From Progress to Power: How African Institutions Are Redefining the Future of Global Health

Africa stands at a critical inflection point. Political momentum around health sovereignty is accelerating through the operationalisation of the African Medicines Agency (AMA), deeper regional integration via the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and a stronger focus on local manufacturing, data governance, and system capability. Yet a significant trust gap persists between governments and the private sector, slowing progress and limiting alignment.

Convened by Merck KGaA on the sidelines of the 79th World Health Assembly, this high-level public side event adopts a listening-first approach, giving Africa CDC, AMA, and AUDA-NEPAD space to articulate their institutional direction, what progress looks like today, and where they are headed over the next 3–5 years. For industry and partners, it offers a direct, unfiltered briefing on African health priorities and a concrete opportunity to understand where engagement is genuinely welcome.

Discussions will focus on Africa’s institutional progress and vision, making health sovereignty operational, the governance of access to innovation, and what meaningful partnership should look like in an era of constrained financing and rising expectations