UNFPA and Africa CDC Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance Health and Innovation Across Africa

12 February 2026
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Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Addis Ababa)
press release

Addis Ababa — The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) today signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration on women and adolescents' health innovation, data-driven policymaking, and sustainable investment across Africa.

The agreement, signed during the African Union Summit 2026 by Ms. Diene Keita, Executive Director of UNFPA, and Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, cements a shared commitment to accelerate progress toward universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), promote demographic resilience, and build resilient, equitable health systems through innovation and strategic partnerships.

A Transformative Alliance for Health in Africa

The MoU establishes a framework for joint action to scale innovations and strengthen policy coordination for adolescent, maternal, and reproductive health, with a focus on improving access to essential services and technologies, localizing manufacturing, and enhancing pooled procurement mechanisms for sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and adolescent health (SRMNAH) products.

"Every woman and girl have the right to quality health care, grounded in innovation, equity, and dignity," said Ms. Diene Keita, Executive Director of UNFPA. "This partnership between UNFPA and Africa CDC brings together political legitimacy, technical excellence, and continental reach to drive transformative change across Africa - ensuring that innovation, policy, and investment work hand in hand to deliver health and hope for women and adolescents everywhere."

Building on their collaboration during the launch of the WomenX Collective Nairobi Hub in June 2025, UNFPA and Africa CDC are deepening their engagement to promote African-led innovation ecosystems, sustainable financing, and inclusive digital transformation to accelerate progress toward gender equality and universal health coverage.

Africa as a Hub for Innovation and Leadership

"The health of women and girls is the foundation of resilient communities and strong health systems," said Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC. "Our partnership with UNFPA underscores Africa's leadership in shaping sustainable, data-driven solutions for women's health. Together, we will strengthen the continent's health security architecture, scale responsible and inclusive innovation, and ensure that women and girls are at the center of Africa's progress."

The two organizations will also collaborate to mobilize resources, engage the private sector, and promote blended finance and co-investment models that advance women's health and innovation across Africa. Initiatives will include support for digital health systems, innovative procurement, and capacity-building programs that equip health leaders and programme managers to implement equitable and resilient primary health care.

About the Partnership

Under the MoU, UNFPA and Africa CDC will:

  • Collaborate with the Regional Coordinating Centres and National Public Health Institutes to foster an ecosystem to scale innovations, strengthen policy advocacy, and coordination for women's health, with a focus on adolescent, maternal, and reproductive health;
  • Scale sustainable investment and financing mechanisms for women's health, with a focus on adolescent, maternal, and reproductive health;
  • Advance responsible and inclusive research & development (R&D agenda);
  • Enhance capacity building of the workforce with a focus on equipping leaders and programme managers to implement equitable and resilient PHC for adolescent, maternal, and reproductive health;
  • Enhance data-driven decision-making for women's health, with a focus on adolescent, maternal, and reproductive health; and
  • Improve sustainable access to Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Adolescents Health (SRMNAH) products through pooled procurement and localization of manufacturing.

About UNFPA

The mission of UNFPA is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA works with governments and partners to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health, including family planning, quality maternal care, and comprehensive sexuality education

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.

Learn more: www.unfpa.org

Read the original article on Africa CDC.

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