IFRC and Africa CDC Sign New MoU to Enhance Regional Health Resilience
Renewed agreement to scale up epidemic preparedness, legal frameworks, and community-led health delivery across Africa. ESG BROADCAST shares key takeaways.
Regulatory Extract:
On the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have formalised a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance regional health security and institutional resilience. This agreement aims to deepen collaboration between the two pan-African entities in areas such as primary healthcare reinforcement, pandemic preparedness, community-based services, and legal structures for emergency health responses.
The new MoU extends the scope of an initial 2021 partnership that proved instrumental during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the earlier framework, both organisations jointly executed programs for risk communication, vaccine dissemination, and the scaling of frontline health workers. The updated agreement builds on these foundations to address systemic challenges in public health governance while ensuring inclusive and accessible services at the grassroots level.
In line with Africa CDC’s 2023–2027 Strategic Plan and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the revised framework outlines strategic pillars including integrated disease surveillance, epidemic early warning mechanisms, and joint humanitarian coordination. The three-year agreement also covers legal and policy preparedness for public health emergencies, advancing universal health coverage, and scaling up the continent’s community health workforce across multiple nations.
Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC stated:
“This renewed partnership is a powerful reminder that resilient health systems are built not only in hospitals, but in homes and communities”.
His remarks were echoed by IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain, who emphasised the centrality of community-led solutions:
“Strong health systems start in communities. Together, we will continue to scale up community-led solutions that save lives, build trust, and make health systems more resilient for the future.”
The MoU sets out a framework for mobilising technical assistance, regional networks, and financial resources to support national health authorities. Joint action areas include legal frameworks for emergency management, cross-border preparedness, integration of emergency and routine health services, and equitable healthcare access in remote and underserved areas.
To operationalise these commitments, the partnership will harness Africa CDC’s policy leadership and surveillance infrastructure, along with IFRC’s expansive humanitarian field network. The implementation will be further supported through joint advocacy for health equity, coordination with national ministries, and evidence-based decision-making to allocate resources.
Strategic significance lies in the MoU’s institutionalisation of cross-continental cooperation between two major public health actors, with an emphasis on systemic resilience, legal preparedness, and people-centred healthcare. The agreement is expected to reinforce ESG compliance and responsible business engagement in public health infrastructure, while addressing systemic vulnerabilities to health emergencies and promoting sustainable development goals.
ESG BROADCAST will continue monitoring the updates related to this topic. Stay tuned to be updated on the related policy and pivotal regulatory shift.
