in the capacity building ness and response
training on clinical management, laboratory diag-  Short course training provided on one or more
nosis, and comprehensive intervention for viral of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
hepatitis men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
 Two experts participated in the capacity building biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
training for Member States on Priority Setting and sequencing and bioinformatics
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-  Detection kits donated for Mpox molecular testing.
ness and response  Site level technical assistance provided to
 Short course training provided on one or more strengthen national laboratory systems
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-  Trained 40 experts on antimicrobial use (AMU),
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and antimicrobial consumption (AMC), and the AMR
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and surveillance system using the AMR surveillance
sequencing and bioinformatics guidance developed for the African continent.
 MiniSeq sequencing equipment and sequencing  Two permanent Africa CDC staff deployed but
reagents have been donated to enhance the work remotely from the Eastern RCC
country’s genomic surveillance capacity and  100 diagnostic items valued at $1,100,8
capabilities.  PHEOC infrastructure and equipment $264.191.63,
 Site level technical assistance provided to 23
strengthen national laboratory systems  Ministry of Health Expanded Programme on Immu-
 Six senior managers received training on CH nization staff trained on TSL Training of Trainers
strengthening, EPR & Surveillance with WFP support.
 462 cold chain equipment items, worth of $  36 Cold chain items
 Cold chain equipment worth $372,187.81 paid for

120 | 2024 Annual Report

 S
35 refrigerators, 1 walk-in cold room, 250 vaccine  Two experts participated in the capacity building
carriers, 50 cold boxes, and various accessories training for Member States on Priority Setting and
including cables and spare parts. Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
 Technical support was provided in the develop- ness and response
ment, revision, finalization and submission of the  Short course training provided on one or more
SLL Phase II micro-plans with IPS of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
 Africa CDC helped Hepatitis Day celebrations with men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
support in the form of a payment for a conference biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
package for the launch, radio airtime for running sequencing and bioinformatics
the campaigns and educational messaging during  Sequencing reagents have been donated to sup-
the event. port pathogen genomic surveillance efforts.
 Weekly data management training was provided  Site level technical assistance provided to
for 8 Ministry of Health data officers. The training strengthen national laboratory systems
was geared at enhancing officers’ performance on  PAVM’s Regulatory bold program support to the
data visualization and spatial analysis. national Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) to ensure
 25 officers were trained in event-based surveil- that the vaccines produced are safe and of good
lance. Thirty were trained in Non-Communicable quality standards.
Diseases,  Facilitated OCV Tech Transfer Support
 Two in Cross-border Surveillance. 1 in Reproduc-  Two senior managers received training on CH
tive Leadership training, four in PGI Luminia Lead- strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
ership training; and 3 trained in SBC in immuniza-  Supported an NPHI candidate in scientific writing
tion. 29 Ministry of Health officers were trained in training and mentoring to turn available evidence
Temperature Sensitive Logistics under the SLL. into manuscripts to publish in the Journal of Public
 Four senior managers received training on CH Health in Africa
strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
 One cold room provided through UNICEF 48. South Sudan

47. South Africa In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to South Sudan
including capacity strengthening activities (short
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to South Africa and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and
including capacity strengthening activities (short provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these
and long-term trainings), technical assistance, and supports include:
provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these
supports include:  Three staff from NPHI participated in the Change
Management and Leadership Training for NPHIs,
 Participated in the launch of the African Public 19-22 November, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The
Health Institutes Collaborative (APHIC) from May participants gained a solid understanding of
13 to 17, 2024, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Addi- essential change management processes neces-
tionally, it took part in the second meeting of the sary for transitioning to autonomous bodies. They
APHIC from September 24 to 26, 2024, in Yaoundé, also learned strategies for addressing potential
Cameroon. These meetings increased knowledge challenges and resistance. The participants were
among the ten participating countries regarding equipped with practical advocacy skills to mobilize
their experiences in integrating the HIV response support. They developed clear communication
into National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) and plans aimed at raising awareness and engaging
public health systems. with key stakeholders in the development of their
 Two candidates have been enrolled in Kofi-Annan NPHIs.
Public Health Leadership Fellowship  Participated in NPHI Regional Meeting for Eastern

