AUDA-NEPAD Sign MOU to Tackle Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa

By Wakhungu Andaje

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed to accelerate progress against neglected tropical diseases.

Signed during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that has just ended in New York, the agreement is meant to support programmes, resource mobilisation and stronger political commitment from the continent to see the end on neglected tropical diseases within.

The memorandum is expected to establish a strategic partnership that will both accelerate the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) across the 54 countries that forms the African Union member states.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations general assembly (UNGA), following a high-level strategy circle convened by the African union development agency- new partnership for African development (AUDA-NEPAD) in collaboration with partners of the programme for investment and financing in Africa’s health (PIFAH).

The event, which was sponsored from its cost to capital under the financing Africa’s health sovereignty, accommodated heads of state, health and finance ministers, regional and multilateral institutions, development finance institutions, philanthropic organisations and private-sector leaders.

The strategy circle responded to a rapidly changing global health financing environment, as reductions in development assistance, fiscal pressures and shifting geopolitical priorities reshape the resources available to African health systems.

During the meeting, participants deliberated how Africa can invest in better health foundation for resilience that will see it move beyond seeing it as a cost implication.

At the discussion table, opportunities to expand domestic resource mobilisation, innovative and blended finance, private investment and other sustainable financing mechanisms were highlighted. In the panel discussion, the interim CEO the End Fund Guy Cave, shared the global fundamental changes in health financing and what Africa requires to do, with a particular focus on protecting and accelerating progress against NTDs.

“Today’s signing formalizes our shared commitment to African ownership, country leadership and sustainable financing for the elimination of neglected tropical diseases,” said Guy Cave, “This partnership comes at a critical moment, as African leaders and their partners confront a fundamentally different global health financing reality.

The END Fund is honored to work alongside AUDA-NEPAD and partners across the continent to mobilize resources, strengthen country-led programmes and accelerate Africa’s extraordinary progress towards ending NTDs.”

The agreement will see both AUDA-NEPAD and the END Fund working hand in hand into developing strategic partnerships as well as mobilizing resources for NTD programmes, strengthen country-led implementation and advance policy dialogue and high-level advocacy.

It will further promote knowledge exchange, evidence generation and coordination among member states, regional institutions, philanthropic organizations, technical agencies and civil society.

The CEO AUDA-NEPAD pointed out that health is not a cost to be managed, but an investment in Africa’s resilience, productivity and prosperity noting that the strategy circle highlighted the need to mobilize more sustainable and innovative financing, strengthen country-led systems and build the partnerships needed to translate this agenda into action.

“Our agreement with the END Fund is a practical expression of that shared commitment, bringing our respective strengths together to help sustain and accelerate Africa’s progress towards ending NTDs” She assured. 

With 26 African countries already having eliminated at least one NTD, as a public health problem, the agreement builds on extraordinary with several having achieved multiple eliminations, including Ghana, which has eliminated three NTDs and Togo eliminating four making it the first country globally to achieve this milestone.

Despite the gains, shifting global financing conditions has continued to threaten slow or reverse these gains. To address this, innovative and sustainable financing, integrated systems and continued political leadership will be critical to protect progress and achieve the targets of the World health organization’s (WHO) road map NTDs.

The strategy circle together with the new AUDA-NEPAD–END Fund partnership will reflect the growing recognition that sustainable health progress will require new models of cooperation, African-led investment priorities and coordinated action across governments, regional bodies, donors, philanthropy, civil society and the private sector.

And by bringing onboard continental political leadership, country-led action and catalytic financing, the partnership will help translate shared ambition into measurable progress towards the elimination of NTDs.