Europe–Africa collaboration: working together to strengthen health research, implementation, and equitable systems
Document Type
Article
Department
Obstetrics and Gynaecology (East Africa); Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health
Abstract
In September 2024, key representatives from European Union (EU) directorates and agencies convened to enhance collaboration with Africa in strengthening health research, innovation, and implementation. The meeting focused on bolstering joint efforts to improve health outcomes and support wellbeing across all ages in Africa. Despite progress in addressing infectious diseases, the continent faces a dual burden with the rise of non-communicable diseases and emerging threats such as antimicrobial resistance, climate change, falsified medicines, and pandemic risks. These challenges are exacerbated by fragile health systems, rapid population growth, urbanisation, and limited access to affordable medical interventions.
To address these issues, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to working with the African Union (AU) through strategic frameworks such as the EU Global Health Strategy and the Global Gateway initiative, which prioritise health across the life course, universal health coverage, and pandemic preparedness using a One Health approach. The AU–EU Innovation Agenda further supports this vision by promoting research translation and public health as a shared priority.
Effective implementation requires a comprehensive, end-to-end approach to research and development (R&D), involving coordinated efforts between public and private sectors to build regulatory capacity, trust in medical innovation, and regional manufacturing capabilities. Through a broad range of initiatives spanning the R&D and implementation spectrum, the EU continues to play a pivotal role in supporting global health and development, particularly in advancing solutions for poverty-related diseases in Africa.
Publication (Name of Journal)
Lancet Global Health
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(25)00201-3
Recommended Citation
Pandya, L.,
Norstedt, I.,
Seychell, M.,
Cooke, E.,
Barranco, I. M.,
Blomberg, N.,
Temmerman, M.,
Makanga, M.
(2025). Europe–Africa collaboration: working together to strengthen health research, implementation, and equitable systems. Lancet Global Health, 1-3.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/coe-wch/148
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.