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 121

S
Africa, 2-4 December 2024, Dar es Salaam, Tan-  Short course training provided on one or more
zania. The participants engaged in discussions of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
on challenges faced by Member States, shared men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
experiences, and developed a strategic roadmap biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
for better governance of NPHIs. sequencing and bioinformatics.
 A candidate has been enrolled in Field Epidemiolo-  4 were trained in PGI Luminia Leadership
gy Training Program Fellowship  2,301,600 doses of COVID-19 vaccine
 Two experts participated in the capacity building
training for Member States on Priority Setting and 50. Tanzania
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
ness and response In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to United Republic
 Short course training provided on one or more of Tanzania including capacity strengthening activities
of the following laboratory disciplines (speci- (short and long-term trainings), technical assistance,
men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and and provision of equipment and supplies. Some of these
biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and supports include:
sequencing and bioinformatics
 20 multi-sectoral frontline staff supported the Field  Three staff from NPHI participated in the Change
Epidemiology Training Program for 3 months, 2 Management and Leadership Training for NPHIs,
trained in Lab Leadership; 4 in PGI Luminia Leader- 19-22 November, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The par-
ship training; 1 trained in Reproductive Leadership ticipants gained a solid understanding of essential
 200 Mpox testing kits supplied for the country change management processes necessary for tran-
costing 2200 USD sitioning to autonomous bodies. They also learned
 Cold chain equipment valued at $573,784.4011 strategies for addressing potential challenges and
including electric-powered refrigerators, 15 resistance. The participants were equipped with
solar-powered fridge-freezer combos, 27 elec- practical advocacy skills to mobilize support. They
tric-powered vaccine freezers, 12 solar-powered developed clear communication plans aimed at rais-
refrigerators, 4 voltage stabilizers, 3 solar ther- ing awareness and engaging with key stakeholders
mometers, and spare parts were donated. in the development of their NPHIs.
 300 diagnostic items worth $3300,  The country was provided with technical assistance
 65 cold chain equipment items, and mentorship in drafting legal Framework/ Road
 PHEOC infrastructure and equipment at $264736 map, and/or concept note for the establishment of
 Logistic Technical Working Group supported and NPHI. The country participated in NPHI Regional
assessed for ICL system strengthening through Meeting for Eastern Africa, 2-4 December 2024, Dar
joint mission with partners and member state es Salaam, Tanzania. The participants engaged in
 300 diagnostic items ($3300), 65 cold chain equip- discussions on challenges faced by Member States,
ment items, shared experiences, and developed a strategic
 PHEOC support of $264,736 roadmap for better governance of NPHIs. Notably,
only 6 out of the 14 countries in the Eastern Region
49. Sudan currently have legally established NPHIs, indicating
a pressing need to enhance these institutions for
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Sudan includ- improved national health security.
ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long-  Tanzania got PCR detection kits donated for Mpox
term trainings), technical assistance, and provision molecular testing. Short training courses were
of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports provided in specimen referral, laboratory mapping,
include: biosafety and biosecurity, molecular detection and
genome sequencing, bioinformatics and site level
 Two experts participated in the capacity building technical assistance given to strengthen national
training for Member States on Priority Setting and laboratory systems.
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-  A candidate has been enrolled in Kofi-Annan Public
ness and response Health Leadership Fellowship

122 | 2024 Annual Report

 S-T
 Two experts participated in the capacity building  The country was provided with technical assis-
training for Member States on Priority Setting and tance and mentorship in drafting legal Framework/
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Preparedness Road map, and/or concept note for the establish-
and response ment of NPHI. The country has participated in the
 Supported development of 5-year national strategic West Africa regional meeting, held from March
plan for mortality surveillance. 11-14, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria, was organized by
 Trained 47 experts on antimicrobial use (AMU), Africa CDC in collaboration with several health
antimicrobial consumption (AMC), and the AMR organizations, including WAHO, Nigeria CDC,
surveillance system using the AMR surveillance USCDC, and IANPH. The meeting was a significant
guidance developed for the African Continent. step towards enhancing public health resilience in
 Provided technical support for Zanzibar (Tanzania) West Africa through improved collaboration and
One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization (OHZDP), resource sharing among countries
training 20 in-country facilitators on the OHZDP pro-  A candidate has been enrolled in Kofi-Annan
cess and prioritizing critical zoonotic diseases (ZDs) Public Health Leadership Fellowship
through a multisectoral One Health (OH) approach  Two experts participated in the capacity building
 Forty individuals were trained in mortality surveil- training for Member States on Priority Setting and
lance, two trained in Cross-border surveillance and Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
one trained in Reproductive Training of Trainers ness and response
training  Short course training provided on one or more
 Three permanent Africa CDC staff deployed for the of the following laboratory disciplines (speci-
entire year men referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety and
 Cold Chain Equipment worth USD $1,798,791.85, biosecurity, biobanking, molecular detection and
including 190 refrigerators, 200 cold boxes, 5,000 sequencing and bioinformatics
vaccine careers, 2 walk-in cold rooms, 35 remote  Two senior managers received training on CH
temperature monitoring devices, 3 refrigerated strengthening, EPR & Surveillance
trucks, 30 voltage stabilizers and spare parts were  One expert deployed to support the Ministerial
made available Legacy Project
 Technical support was provided in the development,  PHEOC infrastructure and equipment support
revision, finalization and submission of the SLL $274191.32
Phase II micro-plans with IPS  TSL Training of Trainers Trainings for 19 and
 Technical assistance was provided to the coun- cascade in in four regions reaching 96 additional
try during the pandemic proposal writing 2nd call Ministry of Health Expanded Programme on Immu-
application nization staff with WFP partnership
 Four Senior Managers also received capacity train-  Eighteen representatives were provided technical
ing on EPR and Surveillance assistance to help the health minister develop
 Three experts deployed to support the development a legacy project on expanding and improving
of their community health acceleration plan access to care and health coverage on 12- 13
 35 temperature data loggers procured and handed September 2024
over to Ministry of Health with WFP partnership.  Supported 34 ICL transport service request to
 200 diagnostic items, 5395 CCE items, PHEOC equip- move 1.5million vaccine doses and 1.39 million an-
ment ($437720.51) cillary in 5 regions with support of WFP, 3385 data
logger procure and delivered with WFP support.
51. Togo  2000 freezer tags and 1,385 fridge tags
 One technical assistant deployed under SLL
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Togo including
capacity strengthening activities (short and long-term
trainings), technical assistance, and provision of equip-
ment and supplies. Some of these supports include:

