The African Union (AU) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria have signed a landmark memorandum of understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration in combating infectious diseases and strengthening health systems across Africa.

The agreement, signed at the Global Fund’s headquarters in Geneva, marks a renewed commitment to advancing health security, sustainable development, and domestic resource mobilization on the continent.

The partnership builds on years of cooperation and aligns with key continental frameworks, including the AU’s Catalytic Framework to End AIDS, TB, and Eliminate Malaria by 2030, the African Health Strategy 2030, and the newly launched Roadmap to 2030 & Beyond. It also supports the Global Fund’s upcoming Eighth Replenishment cycle, which seeks increased investment in global health.

“This renewed partnership marks a significant step toward sustainable domestic resource mobilization and effective delivery of continental health priorities,” said H.E. Ambassador Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah, AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development. “It will drive digital innovation, strengthen infrastructure, and foster resilient, inclusive health systems for all Africans.”

Global Fund Executive Director Peter Sands echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of strategic alignment with African leadership. “This agreement reflects the depth of our partnership with the African Union and our shared commitment to a healthier, stronger, self-reliant Africa,” he said. “By working together, we tackle challenges from pandemics to climate threats, building equitable and sustainable systems.”

Key Areas of Collaboration:

• Joint implementation of the AU Roadmap to 2030 & Beyond
• Reforms in domestic health financing through AUDA-NEPAD, Regional Economic Communities, and Health Financing Hubs
• Integration of community health and digital innovation into national strategies
• Advocacy for a robust Eighth Replenishment of the Global Fund
• Coordinated responses to emerging health threats and biological resistance

The MoU also reinforces commitments made during the 2019 African Leadership Meeting on Investing in Health and supports ongoing health financing dialogues in 12 countries. It is anchored in the AU’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a prosperous, inclusive, and self-reliant Africa.

As the continent continues to face overlapping challenges—from pandemics and climate change to resource constraints—the AU–Global Fund partnership is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping Africa’s health future and ensuring long-term resilience.