Addis Ababa, October 6, 2025 — The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have signed a landmark framework of collaboration to strengthen their partnership on disease prevention and control, health security, and universal health coverage across the African continent.

The agreement, signed on Monday, October 6, 2025, provides a strategic platform for the two health giants to consolidate their partnership and accelerate progress toward shared health goals. It aims to intensify cooperation, align strategies and resources, and minimize duplication of efforts in advancing the health and well-being of people across Africa.

“This framework is a powerful commitment to work together more closely for the health and well-being of all people in Africa,” said Prof. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, the newly elected WHO Regional Director for Africa. “By aligning our strategies, we can deliver more impactful results and build stronger, more resilient health systems.”

“Africa CDC and WHO have long been close partners in responding to health emergencies and advancing health security,” said Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC. “This new framework mounts that collaboration to a new level, ensuring a unified, coordinated approach to the continent’s most pressing health challenges.”

The framework is anchored in Agenda 2063, WHO’s Fourteenth General Program of Work (GPW 14), and the Africa CDC Strategic Plan. It is also designed to support the Member States of the two organizations in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by strengthening domestic health financing, enhancing preparedness for health emergencies, and promoting equitable access to healthcare services. It also aims to promote innovative and sustainable financing mechanisms to advance universal health coverage.

The collaboration will contribute to building a resilient and skilled health workforce through improved education, deployment, and retention of health professionals, including community health workers, as well as the strengthening of training institutions across the continent. It will also enhance Africa’s capacity to detect and respond to public health emergencies by reinforcing surveillance systems, public health institutions, and emergency operation centers.

The framework emphasizes the importance of integrated and people-centered health service delivery, grounded in robust primary health care systems and essential public health functions that cater to the needs of individuals throughout their lives. It prioritizes reducing maternal mortality, stillbirths, newborn and under-five deaths, improving access to sexual and reproductive health services, and promoting healthy ageing through strategic alignment and high-level engagement.

WHO and Africa CDC will also work together to address the burden of communicable Diseases, Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), and the growing impact of noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions. The consolidated collaboration enables the two organizations to better support the development and implementation of regional policies, promote healthy behaviors, and strengthen national capacities for prevention, early detection, and care.

In addition, the framework emphasizes advancing local production of quality-assured medical products and vaccines through investments in research and development, regulatory harmonization, and technology transfer.

It aims to harness digital health solutions to expand access to quality health services and reduce inequities. The partnership also recognizes the need to address the social, economic, commercial, and environmental determinants of health by promoting multisectoral collaboration and equity-driven strategies.

By placing health at the center of climate and development discussions, the two institutions aim to promote integrated policies that build resilient systems capable of safeguarding health and advancing health equity across Africa in response to the escalating impacts of climate change.

The new framework builds on years of close collaboration between WHO and Africa CDC in responding to outbreaks such as Ebola and COVID-19. By formalizing and deepening their partnership, the two organizations aim to enhance coordination, align investments, and deliver more substantial support to Member States. Through this strengthened collaboration, they are working towards a future where Africa is better prepared to prevent, detect, and respond to health threats, while advancing sustainable development and improving the health and well-being of its people.