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 123

T-U
52. Tunisia 53. Uganda
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Tunisia includ- In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Uganda includ-
ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long- ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long-
term trainings), technical assistance, and provision term trainings), technical assistance, and provision
of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports of equipment and supplies. Some of these supports
include: include:
 The country was provided with technical assis-  Participated in NPHI Regional Meeting for Eastern
tance and mentorship in drafting legal Frame- Africa, 2-4 December 2024, Dar es Salaam, Tan-
work/ Road map, and/or concept note for the zania. The participants engaged in discussions
establishment of NPHI. The country participated on challenges faced by Member States, shared
in NPHI Regional Meeting for Northern Africa in experiences, and developed a strategic roadmap
Nouakchott, Mauritania, from 29th September for better governance of NPHIs. Notably, only 6
to 1st October 2024. The meeting focused on the out of the 14 countries in the Eastern Region cur-
review of the previous action points, updates on rently have legally established NPHIs, indicating
NPHI establishment from Member States and key a pressing need to enhance these institutions for
challenges, development of 2024 Regional NPHI improved national health security.
priority activity plans, Introduction to the Member  Sequencing reagents and detection kits were
States the revised Framework for the Development donated to Uganda for molecular testing and
of NPHIs in Africa 2.0, validation of the Africa CDC genome characterization of Mpox and Marburg
strategic Plan for NPHI development in Africa and pathogens. Short course programmes were pro-
promotion of knowledge sharing among the MS. vided in one or more of the following disciplines,
 Tunisia got sequencing reagents to support specimen referral, laboratory mapping, biosafety
pathogen genomic surveillance efforts. Short and biosecurity, molecular detection and genome
course training was provided in one or more of the sequencing, bioinformatics. Site level technical
following disciplines specimen referral, laboratory assistance was provided to strengthen national
mapping, biosafety and biosecurity, molecular laboratory systems.
detection and genome sequencing, bioinformatics.  A candidate has been enrolled in Kofi-Annan
Site level technical assistance was provided to Public Health Leadership Fellowship
strengthen national laboratory systems.  Three experts participated in the capacity building
 A candidate has been enrolled in Kofi-Annan training on clinical management, laboratory diag-
Public Health Leadership Fellowship nosis, and comprehensive intervention for viral
 Two experts participated in the capacity building hepatitis
training for Member States on Priority Setting and  Four experts participated in the capacity building
Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared- training for Member States on Priority Setting and
ness and response Resource Optimisation of Emergency Prepared-
 Four technical officers conducted a country risk ness and response
communication and community engagement  Supported development of 5-year national strate-
readiness assessments to identify the country gic plan for mortality surveillance.
capacities in RCCE  Trained 41 experts on antimicrobial use (AMU),
antimicrobial consumption (AMC), and the AMR
surveillance system using the AMR surveillance
guidance developed for the African Continent.
 Provided technical support for Uganda’s One
Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization (OHZDP),
training 20 in-country facilitators on the OHZDP
process and prioritizing critical zoonotic diseases
(ZDs) through a multisectoral One Health (OH)
approach
 Four people trained in PGI Luminia Leadership

