Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 21 April 2026 – The African Union and the European Commission, working through the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), continue to scale up their health partnership with the launch of three new initiatives worth more than €100 million under the Global Gateway strategy. These initiatives aim to strengthen national public health institutes, enhance health security, and expand digital health solutions for pandemic preparedness and primary healthcare across Africa.
The initiatives reflect a joint AU–EU commitment — led operationally by Africa CDC — to advancing health security, pandemic preparedness, and equitable access to healthcare, in line with Africa’s Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda.
The initiatives were officially launched at a high-level event attended by H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC; H.E. Jozef Síkela, European Commissioner for International Partnerships; and H.E. Mekdes Daba, Minister of Health of Ethiopia, alongside representatives from AU and EU Member States and international partners.
European Commissioner Síkela remarked: “Strong health systems are a pillar of security – as important as energy or supply chains. Investing in their resilience is strategic. These three initiatives deliver exactly that: increasing Africa’s ability to detect outbreaks, respond to pandemics and manage its own health priorities. That is investment in a more secure future that serves both Africa and Europe.”
Dr Kaseya emphasised the strategic importance of the AU–EU partnership on health, noting: “As African and European priorities on global health and equitable access continue to converge, this partnership helps turn shared commitments into action. Through the Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda, Africa is strengthening its capacity to build resilient health systems, improve preparedness, and reduce dependency by producing, financing and managing more of its own health priorities.”
The initiatives will be implemented at continental and regional levels, with targeted support in AU Member States, and will focus on:
- Supporting National Public Health Institutes to deliver core functions, including disease surveillance, early warning systems, emergency response, research, and laboratory services across 10 AU Member States.
- Strengthening health security through a One Health approach, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR) prevention, detection, and response, and workforce development, as announced at the One Health Summit on 7 April.
- Expanding digital health solutions for pandemic preparedness and stronger primary healthcare systems in 6 AU Member States.
This launch marks a significant scale-up of Africa-led health security efforts, with Africa CDC at the centre of implementation and coordination, as partners intensify efforts to address current and future health threats while advancing Africa’s health sovereignty.
The initiatives will be implemented in collaboration with AU Member States, Team Europe, and implementing partners including the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the International Center for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS), the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), the European CDC, and other Team Europe technical and scientific implementing partners.
The launch also aligns with the European Commission’s forthcoming Global Health Resilience Initiative, expected later this year.
Background
The EU–Africa CDC partnership — spanning technical expertise, capacity building, and policy dialogue — continues to play a central role in strengthening resilient health systems across Africa. It builds on recent high-level engagements, including the 7th AU–EU Summit and the AU–EU Health Partnership Steering Meeting in 2025.
The EU’s investments as part of the Global Gateway strategy are a key driver in the transformation of African healthcare systems, scaling up local vaccine manufacturing and securing pharmaceutical supply chains in alignment with Africa CDC’s strategic priorities.
The AU–EU Health Partnership emphasises sustainable health security through a One Health approach, strengthened public health capacity, digital innovation, and workforce development.
Celebrating over 25 years of collaboration, the AU–EU partnership continues to advance shared priorities across prosperity, peace, people, and planet, demonstrating the enduring value of multilateral cooperation in addressing global challenges.
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About Africa CDC
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is the public health agency of the African Union. As an autonomous institution, Africa CDC supports AU Member States to strengthen health systems, improve disease surveillance, and enhance emergency preparedness and response. For more information, visit: http://www.africacdc.org and follow Africa CDC on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and YouTube.
About Global Gateway
Global Gateway is the EU’s external investment strategy to build smart, clean, and secure connections in the digital, energy, and transport sectors, as well as strengthen health, education and research systems globally. It nurtures equal partnerships that increase the strategic autonomy and resilience of Europe and partner countries alike. It is the EU’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals beyond its borders.
Media Contacts:
- European Union Delegation to the African Union: Rita Fortunato Baptista, Michele Rizzi Rita.FORTUNATO-BAPTISTA@eeas.europa.eu and Biruk.FELEKE@eeas.europa.eu
- Africa CDC Communications: Margaret Muigai Edwin, Director of Communication & Public Information Directorate: Africa CDC | Tel: +255 742 635 592, Email: edwinm@africacdc.org
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