Experts from across Africa have taken a significant step towards shaping how emerging genetic technologies could be safely and responsibly used to tackle some of the continent’s most pressing public health challenges.

From 11–12 May 2026, about 50 experts from 15 African countries gathered in Accra for a regional workshop on the governance of emerging genetic biocontrol agents and the development of a regional governance roadmap. The meeting was organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA-NEPAD) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The workshop brought together regulators, scientists, members of national research ethics committees, and officials from Ministries responsible for health, science and technology to discuss how African countries can prepare for the potential use of new genetic technologies while safeguarding public health, the environment and public trust.

Emerging genetic biocontrol technologies are being explored as innovative tools to combat mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue, which continue to place a heavy burden on communities across Africa. Some of these technologies are designed to reduce mosquito populations or limit their ability to transmit disease.

While these innovations offer promising opportunities, participants acknowledged that they also raise important questions about ethics, environmental impacts, community engagement and cross-border governance.

A major highlight of the workshop was the pilot testing of the WHO–OECD Implementation Toolkit for the Anticipatory Governance of Emerging Technologies in a Public Health Context. The toolkit is designed to help countries identify and address potential risks, societal concerns and governance needs before new technologies are introduced.

The African Region became the first in the world to test the toolkit in a real-world setting, using genetic biocontrol agents as a case study. Through interactive group exercises, participants applied the toolkit to practical scenarios, sharing experiences, lessons and perspectives from their respective countries.

The workshop also advanced discussions on a Regional Governance Roadmap for Genetic Biocontrol Systems in Africa, an initiative led by AUDA-NEPAD and WHO with support from OECD and the Wellcome Trust.

The roadmap aims to strengthen regulatory systems, promote ethical oversight and environmental safeguards, support community engagement, and enhance collaboration among countries. By working together, African nations can share expertise and address governance challenges associated with technologies that may have impacts beyond national borders.

By the end of the meeting, participants had identified strengths and gaps in existing governance systems and contributed recommendations to refine the WHO–OECD toolkit ahead of its global launch. The lessons generated in Accra are expected to inform similar engagements in other regions of the world.

The workshop underscored a growing consensus that as science advances, governance must evolve alongside it. For Africa, the discussions in Accra highlighted not only the importance of innovation in disease control but also the need for responsible leadership, collaboration and public engagement to ensure that emerging technologies serve the best interests of communities across the continent.