By Duncan Mboyah
African health experts have called for targeted interventions to bridge disruptions in funding on the continent.
Drawn from Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, they said that there is a need for delivery-focused solutions towards the continent’s research ecosystem.
Prof. Nicki Tiffin, Deputy Director of the South African National Bioinformatics Institute at the University of the Western Cape, observed that while many of the barriers facing health researchers are complex, a significant number are operational and solvable through context-specific interventions aligned to local needs and realities.
“The future of Africa’s health status should depend less on external funding cycles and more on whether the continent builds a product-driven, commercially viable research and development ecosystem,” Prof. Tiffin said in a statement.
Prof. Iruka Okeke, professor of pharmaceutical microbiology at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, observed that current challenges can be addressed with collaborative and combined interventions.
Prof. Okeke noted that it is unfortunate that the procurement and logistical processes in many African countries fail to align with the realities of research and development, yet the same systems worked efficiently during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Dr. Yaw Bediako, Dean of Research and Innovation at Ashesi University, Ghana, strategic investment in product development can transform youth potential, biodiversity, and scientific ingenuity into innovation, real-world impact, and prosperity for future generations.
Prof. Tom Kariuki, chief executive officer of the Science for Africa Foundation, said that African countries should act together in using approaches that are already within reach.
Prof. Kariuki noted that Africa’s health challenges and solutions are very urgent in helping the continent to fix its deplorable health funding.
The experts noted that while national and regional policies have sought to address long-standing barriers within Africa’s research and development ecosystem, many challenges persist, particularly at the operational level.
They outlined actionable pathways to unlock Africa’s health research potential, actively calling on researchers, policymakers, implementers, funders, and governments to collaboratively contribute to reshaping and enabling the continent’s research and development landscape.
The experts called for the development of a sustainable, private sector-led research and development ecosystem that accelerates innovation and commercialization through collaboration, policy, and capital and the creation of a diversified and sustainable research and development financing ecosystem with domestic public, private, and philanthropic investment.
They further called for the development of a robust, diverse research and development workforce supported by clear career pathways and expanded access to STEM education and the establishment of a strong health data infrastructure and digital-enabling environments, alongside support for digital skills development.
They urged African countries to foster efficient and resilient research and development supply chains that ensure timely access to quality inputs and support local production.
“We need to promote an inclusive research culture grounded in mentorship, collaboration, ethical practice, and excellence reflecting on supply chain constraints,” they added.
They predicted that Africa’s health future will depend less on external funding cycles and more on whether the continent builds a product-driven, commercially viable research and development ecosystem.