124 | 2024 Annual Report

 U-Z
training, two were trained in Cross-border sur- eration Meeting for Southern Africa, held from July
veillance, 4 people trained in Knowledge Man- 16 to 18, 2024, in Windhoek, Namibia. This meeting
agement in Public Health for 14 days and three aimed to support Member States in accelerating the
trained in Training of Trainers for Mpox Clinical establishment of their institutions and in providing
Management capacity-building initiatives for already established
 Three permanent Africa CDC staff deployed for the NPHIs. Several tailored action points were identified
entire year based on the developmental stage of each NPHI.
 200 CHWs and 20 supervisors were deployed to  Tapestation— automated equipment to process
support supplementary immunization for zero-dose DNA and RNA samples and sequencing reagents
children. were donated to enhance Zambia’s genomic sur-
 5 Africa CDC staff supported in providing TA in veillance capacity and capabilities. Short training
cross-border surveillance. courses were provided in specimen referral, labora-
 Climate change and health capacity building were tory mapping, biosafety and biosecurity, molecular
provided for 40 persons including these cadres- detection and genome sequencing, bioinformatics
Surveillance Officers, WASH Officers, Environ- while site level technical assistance was given to
mental Health safeguard Officers and Climate strengthen national laboratory systems.
Change & Focal persons (27 from the sub-national  A candidate has been enrolled in Kofi-Annan Public
and 13 from the national levels. Health Leadership Fellowship
 Technical support was provided in the develop-  Four experts participated in the capacity building
ment, revision, finalization and submission of the training for Member States on Priority Setting and
SLL Phase II micro-plans with IPS Resource Optimisation of Emergency Preparedness
 Involved 300 CHW training and deployment for and response
zero dose vaccination of children and 740 for mpox  Cold chain equipment worth 880,825.81 USD donated
and Ebola response.  Two technical experts deployed through SLL, 16
 Four Senior Managers also received capacity technical experts from the SA RCC deployed to
training on EPR and Surveillance support Cholera response, and two technical ex-
 Medical supplies $16,193.44 perts deployed to support cross border surveillance
 Supported an NPHI candidate in scientific writing (regional training)
training and mentoring to turn available evidence  Supported development of 5-year national strategic
into manuscripts to publish in the Journal of Public plan for mortality surveillance.
Health in Africa  Trained 43 experts on antimicrobial use (AMU),
antimicrobial consumption (AMC), and the AMR
54. Zambia surveillance system using the AMR surveillance
guidance developed for the African Continent.
In 2024, Africa CDC pro vided support to Zambia including  600 CHWs trained and deployed to support cholera
capacity strengthening activities (short and long-term response
trainings), technical assistance, and provision of equip-  $432,306 USD worth of supplies deployed to support
ment and supplies. Some of these supports include: cholera response
 Two experts deployed to support community health
 Participated in the launch of the African Public acceleration plan
Health Institutes Collaborative (APHIC) from May 13  200 diagnostic items
to 17, 2024, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as well as in  71,588 IPC items,
the second meeting of the APHIC from September 24  80 CCE items, PHEOC infrastructure and equipment
to 26, 2024, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. These meetings worth $288091.07
enhanced the understanding of the experiences of  Supported an NPHI candidate in scientific writing
ten countries in integrating the HIV response into training and mentoring to turn available evidence
National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) and public into manuscripts to publish in the Journal of Public
health systems. Health in Africa
 Took part in the regional NPHI Establishment Accel-

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 125

Z
55. Zimbabwe  Two experts participated in the capacity building
training for Member States on Priority Setting and
In 2024, Africa CDC provided support to Zimbabwe includ- Resource Optimisation of Emergency Preparedness
ing capacity strengthening activities (short and long-term and response
trainings), technical assistance, and provision of equip-  Donated cold chain equipment worth 232,407.96 USD
ment and supplies. Some of these supports include:  Four technical experts deployed through SLL, three
technical experts deployed to support cholera
 Three staff from NPHI participated in the Change response, Two RCC technical experts deployed to
Management and Leadership Training for NPHIs, Zimbabwe to facilitate Point of Entry capacity build-
19-22 November, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The par- ing, and 2 technical officers deployed to facilitated
ticipants gained a solid understanding of essential adaptation of EBS guidelines
change management processes necessary for tran-  Trained 50 experts on antimicrobial use (AMU),
sitioning to autonomous bodies. They also learned antimicrobial consumption (AMC), and the AMR
strategies for addressing potential challenges and surveillance system using the AMR surveillance
resistance. The participants were equipped with guidance developed for the African Continent.
practical advocacy skills to mobilize support. They  A country risk communication and community
developed clear communication plans aimed at rais- engagement readiness assessments to identify the
ing awareness and engaging with key stakeholders country capacities in RCCE was conducted by 3
in the development of their NPHIs. Africa CDC technical experts
 The country was provided with technical assistance  600 CHWs trained and deployed to support cholera
and mentorship in drafting legal Framework/ Road response
map, and/or concept note for the establishment of  $357,248 USD worth of supplies deployed to support
NPHI. The country participated in the Launch of cholera response
the African Public Health Institutes Collaborative  Two experts deployed to support community health
(APHIC), 13-17 May 2024, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and acceleration plan
2nd meeting of the African Public Health Institutes  23 refrigerators provided through UNICEF
Collaborative (APHIC) from 24-26 September 2024  10,000 doses of cholera vaccines and IPC items, 1095
in Yaoundé, Cameroun. These meetings Increased cold chain equipment items
knowledge the 10 countries’ experiences integrat-
ing the HIV response into NPHIs and public health
systems.
 Participated in the regional NPHI Establishment
Acceleration Meeting for Southern Africa, 16-18
July 2024, Windhoek, Namibia. The meeting focused
on supporting Member States in accelerating the
establishment of their institutions and providing
capacity-building initiatives to already established
NPHIs. Several tailored action points were identi-
fied, depending on the development stage of each
NPHI
 The country got MiniSeq sequencing equipment.
Sequencing reagents were donated to enhance
the country’s genomic surveillance capacity and
capabilities. Eighteen short training courses were
provided for local staff on specimen referral, labora-
tory mapping, biosafety and biosecurity, molecular
detection and genome sequencing, bioinformatics.
Technical assistance was also provided to strength-
en national laboratory systems.

