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Africa’s Health Financing in a New Era

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) (2025) CC

Africa’s health sector is facing an unprecedented financing crisis, driven by a sharp decline of 70% in Official Development Assistance (ODA) from 2021 to 2025 and deep-rooted structural vulnerabilities. This collapse is placing immense pressure on Africa’s already fragile health systems as ODA ...is seen as the backbone of critical health programs: pandemic preparedness, maternal and child health services, disease control programs are all at risk, threatening Sustainable Development Goal 3 and Universal Health Coverage. Compounding this is Africa’s spiraling debt, with countries expected to service USD 81 billion by 2025—surpassing anticipated external financing inflows—further eroding fiscal space for health investments. Level of domestic resources is low. TThe Abuja Declaration of 2001, a pivotal commitment made by African Union (AU) member states, aimed to reverse this trend by pledging to allocate at least 15% of national budgets to the health sector. However, more than two decades later, only three countries—Rwanda, Botswana, and Cabo Verde—have consistently met or exceeded this target (WHO, 2023). In contrast, over 30 AU member states remain well below the 10% benchmark, with some allocating as little as 5–7% of their national budgets to health. In addition, only 16 (29%) of African countries currently have updated versions of National Health Development Plan (NHDP) supported by a National Health Financing Plan (NHFP). These two documents play a critical role in driving internal resource mobilisation. At the same time, public health emergencies are surging, rising 41%—from 152 in 2022 to 213 in 2024—exposing severe under-resourcing of health infrastructure and workforce. Recurring outbreaks (Mpox, Ebola, cholera, measles, Marburg…) alongside effects of climate change and humanitarian crises in Eastern DRC, the Sahel, and Sudan, are overwhelming systems stretched by chronic underfunding. The situation is worsened by Africa’s heavy dependency with over 90% of vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics being externally sourced—leaving countries vulnerable to global supply chain shocks. Health worker shortages persist, with only 2.3 professionals per 1,000 people (below the WHO’s recommended 4.45), and fewer than 30% of systems are digitized, undermining disease surveillance and early warning. Without decisive action, Africa CDC projects the continent could reverse two decades of health progress, face 2 to 4 million additional preventable deaths annually, and a heightened risk of a pandemic emerging from within. Furthermore, 39 million more Africans could be pushed into poverty by 2030 due to intertwined health and economic shocks. This is not just a sectoral crisis—it is an existential threat to Africa’s political, social, and economic resilience, and global stability. In response, African leaders, under Africa CDC’s stewardship, are advancing a comprehensive three-pillar strategy centered on domestic resource mobilization, innovative financing, and blended finance. more

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Health for All – transforming economies to deliver what matters: Final report of the WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All

World Health Organization (WHO) (2023) CC

The Council was established in late 2020 by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Director-General, WHO) to provide new economic thinking – reassessing how health and wellbeing are valued, produced and distributed across the economy. An all-female group of 10 distinguished economists and area experts, t... more

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Health Namibia Budget Brief

UNICEF (2022) C_UNICEF

Strengthening health financing to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage. Total Government Health Expenditure exceeds the commitment by African Union member states to commit at least 15% of their budgets to the health sector. With a sector allocation of 16.6% of total budget in 2022/... more

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Mass gathering practical guide for simulation exercises and after action reviews

World Health Organization WHO (2025) C_WHO

This guide provides strategic direction for host countries, event organizers, health authorities, and key stakeholders to effectively plan and conduct Simulation Exercises (SimEx) and After Action Reviews (AARs) for mass gathering events. Packed with practical tools, it empowers users to seamlessly ... more

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Report on refugee health: assessment of the Bulgarian health system’s needs within the context of the crisis in Ukraine

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2023) C_WHO

Since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis on 24 February 2022, WHO has supported Government-led efforts and initiatives alongside key partners on the ground. Building on efforts to date, and working alongside Bulgaria’s health authorities to bring added value to existing mechanisms, the WHO Countr... more

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A guide to tailoring health programmes: Using behavioural and cultural insights to tailor health policies, services and communications to the needs and circumstances of people and communities

World Health Organization WHO (2023) CC

WHO/Europe has launched a new guide, providing support to countries on how to apply behavioural and cultural insights (BCI) for health. It presents a simple step-wise approach, complemented by a rich collection of detailed considerations, tools and exercises. The guide is the first of its kind, spec... more

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Global antimicrobial resistance and use surveillance system (‎GLASS)‎ report: 2022

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2022) C_WHO

The WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) was launched in 2015 to foster AMR surveillance and inform strategies to contain AMR. The system started with surveillance of AMR in bacteria causing common human infections and has expanded its scope to include surveillance... more

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Medical device donations: considerations for solicitation and provision. Second edition

World Health Organization WHO (2024) CC

Medical devices are used for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness and diseases and for rehabilitation. WHO developed guidance on medical device donation in 2011, which has been now reviewed, with new evidence, new references on considerations for medical device solicitation and provisi... more

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Guidelines for the Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika

