Africa’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is launching innovative financing solutions to boost domestic health funding among member states, encouraging them to allocate at least 15% of their national budgets to health. This strategy includes piloting new revenue mechanisms, leveraging diaspora remittances, and aims for 20 countries to finance at least 50% of their health budgets from sustainable sources by 2030.
Amid challenging global economic conditions, Africa’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is pioneering innovative financing solutions to encourage member states to increase domestic health investments.
Recently, Africa CDC launched a new financing guide aimed at updating national health financing plans in 30 countries. This initiative focuses on piloting innovative revenue mechanisms and introducing transparency dashboards. The strategy calls for governments to allocate at least 15% of their national budgets to health, in line with the 2001 Abuja Declaration.
Proposed innovative financing methods include solidarity levies on airline tickets, alcohol, and mobile services, as well as leveraging Africa’s annual diaspora remittances, estimated at US$95 billion, to support health priorities. Additionally, the framework advocates for blended financing to attract public and private capital for essential investments in health infrastructure, digital health, and local vaccine production.
Phase 2, scheduled for 2026–2030, aims to refine successful strategies, ensuring that at least 20 countries can cover 50% or more of their health budgets from sustainable domestic sources. Dr. Jean Kaseya, the Director General of Africa CDC, emphasizes that this effort is about ownership rather than aid, aiming for Africa to assert control over its health security and future.