126 | 2024 Annual Report

 Resources deployed to realise
the results

I
n 2024, Africa CDC successfully mostly commitments for the
mobilised and received ongoing procurement process.
significant resources totalling $
105,649,800 on behalf of African These 86% ($91,320,799) were
Union Member States to bolster strategically deployed to advance
health initiatives across the Africa CDC’s programmatic
continent. These came in the objectives, facilitating direct
form of direct financial support support to Member States,
($ 43,609,514) and in-kind enabling the design and
contributions ($ 62,040,286). implementation of impactful
country-level programs, and
While the 2024 external audit strengthening both our workforce
exercise is ongoing, reported and operational capacity to drive
data from the Africa CDC the continental health agenda
finance directorate is showing effectively.
a utilisation rate of 86%, with
the remaining 14% representing

In addition to these funds • $1.1 billion for the Mpox

mobilised, Africa CDC managed outbreak response in addition
to secure around 5 billion USD to the in-kind contribution of
to advance some continental 6 million doses of vaccines so
agendas: far
• $3,2 billion for local
manufacturing of health
products: 1.2 billion USD from
AVMA–Gavi and 2 billion USD
from AfreximBank;

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 127

 Key Strides and Decisions at the
38th African Union Assembly

T
he past year witnessed On the margins of the African Union
significant progress in Assembly, Africa CDC organised two
strengthening Africa’s health major side events:
security and advancing the
continent’s health agenda, with The Africa CDC Ministerial Executive
the Africa Centres for Disease Leadership Programme (MELP)
Control and Prevention (Africa 3rd Annual High-level Ministerial
CDC) playing a central and strategic Forum held on 13 February 2025. The
role. These efforts were amplified MELP event was a successful event
during the 38th Ordinary Session that shows the convening power of
of the African Union Assembly, Africa CDC by bringing 52 Member
held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from States (34 Ministers, 11 Deputy
15 to 16 February 2025, laying a Ministers, and 7 Director Generals
strong foundation for future health or Permanent Secretaries) to discuss
interventions across the continent. progress made in the continent in
2024 and response to the financial
crisis due to the decrease of ODA
(Official Development Assistance) by
some Western Countries.

128 | 2024 Annual Report

A high-level meeting on domestic More domestic resources to mitigate the
financing initiated by Africa CDC and impact of decrease of ODA at country
led by H.E. President Kagame (Rwanda) level;
took place in Addis-Ababa on 14
February 2025. Attended by 10 Heads More innovative resources to better
of State and other representatives and support the agenda of outbreak /
partners. pandemic preparedness, prevention and
response.
Taking note that the Global health
financing is at a turning point with The Assembly delivered several crucial
the decline of traditional ODA, and outcomes that will significantly enhance
geopolitical shifts reducing donor the continent’s ability to address health
predictability, and at the same time, challenges and achieve its public health
the continent is facing an increase of objectives. Annex zzz is providing
multiple public health threats (Mpox, decisions adopted by the African Union
Marburg, cholera, AMR, and climate- Assembly, clarifying and reinforcing the
driven epidemics) — all requiring rapid, mandate of Africa CDC.
locally led responses, the meeting called As a summary, the African Union
for: Assembly adopted
More sustainable funding for Africa Operationalising the African Epidemic Fund:
CDC and AMA (as currently empowered
by AUDA-NEPAD) to better support A landmark achievement was the
Member States. Morocco pledged Assembly’s approval of the framework
an annual voluntary contribution of to operationalise the African Epidemic
$2 million to the Africa CDC. Later, Fund. This critical vehicle will serve as
Angola also announced its volunteer a vital resource for bolstering pandemic
contributions; prevention, preparedness, and response
(PPPR) capabilities across Africa. The

