By Cecilia Chiluba/Zambia/Lusaka
Medicines Research and Access Platform (MedRAP) Zambia, has called on African countries to adopt a common continental position in response to evolving global health reforms, with emphasis on safeguarding health sovereignty and strengthening collective bargaining power.
Speaking at the inaugural Continental Conference for Non-State Actors on Demographic Dividend and Reproductive Health being held in Lusaka-Zambia, MedRAP Executive Director, Liyoka Liyoka, said Africa must present a unified voice in global health negotiations.
Mr. Liyoka warned that fragmented national approaches weaken the continent’s influence, noting that lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic remain relevant.
“Lessons from COVID-19 are still vivid and substantially compelling for Africa to respond to international developments by negotiating from a standpoint of continental unity,” he said.
He emphasized the need to prioritize health as both a security and economic issue.
“There is a dire need for all of us to position health as a critical security and economic issue for each of our countries and the entire continent,” Mr. Liyoka stated.
Mr. Liyoka further stressed that a unified African voice is essential in shaping global health reforms.
“This conference provides a Pan-African platform for advocating for a unified African voice in global health reforms which threaten the health sovereignty of the entire African region,” he noted.
He added that collective action would strengthen Africa’s position in global negotiations.
“This is only possible if Africa develops a collective African Union position on global health agreements,” Mr. Liyoka stressed. “We must position Africa first in the global health architecture by advocating for a unified African voice in global reforms to leverage the negotiating landscape of individual states.”
And University of Zambia (UNZA) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mundia Muya said realizing Africa’s demographic dividend requires deliberate and sustained investments in health, education and skills development.
Prof. Muya reaffirmed the University’s commitment to advancing knowledge, research and innovation that respond to Africa’s most pressing development challenges.
“As a university, we recognize that our role extends beyond teaching. We are a hub for evidence generation, policy engagement and capacity building. Through research and partnerships, we contribute to shaping policies and interventions that are grounded in data and responsive to community needs,” he added. “We reaffirm our commitment to supporting efforts that promote health, empower young people, and strengthen systems.”
Over 250 delegates from across Africa have convened in Lusaka for the inaugural Continental Conference for Non-State Actors (NSA) on Demographic Dividend and Reproductive Health, taking place from 8 to 10 April, 2026.
The three-day high-level conference has been organized by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) in partnership with the African Union Commission, Medicines Research and Access Platform (MedRAP), UNAIDS and the University of Zambia (UNZA).
The meeting aims to mobilize Non-State Actors, including Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs), development partners and private sector stakeholders, to accelerate Africa’s demographic dividend through coordinated policy advocacy, programme alignment, South-South Cooperation (SSC)-based knowledge sharing and strengthened social protection initiatives.
A key outcome of the conference is the Lusaka 2026 Call for Action/Declaration, which seeks to formalize the role of NSAs as strategic partners while setting continental commitments, performance metrics and accountability frameworks.
