Africa Forward: A Call for Health Sovereignty and People-Centred Partnerships

As global leaders convene at the Africa Forward Summit to shape a new era of partnership between Africa and the world, Amref Health Africa and other civil society organisations are calling for a people-centered approach to health, development, and shared prosperity. Ahead of the Summit, African, French, and international civil society actors have issued a joint statement reaffirming that health sovereignty, equity, and resilient systems cannot be achieved without meaningful community participation, sustainable financing, and country-led priorities.

Read the Declaration Here 

Alongside the statement, the accompanying white paper, Democratising Maternal and Child Health in Africa: A Strategic Investment for the Future, highlights the urgent need to strengthen maternal and child health systems amid growing geopolitical, economic, and climate pressures. The paper outlines practical, Africa-led recommendations focused on universal health coverage, integrated community-based care, health workforce investment, digital innovation, and domestic resource mobilisation to build resilient and self-sustaining health systems across the continent.

These documents underscore a shared call to advance equitable partnerships, investing in African-led health solutions, and ensuring that health remains central to Africa’s future development and global cooperation agenda.

Read the White Paper