Health Equity
Continental, Regional and National Efforts that are addressing Africa's health financing crisis
Continental, Regional and National Efforts that are addressing Africa's health financing crisis
African Renaissance Trust operates at the precise intersection where governments meet multilateral institutions, private investors meet policy makers, and African priorities meet global platforms.
When African Finance Ministers gathered in Johannesburg to address the continent’s most pressing economic challenges, African Renaissance Trust was on site, co-convening a strategic side event on health financing alongside ECSA-Health Community and Global Health Strategies, drawing representatives from 40 Member States for urgent dialogue on navigating the $12 billion ODA shortfall threatening African health systems.
The session was framed as a renaissance moment, as Africa’s “rebirth” in health financing. Domestic resource mobilization, innovative financing mechanisms, and regional collaboration were positioned at the center of ministerial deliberations and this has provided an excellent basis upon which national and REC consultations are developing.
From concept to convening to ministerial influence, this is Renaissance execution at the highest level of continental governance.
The African Renaissance Trust co-convened a side event and delivered data-driven technical excellence that was key in re-designing solutions to Africa’s health financing crisis.
The African Renaissance Trust co-convened a side event and delivered data-driven technical excellence that was key in re-designing solutions to Africa’s health financing crisis.
Dr. Edward Kataika (ECSA-HC) presented a regional analysis revealing that 40-60% of health budgets across nine East, Central, and Southern African countries depend on ODA, with USAID losses exceeding 50% of commitments, resulting in reduced HIV/TB diagnostics, interrupted viral load testing, and community health worker layoffs.
Dr. Alex Adjakpa (UNICEF) provided a continental perspective: $7.6 billion in projected losses across 55 AUstates, with 21 countries facing 40%+ cuts. The modeling revealed devastating impacts, 2 million additional unvaccinated children, 15 million more malaria cases, and a 26% surge in the UHC coverage gap affecting 370 million people.
These briefings delivered actionable intelligence: earmarked health levies (Zimbabwe’s model), integration over verticalization, and recomendded addressing the $9.5 billion lost annually to health sector corruption – as this exceeds the continental funding gap itself.
Evidence to action. Data to decisions. African Renaissance continues enabling the conversation.
When the East African Community embarked on developing its most comprehensive health financing strategy, “Financing the Last Mile to Universal Health Coverage”, African Renaissance Trust was positioned at the expert table, as a member of the EAC Health Financing Experts Group.
A 153,000-word regional blueprint has been developed by the Experts working group to address the structural crisis facing 300+ million East Africans. The average health insurance coverage is at an average of just 22%, out-of-pocket expenditure has skyrocketted reaching 44% in some countries, and 33% regional dependence on external aid is now under threat given the ODA cuts.
Our expertise has contributed to shaping the four strategic pillars: mobilizing more money for health, maximizing efficiency, ensuring equity and financial protection, and strengthening governance. The Strategy translates theAfrican Union ALM Declaration into actionable regional interventions, from earmarked health taxes to pooled procurement to performance-based financing models.
When the East African Legislative Assembly’s Health Committee needed technical expertise to on the EAC Sexual and Reproductive Health Bill to enable them protect 283.7 million East Africans, African Renaissance Trust delivered the capacity building that transformed political will into parliamentary action.
ART’s engagement with EALA parliamentarians has been systematic and sustained over the years: from the May 2021 EALA MPs Key Stakeholders Sensitization & Capacity Building Workshop through ongoing technical briefings on maternal mortality, teenage pregnancy, and health financing landscapes. This cooperation equips legislators with evidence: $66.9 per capita health expenditure (below Africa’s $116.9 average), 31.2% out-of-pocket payments, and the devastating impact of ODA cuts on UHC progress.
African Renaissance is bridging civil society advocacy (Pamoja of East Africa CSOs) with legislative authority, ensuring SRHR provisions in international frameworks are domesticated in the East African Community.
Capacity delivered to parliamentarians means policy makers are equipped to protect mothers and childrens’ lives.
On the sidelines of the AU 8th STC on Finance, African Renaissance proposed and designed a consultative roundtable with REC Health Directorates from EAC, SADC, and ECOWAS.
The context demanded action: ODA to Africa’s health sector has plummeted 70% between 2021-2025, while governments allocate only 7.4% of budgets to health, half the Abuja Declaration target.
Our proposed partnership architecture delivers nine integrated advocacy deliverables: an AU-REC-Member States Health Financing Exemplars Database, Real-Time Intel Platform, Presidential Champion Networks leveraging ALM leadership, Private Sector Engagement Compacts, Country-Specific Economic-Language Briefs, and a Regional Accountability Scorecard.
From continental commitments to national implementation. From policy frameworks to budget allocations, we remain your truly trusted Advocacy architect.
