Regional Partnerships to Strengthen Sexual & Reproductive Health Commodity Production in Africa

An AU-EU Health Partnership event on the sidelines of World Health Assembly 2026

You are cordially invited to join us for an interactive discussion on regional partnership to increase local production of and access to sexual and reproductive health products in Africa.

Image

EVENT DETAILS 

• Date: Thursday, May 21, 9h00-10h30 (doors open at 8h45)
• Co-hosted by: Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development in partnership with the European Commission, Belgium, and The Netherlands, representing the AU-EU Health Partnership     
• Location: International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum, Salle Henry Dunant, Avenue de la Paix 17, Geneva 1202 Switzerland 
• Please RSVP: Please register by May 5, 2026.
  • Please email Carolin Geis (carolin.geis@giz.de) and Alexis Ditkowsky (alexis.ditkowsky@giz.de) should you have any questions 

  • Note: To help ensure a diverse range of participants, we kindly ask that no more than two individuals from the same organization or institution register for the event. Please also note that submitting a registration form does not automatically confirm attendance. A confirmation of participation will be sent closer to the event date. 

     

DESCRIPTION

Africa and Europe share a commitment to ensuring that everyone can access the health care and health products they need.  

Yet supply disruptions, market fragmentation, and external dependency continue to undermine equitable access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) commodities, putting especially the well-being and autonomy of adolescent girls and women at risk. 

This side event will take place against a shifting global backdrop, which includes reductions in external aid as well as the climate crisis and regional conflicts.

Key themes include:  

✅ Ways to strengthen African self-reliance while reducing dependence on foreign actors 
✅ The role of the private sector in manufacturing SRH commodities on the continent 
✅ How the AU-EU Health Partnership can act as a catalyst to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights, industrial development, and health sovereignty

ABOUT THE TEAM EUROPE INITIATIVE ON THE AU-EU HEALTH PARTNERSHIP

The Team Europe Initiative on the AU-EU Health Partnership is a broad coalition working together to strengthen health systems, improve health security, and increase access to pharmaceuticals in Africa. Encompassing dozens of projects and partners at the continental, regional, and country level, the initiative is making critical contributions to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages (SDG 3).

The Team Europe Initiative focuses on five interconnected themes:

• Manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies (MAV+)
• Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)
• Sustainable health security using a "One Health" approach (HSOH)
• Digital health for health systems strengthening and universal health coverage (DH)
• Support for public health institutes (PHI) 

Team Europe actors include the European Commission, European Investment Bank, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control as well as EU Member States including Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.