Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The African Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with GOAL 3, convened a high-level virtual side event on April 23, 2025, in celebration of World Health Day. The webinar, themed “Leveraging Innovation and Collaboration to Accelerate Progress Towards AU Agenda 2063 for Women and Children     ”, provided a strategic platform to galvanize action toward transformative health solutions for maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) across the continent.

The webinar brought together stakeholders from African Union Member States, AU organs, development partners, civil society, the private sector, and academia. Participants      underscored      the critical need to scale      homegrown, cost-effective, and digitally enabled health innovations, with emphasis on aligning these efforts with the AU Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Key Highlights

• Catalyzing Innovation in Maternal and Child Health: The webinar showcased       cutting-edge solutions,      including      GOAL 3’s IMPALA patient monitoring system, Laerdal’s Safer Births Bundle of Care, and AI-powered diagnostics.      These innovations      are saving lives by enabling proactive care, enhancing      service quality, and reducing      the burden on health workers     .
• African Leadership and Commitment: Speakers from AUC, AUDA-NEPAD, and      Africa CDC reaffirmed the continent’s dedication to digital health transformation, as outlined in the AU Digital Health Strategy and CARMMA Plus Initiative (2021–2030). Countries including      Egypt, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Tanzania shared success stories of localized innovations delivering measurable improvements.
• Multi-     stakeholder Collaboration for Impact: The event underscored the importance of cross-sectoral and cross-country collaboration in building resilient health systems. Panelists from UNICEF, UNFPA, and the World Bank’s Global Financing Facility (GFF) highlighted models for public-private partnerships, digital service redesign, and financing pathways to scale.
• Scaling What Works: The IMPALA case study from Rwanda demonstrated that success hinges not only on innovation but also on partnerships, training, and long-term system strengthening. Early data from Rwanda showed up to 32% reductions in neonatal mortality and increased staff satisfaction, resulting in the intent to scale-up IMPALA across Rwanda by the MOH.
• Policy and Financing for Sustainability: Speakers stressed the urgency of aligning national health policies with AU strategies, harmonizing regulatory frameworks, investing in workforce digital literacy, and unlocking domestic and blended financing models to sustain and expand      health innovations.

Call to Action

The African Union Commission calls upon Member States, donors, private sector partners, and development agencies to:

• Invest in Scalable Health Innovations: Prioritize resource mobilization for cost-effective, high-impact maternal and child health technologies.
• Strengthen Digital Health Foundations: Build infrastructure, digital literacy, and interoperable systems to enable successful digital transformation.
• Empower Health Workforce and Communities: Expand training, especially for midwives and primary care providers, and engage      communities in service design.
• Scale through Collaboration: Promote regional knowledge-sharing and adopt proven solutions through harmonized regulatory and financing frameworks.

As the continent accelerates toward achieving Agenda 2063 and the SDGs, Africa’s collective commitment to innovation and collaboration will be pivotal in delivering health for all, starting with its women and children.

The African Union Commission reaffirms its unwavering commitment to driving forward the health innovation agenda for women and children in Africa. As we continue to champion scalable, inclusive, and sustainable health solutions, the AUC urges Member States, partners, and stakeholders to join forces in this collective mission. We welcome collaboration and invite those interested in advancing this transformative work to reach out and become part of the effort to deliver on the promise of Agenda 2063 and ensure a healthier future for every African woman and child.

For more information, contact:

Derrick Oduck Ochuot | Strategic Communication Expert | African Union Commission | E-mail: OchuotD@Africa-union.org

Janet Faith Adhiambo Ochieng | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: Ochiengj@Africa-union.org

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
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