Alliance Launches To Advance African-Led Health Research, Development And Innovation
The African Health Research, Innovation and Development Alliance (AHRIDA) is a pioneering pan-African health research, development and innovation advocacy campaign (RD&I), launched during the African Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC).
For more than a decade, the African Regional Alliance has advocated sustainable RD&I for health; policy changes to support innovation and equitable access to health solutions; the enabling environment for RD&I and access to lifesaving health technologies in Africa. Ahrida’s launch as an umbrella agency brings together advocacy efforts to advocate for the healthy road of Africa and I, becoming an important economic driver on the continent. With the success of existing advocacy efforts, the alliance will contribute to global health advancement by increasing the enormous potential of African human capital, infrastructure and institutional capacity.
This strategic advocacy alliance draws on the expertise of Kenya’s Health Research and Development Alliance (SCHREAD), the South African Health Technology Advocacy Alliance (SAHTAC), and speaks from Senegal to promote African leadership as a driver of Africa-based knowledge economy. The press conference is at a critical moment when the global health road and I funding landscape are shifting focus on the political trends (including the recent government transition).
Currently, 90% of the drug and 99% of the vaccines in sub-Saharan Africa make it vulnerable to disruption in the supply chain where catastrophic events occur, such as the Covid-19-19 pandemic. Ahrida’s vision is to change this pattern by driving the increase in domestic and international research, while promoting strategic use of Africa’s strong resources and biodiversity, as well as the adoption of health solutions developed in Africa.
Caroline Mbindyo, chief innovation officer at AMREF Health Africa, said “Ahrida offers a tremendous opportunity for a more coordinated effort to ensure a healthy research, development and innovation agenda led and owned by Africa. It will unite and collaborate with experts in the field, including like-minded organizations, private and public sectors, public, research and academia, and challenge Africans’ health. It will drive the future prosperity of Africa.”
The alliance will focus on providing expert analysis and creating evidence to enhance understanding of human resource management in Africa among governments, funding agencies and research organizations. By promoting a well-functioning and integrated regulatory system for medical products, Ahrida will support the growth of resilient national health systems and promote the knowledge economy of African countries.
