African Union and World Health Organization renew strategic partnership to drive impact and strengthen health systems in Africa

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May 24, 2025

The African Union (AU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) renewed their longstanding strategic partnership today with the signing of an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva. The agreement reaffirms the joint commitment to advancing health security, universal health coverage, and sustainable development across the African continent at a time of unprecedented financial challenges in the global health landscape.

The agreement was signed by H.E Ambassador Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, on behalf of His Excellency Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

“This Agreement marks a new chapter in AU–WHO collaboration. By strengthening our partnership, we can more effectively address the health needs of our people and ensure no one is left behind. The African Union values WHO’s central leadership in global health and looks forward to deepening this strategic alliance to advance our shared goals,” said H.E. Ambassador Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoa, AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development.

“It’s time to move beyond budgeting for survival—we must begin planning for health sovereignty,” she added.

Building on the foundation of the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding, this renewed agreement deepens and streamlines collaboration across all African Union entities. It aligns joint efforts around Africa’s health priorities and paves the way for more integrated and effective cooperation between the AU and WHO. The agreement also reaffirms WHO’s central role as the technical and normative leader in global and regional health and underscores its commitment to supporting the AU and its institutions in achieving health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

“This agreement comes at a critical time, as cuts to bilateral aid imperil the health of millions in Africa,” said Dr Tedros. “It reflects our determination to translate our partnership into tangible results for the people of Africa, and support countries to leave behind the era of aid dependency and transition to sustainable self-reliance. We are proud to stand with the African Union in driving forward the health priorities of the continent.”

The Memorandum outlines five key areas of collaboration:

Health systems strengthening including regulatory harmonization, support for local pharmaceutical manufacturing, traditional medicine, domestic health financing, workforce development, and digital health innovation.
Reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH): with continued support for the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA Plus 2021–2030) and advancement of the reviewed Addis Ababa Declaration on Immunization (ADi);
Disease prevention and control: supporting the implementation of AU frameworks on communicable and noncommunicable diseases, including efforts to end AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria; eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs); and address the burden of viral hepatitis in line with WHO strategies.
Nutrition and food security: strengthening the nutrition agenda through implementation of the Africa Nutrition Strategy 2015–2025 and related WHO strategies; and
Health in emergency settings: by strengthening joint responses to humanitarian crises, conflicts, and climate-related emergencies.

The renewed MoU marks new momentum for regional and multilateral cooperation to address Africa’s most pressing health challenges and deliver meaningful, lasting results on the continent.

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