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 129

 fund’s activation marks a significant
step toward financial autonomy
and improved capacity to manage
future health emergencies at the
continental level.
Strengthening Africa CDC’s Capacity:
Recognising the growing demand
for the operationalisation of its
mandate and the increasing
responsibilities of Africa CDC, a
formal request was submitted to
the Assembly through Africa CDC’s
Committee of Heads of States and
Government (CHSG) to expand the
organisation’s approved structure
to 312 positions. This proposed
expansion, to be fully funded by
African Union Member States,
reflects a strong commitment to
ensuring that Africa CDC has the
human resources and expertise to
execute its mandate and deliver
results for the continent.

A high-level meeting on domestic

financing initiated by Africa CDC
and led by H.E. President Kagame
(Rwanda) took place in Addis-Ababa
on 14 February 2025. Attended
by 10 Heads of State and other
representatives and partners.

130 | 2024 Annual Report

Leading the Lusaka Agenda for
Universal Health Coverage:
The Assembly formally
designated the Africa CDC as
the Secretariat for the Lusaka
Agenda, a continental initiative
aimed at strengthening global
health initiatives (GHIs) in line
with Africa’s goal of achieving
Universal Health Coverage
(UHC). This strategic designation
entrusts the Africa CDC with
coordinating the implementation
and reporting progress to the
Assembly, further solidifying its
leadership role in driving health
system alignment across Africa.
Recognition of Leadership in Public
Health: of African leaders to elevate
health as a strategic priority
In recognition of his exceptional and to strengthen Africa CDC’s
leadership and unwavering leadership as the continent’s
commitment to safeguarding premier public health institution.
the health of Africans, the Africa The operationalisation of
CDC Director General was the African Epidemic Fund,
awarded a prestigious honour commitment to expanding Africa
by outgoing AU Chairperson, CDC’s capacity, its central role
H.E. President Mohamed Ould in the Lusaka Agenda, and the
Ghazouani. This recognition recognition of its leadership
highlights his pivotal role in represent decisive actions that
championing continental health move the continent closer to
priorities and advancing Africa’s a healthier, safer and more
public health architecture. resilient future for all Africans.

These key decisions and

outcomes from the 38th African
Union Assembly underscore
the unwavering commitment

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 131

 Aspiration statement
To become a world-class, self-
sustaining, and agile institution that
champions African health security,
sets the African public health agenda,
and leads and coordinates continental
efforts driven by a One Health approach.

