“The next pandemic will test trust – not just health systems.” -GHRI stakeholder briefing
At the EU Global Health Policy Forum in June 2026, policymakers, researchers, development partners, and civil society representatives gathered to discuss the newly launched Global Health Resilience Initiative (GHRI). The forum highlighted three priorities that resonate strongly with Africa’s development agenda: building resilient country-led health systems, strengthening preparedness for future health threats, and rebuilding trust in science.
One of the strongest messages from the initiative is that “strong national health systems are the backbone of resilience”, with countries needing the capacity to finance, manage, and deliver essential health services while responding to crises. This is already being demonstrated across Africa. For example, Rwanda’s community health worker model has strengthened primary healthcare delivery, while Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme continues to provide important lessons on improving access to healthcare through locally driven solutions.
The forum also emphasised the importance of local manufacturing and diversified supply chains for medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics. This aligns closely with ongoing efforts in countries such as South Africa, Senegal, and Egypt to expand vaccine manufacturing capacity and reduce dependence on imported health products. The EU highlighted its continued support for health manufacturing partnerships in Africa through initiatives such as MAV+ (Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies in Africa).
Another key theme was preparedness. According to the European Commission, the GHRI aims to help the world respond more quickly and effectively to future health threats by strengthening surveillance, preparedness, and access to medical countermeasures. African countries have already demonstrated the value of preparedness through responses to Ebola outbreaks in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where evidence-informed decision-making, surveillance systems, and regional cooperation played critical roles.
Why this Matters for African Evidence? For the Africa Evidence Network, the forum reinforced an important reality: resilient health systems, effective preparedness, and public trust all depend on the availability and use of credible evidence. As demand grows for locally generated knowledge and stronger science communication, African researchers, policymakers, and evidence intermediaries have a critical opportunity to shape policies that are responsive, resilient, and rooted in African realities.
