Strengthening health systems in East and Southern Africa for regional access and accountability for increased health equity

A Team Europe event on the sidelines of World Health Summit 2025

You are cordially invited to join Team Europe Initiative on the AU-EU Health Partnership for an interactive discussion on successful partnerships for health systems strengthening and the launch of a new regional SRHR program to enhance data-driven accountability and ensure access to sexual and reproductive health commodities.

EVENT DETAILS

• Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025, 14h00 – 15h30

• Co-hosted by: The Team Europe Initiative on the AU-EU Health Partnership

• Location: CPHIA, HALL 2D, Durban International Convention Centre, Durban, South Africa

• RSVP appreciated: Alexis Ditkowsky (alexis.ditkowsky@giz.de) from the Team Europe Support Structure MAV+

DESCRIPTION

In a rapidly evolving global health landscape, Team Africa and Team Europe are closely working together to strengthen health systems and institutions, advance sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and increase equitable access to quality-assured health commodities.    

Building on past achievements and regional priorities, we will: 

• Learn from the experiences of national programs and partners
• Launch a new regional SRHR program to enhance data-driven accountability and ensure access to sexual and reproductive health commodities 

This event will bring together stakeholders working on complementary projects with the goal of identifying new opportunities to strengthen health systems and achieve universal health coverage (UHC) in Africa.  

GUIDING QUESTIONS

• What are the success factors for effective collaboration between Team Africa and Team Europe on health systems strengthening?
• What measures can be put in place to ensure the sustainability of investments aimed at improving health systems in East and Southern Africa, beyond specific project timelines?
• What can be done to strengthen public health institutes’ capacity to better coordinate health system activities?
• What are the specific challenges to ensuring equitable access to quality-assured sexual and reproductive health commodities – and how can they be mitigated? 

SPEAKERS

• H.E. Petra Pereyra, the Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Botswana and SADC
• Dr. Eric Nzeyimana, Principal Health Officer, East African Community Secretariat
• Dr. Lamboly Kumboneki, Senior Programme Officer, Southern Africa Development Community Secretariat
• Ms. Simone Goertz, Head of Economic and Development Cooperation, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Gaborone
• Ms. Elisabeth Hårleman, Head of Regional Development Cooperation SRHR in Africa, Embassy of Sweden in Pretoria
• Representative from SPhIRhA project partner (Malawi)
• Representative from Public Health Institute project partner (Mozambique) 

AGENDA AND FORMAT

• 14h00–14h15: Arrival, registration, and reflection activity
• 14h15–14h25: Welcome remarks Team Europe and Team Africa
• 14h25–15h05: Dialogue between new projects, including SPhIRhA, and established projects with audience participation
  • SPhIRhA is a partnership between Sweden, Africa CDC, Botswana, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe to strengthen national public health institutes with a focus on SRHR
• 15h05–15h25: Launch of RAISE SRHR
  • RAISE SRHR is a new Team Europe program implemented in close collaboration with the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community. Funded by the European Commission, Germany, and Sweden, and supported by UNAIDS, WHO, UNICEF, and UNFPA, the program focuses on expanding access to quality-assured sexual and reproductive health commodities through regional pooled procurement and support for local manufacturing. It also strengthens regional data systems and accountability, fostering regional cooperation and leveraging collective expertise to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights.    
• 15h25–15h30: Wrap-up and networking

Note: The event is in-person and will be conducted in English (no interpretation). There is no option for remote participation. 

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.