132 | 2024 Annual Report

Chapter 4
Challenges
in 2024

AAYear
YearofofInnovation, Response and Resilience | 133
Innovation,Response,
 I n 2024, Africa CDC encountered Health Financing: Accessible, predictable
several challenges that negatively and sustainable health financing
impacted its mission to safeguard remained a challenge, impacting
the health of 1.5 billion Africans by the ability to invest in infrastructure,
preventing, detecting, and responding strengthening health systems, and
to disease threats across the continent. procuring essential medical supplies.
These challenges include a surge in
Additionally, mobilising resources for
the frequency of disease outbreaks,
extreme weather events from climate health programs and initiatives requires
change resulting in emergencies, innovative approaches. Africa CDC
resource constraints, and geopolitical has remained underfunded in terms of
shifts affecting health partnerships. both its programmes and operations.
Only two African countries – Cape
Increased Frequency and Diversity Verde and South Africa – are meeting
of Disease Outbreaks: The frequency the Abuja target of allocating at least
of disease outbreaks in Africa is 15% of national budgets to improving
significantly increasing, primarily due health care. The shift in priority by
to factors like climate change, poor major donors and funders poses a
sanitation, weak healthcare systems, significant risk to millions of Africans’
population density, and increased human- access to health care. Similarly, a
animal interactions, leading to more pause in funding to programmes and
frequent outbreaks of diseases like Ebola, organisations with substantial health
cholera, Malaria, Marburg, and Mpox. initiatives and withdrawal from the World
Africa experienced over 240 disease Health Organization would have grave
outbreaks in 2024, reflecting a sharp rise consequences on member states health
in public health emergencies compared systems.
to 166 in 2023. Ebola virus disease,
Marburg virus disease, Cholera, Measles, Challenges in Health Workforce
and Mpox outbreaks have tested the Development and Retention: Building
continent’s capacity for rapid response and maintaining a skilled health
and containment. These diseases workforce has remained a persistent
presented ongoing challenges to challenge in member states. Adequate
healthcare systems, requiring sustained training, retention, and distribution of
prevention, control, and treatment efforts. healthcare professionals, especially in
remote areas, are crucial for ensuring
Impacts of Climate Change: Changing comprehensive healthcare delivery
weather patterns create favourable across the continent. Community Health
conditions for vector-borne diseases, Workforce programme, the backbone of
leading to increased transmission of Primary Health Care is underfunded by an
diseases like malaria and dengue fever. estimated $4.4 billion annual funding gap
Extreme weather events lead to natural and severe discoordination.
disasters like flooding and subsequent
waterborne diseases like cholera. Limited Access to medical
Cyclone Chido in Mozambique exposed countermeasures: Vaccine hesitancy
vulnerable populations to flooding and and challenges in ensuring equitable
cholera outbreaks. Additional health risks access to vaccines continued to hinder
included malaria and other waterborne efforts to control infectious diseases.
diseases. A critical shortage of Mpox vaccines
hindered containment efforts. Despite a
Infection Prevention and Control: Lack demand for at least 10 million doses, only
of access to clean water and proper 1.7 million doses were available, limiting
sanitation facilitates the spread of the ability to control the virus’s spread.
waterborne diseases like cholera. Limited Similarly, access to diagnostics remains
access to already weak health systems a significant obstacle to preventing and
and a lack of trained medical personnel controlling emerging and re-emerging
hinders prevention, early detection, and infectious diseases in Africa, as seen
response to disease outbreaks. with the Mpox outbreak.
134 | 2024 Annual Report
Challenges on Health Products Challenges on Cross-Border Surveillance
Manufacturing and Self-Sufficiency: and Information Sharing: While
Building a robust health products harnessing economic development,
manufacturing ecosystem in Africa the high cross-border movement of
remained a critical objective for peoples, goods and animals within the
Africa CDC. Identified obstacles to continent remain a significant risk factor
local manufacturing agenda include for disease spread across borders and
technological transfer, biomanufacturing poses challenges to disease surveillance
workforce, regulatory capacity, research and information sharing. Africa CDC
and development, infrastructure recognised the need to strengthen
development, and sustainable financing cross-border surveillance and developed
models. The Mpox outbreak has further a continental strategic framework to
underscored the need for Africa’s self- enhance coordination among African
reliance. The dependence on external Union Member States.
vaccine supplies has proved insufficient
during health crises. In collaboration with Gaps in Sexual and Reproductive Health
partners like Gavi, CEPI, Afreximbank, and Rights Services: Despite progress,
Africa CDC will continue to strive to boost key reproductive health indicators are
local manufacturing of health products to still off track, including high maternal
achieve self-sufficiency. mortality rates. Challenges include
low access to sexual and reproductive
Limited Digital Infrastructure and Data health services, varying across the 55 AU
Management Capacity: Building an member states.
interconnected, resilient healthcare
system remains challenging. Efforts Mental Health and Psychosocial Support:
to implement a digital health strategy Lack of equitable Mental Health and
are underway, but obstacles persist Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) remained
in creating a cohesive digital health a significant concern, with stigma
framework across diverse regions. and discrimination hindering effective
Sharing public health data faces several response and care. Insufficient legislation
obstacles, including data standardisation and policies related to mental health
and compatibility, privacy concerns have created barriers to access and
regarding individual patient information, acceptance of mental health services.
legal restrictions on data access, Disease outbreaks have a considerable
reluctance from member states to negative impact on the mental health of
sign data use agreements, and a lack the community and healthcare workers.
of incentives for data sharing, all of Mental health-related issues are often
which can hinder effective analysis and overlooked during emergency response.
response to public health threats. MHPSS services could address mental
health and psychosocial needs during
outbreaks, hence the need to prioritise
MHPSS during emergency response.

2024 presented Africa

CDC with multifaceted
challenges,
from managing
unprecedented disease
outbreaks to navigating
resource limitations and
evolving geopolitical
landscapes.

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 135

136 | 2024 Annual Report
Chapter 5
Key Insights
and Lessons
for Future
Public Health
Action