Pan American Health Organisation PAHO (2022) C_WHO

Evidence-based guidelines are one of the most useful tools for improving public health and clinical practice. Their purpose is to formulate interventions based on strong evidence of efficacy, avoid unnecessary risks, use resources efficiently, reduce clinical variability and, in essence, improve hea... more

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HEARTS. Technical package for cardiovascular disease management in primary health care. Systems of Monitoring

World Health Organization WHO, et al. (2018) C_WHO

Monitoring is a crucial element in any successful programme. It is important to know if health care facilities – and ultimately countries – are meeting the agreed goals and objectives for preventing and managing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Monitoring is the on-going collection, management ...and use of information to assess whether an activity or programme is proceeding according to plan and/ or achieving defined targets. Not all outcomes of interest can be monitored. Clear outcomes must be identified that relate to the most important changes expected to result from the project and to what is realistic and measurable within the timescale of the project. Once these outcomes have been articulated, indicators can be chosen that best measure whether the desired outcomes are being met. To allow progress to be monitored, this module provides a set of indicators on CVD management. Agreeing on a set of indicators allows countries to compare progress in CVD management and treatment across different districts or subnational jurisdictions, as well as at a facility level, identify where performance can be improved, and track trends in implementation over time. Monitoring these indicators also helps identify problems that may be encountered so that implementation efforts can be redirected. This module starts from the collection of data at facility level, which is then “transferred up” the system: facility-level data are aggregated at subnational level to produce reports that allow tracking of facility and subnational performance over time and allow for comparison among facilities. National-level data are obtained through population-based surveys. Implementing a monitoring system requires action at many levels. At national and subnational levels, staff can determine how best to integrate data elements into existing data collection systems – such as the routine service-delivery data that are collected through facility-level Health Management Information Systems (HMIS). In the facility setting, personnel must be aware of what data are needed. Sample data-collection tools are included, recognizing that countries use different datamanagement systems for HMIS, so the CVD monitoring tools will be adapted to work with the HMIS system being used by the country, such that the indicators can be collected with minimal disruption/work to existing systems and tools more

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Realizing Agenda 2030: Will donor dollars and country priorities align with global goals?

Sethi, T.; S. Custer; J. Turner et al. AidData at William & Mary (2017) CC

This report seeks to uncover the extent to which global goals crowd in international financing, inform domestic policy priorities, and navigate progress toward development outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LICs and MICs). Our report: Provides a historical perspective on how ODA financin... more

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Averting risks to the food chain

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS FAO (2019) C2

As the number of transboundary pest and animal and foodborne disease outbreaks rises, so does the number of people who are chronically hungry due to these and other factors. The correlation can be explained by the link between our health and that of the planet. We rely on land and sea for the produc... more

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Operational Guidance Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Programming for Refugee Operations

UN High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR (2013) C1

This operational guidance on MHPSS provides a practical orientation and tools for UNHCR country operations. It covers specific points of good practice to consider when developing MHPSS programming and offers advice on priority issues and practical difficulties, while also providing some background i... more

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Guidelines for diagnosing, preventing and managing cryptococcal disease among adults, adolescents and children living with HIV
recommended

World Health Organization (WHO) (2022) C_WHO

Cryptococcal disease is one of the most common opportunistic infections among people living with advanced HIV disease and is a major contributor to severe illness, morbidity, and mortality, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. These guidelines update the recommendations that were first released i... more

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HIV self-testing at workplaces: approaches to implementation and sustainable financing

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2023) C_WHO

Countries are making progress toward the global goal of 95% of people living with HIV knowing their status by 2025. However, considerable gaps remain in achieving these goals globally. Men in high HIV burden settings and men from key populations in all settings are consistently less likely to know t... more

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Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: Guidelines for assessment and management of cardiovascular risk

World Health Organization WHO (2007) C_WHO

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of disability and premature death throughout the world, and contributes substantially to the escalating costs of health care. The underlying pathology is atherosclerosis, which develops over many years and is usually advanced by the time symptoms occur, genera... more

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Monitoring and Evaluation Training Manual: Hospital Assessment Tool

Federal Ministry of Health of Ethiopia (2017) CC

Saving Lives Through Safe Surgery (SaLTS)

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Health Sector Supply Chain Strategy and Implementation Plan (2015-2017)

Ministry of Health, Zambia (2015) C1

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Guidelines for Pharmacovigilance and Medicine Information System in Rwanda

Ministry of Health, Rwanda (2011) C2

The purpose of these guidelines is to help health workers to participate in the process of continuous surveillance of safety and efficacy of the pharmaceutical products which are used in clinical practice, thus help to achieve the ultimate goal to make safer and more effective treatment available to... more

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Policy and guidelines for hospital accident and emergency services in Ghana

Ministry of Health, Ghana (2016) C1

Guidelines for diagnosing, preventing and managing cryptococcal disease among adults, adolescents and children living with HIV recommended

Guidelines for diagnosing, preventing and managing cryptococcal disease among adults, adolescents and children living with HIV
recommended