A Year of Innovation, Response, and Resilience | 137

 A
s we reflect on Africa CDC’s thus, accelerating local pro-
work in 2024, we have duction is critical.
gathered several insights
that will inform our strategies • Integrated Surveillance: Efficient
and guide our path forward cross-border disease surveil-
lance deeply rooted at the
• The vitality of harmonization of community level and harmon-
efforts for emergency response: ised data-sharing mechanisms
The joint continental IMST have been shown to enhance
established under the premis- early detection and contain-
es of One team, one plan, one ment of outbreaks. However,
budget and one M&E frame- countries must put sufficient
work was instrumental in effort into investing in com-
galvanizing resources, avoid- munity health systems for
ing duplication and enhancing sustainable health outcomes.
the efficiency of the response
efforts. • Community Involvement: Deploy-
ing community health workers
• Continental Unity: A coming for outbreak responses sig-
together of AU Member States nificantly improved outcomes,
is highly influential in resource as seen in cholera and Mpox
mobilization and response, efforts.
Deploying suggests focusing on conti-
community nent rather than global Vac- • Monitoring and Accountability:
health workers cine Dependency: Reliance Real-time monitoring of pro-
grams ensures timely adjust-
for outbreak on vaccine manufacturers on
ments and aligns activities
other continents continues
responses to pose a risk to continental with strategic priorities.
significantly health security and access to
improved medical countermeasures;
outcomes,
as seen in
cholera and
mpox efforts.

138 | 2024 Annual Report

 Looking Ahead: Strategic
Priorities for 2025

I
n 2025, Africa CDC will continue Enhancing Digital Health Connectivity:
to build on the foundation of the Africa CDC will champion the use
New Public Health Order (NPHO), of digital technologies to bridge
to secure health sovereignty for the gap in health access and
the African continent. We ought technology across the continent.
to focus on empowering local Expanding digital connectivity will
communities, strengthening health remain a top priority for improving
systems, and creating sustainable the ability to prevent, detect,
health solutions that are led by monitor, and respond to health
Africans for Africans, among other threats in real-time, ensuring that
priorities. no AU Member state is left behind
in the fight against emerging and
Driving the New Public Health reemerging diseases.
Order (NPHO): Africa CDC will
continue the implementation Strengthening Health System Resilience:
of the five pillars of the NPHO, With strengthened Regional
including the strengthened public Coordination Centers (RCCs)
health institutions, expanded operational capacity and improved
manufacturing of vaccines, surveillance networks, Africa CDC
diagnostics and therapeutics, will continue to work closely with
strengthened public health AU Member States to ensure health
workforce, increased domestic systems are resilient and ready to
resources for health security, and respond to emerging outbreaks.
respectful and action-oriented We will increase our support to
partnerships, making it a reality that countries on rapid response, early
reflects Africa’s leadership in public detection, and creating robust
health. This includes a vision for an laboratory networks to tackle public
Africa CDC that is owned and led by health threats head-on.
African communities, ensuring that
the continent shapes its own health Prioritizing Women’s and Youth Health:
destiny. We are committed to maintaining
youth and women’s health at the
Boosting Local Health Manufacturing: centre of our work, ensuring that
Africa CDC, in collaboration with all interventions are inclusive
partners, will drive efforts towards and responsive to the unique
a more self-reliant Africa in locally needs of these populations. We
made health products by scaling will harness our efforts towards
up local vaccine production and more investments in these critical
supporting health commodity stakeholders to enable lasting,
manufacturing across the continent. sustainable improvements in
With strategic partnerships and health outcomes for Africa’s future
innovation, Africa CDC will work on generations.
ensuring that the continent has the
capacity to affordably procure and Building on the Mpox Legacy: Africa
produce its own quality medicines CDC’s leadership in the Mpox
and vaccines. response laid the groundwork for
continued excellence in outbreak

A Year of Innovation, Response and Resilience | 139

 coordination and response. sustainable funding mechanisms
We will build on this success will remain critical to ensure that
to ensure that Africa remains Africa’s health infrastructure
prepared to lead the way in grows with the continent’s needs.
responding to future health
threats, safeguarding our Strengthening Evidence for Better
communities and health systems. Decision-Making: Africa CDC will
prioritise data and evidence to
Maximising Impact and Efficiency: guide our decision-making and
We will intentionally ensure shape the public health response.
that every investment delivers We will continue investing
tangible outcomes, focusing on in research and information
value for money and measurable systems, ensuring that policies
impact. By strengthening our and actions are grounded in solid
systems for tracking results, evidence that results in tangible
we will invest in continued results.
improvement and scale what
works, optimising resources for Africa CDC’s vision is to create
the greatest good. a healthier, safer, and more
prosperous Africa. In 2025, we
Attracting Top Talent: Africa CDC will will continue to drive change,
serve as a magnet for African and empowering communities and
international experts passionate systems across the continent to
about making a difference. We tackle public health challenges
will focus on bringing together head-on. With unity, resilience,
the best minds to ensure that and innovation at our core, we
Africa has the knowledge and are poised to lead Africa’s health
skills to solve its own public transformation.
health challenges.
Securing Innovative Financing:
Through creative financing
solutions and strategic
partnerships, Africa CDC will
actively work with our partners
and allies to unlock the resources
needed to safeguard African and
global health security. Building

140 | 2024 Annual Report

Safeguarding Africa’s Health www.africacdc.org
africacdc