African leaders and innovators have declared that the continent’s future must be shaped by African ingenuity and leadership, whether or not aid is available.
This came at a high-level side event themed; “African-led Innovation: Shaping Sustainable Futures with or without Aid” at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), co-hosted by eHealth Africa, Population Services International (PSI), Population Council and Reach Digital Health as panelists called for a decisive shift from dependency to ownership in the continent’s development agenda.
Moderated by Sierra Leone’s minister of information and civic education, Hon. Chernor Bah, the session brought together a diverse panel, including the founder, HealthCap Africa, Dr. Ola Brown, Speak Up Africa, Fara Ndiaye, Women at Risk International, Dr. Kemi DaSilva Ibru, and others.
“For decades, aid has shaped health, innovation, and development in Africa, but often without African ownership, This is a new era, an era of designing our own future, where African ideas and creativity lead the way,’ Bah said.
Executive Director of eHealth Africa, Atef Fawaz, said some African governments were beginning to prioritise innovation, especially in health technology, expressing optimism that Africa would be among the top 10–20 emerging markets in the next two decades.
He emphasised that “with or without aid” does not mean rejecting partnerships but redefining them.
“It’s not about others bringing ready-made solutions to us, but about co-designing sustainable solutions together. Africa has the ideas, insights, and talent. What we need is complementarity,” he said.
The founder, HealthCap Africa, Dr. Ola Brown, highlighted how private capital is helping to fill Africa’s funding gaps. “When we invest in healthcare innovation in Africa, we don’t just create a healthier continent, we create a healthier world.”
PSI’s Michael Holscher stressed sustainability through local ownership.
“Our projects have timelines. But beyond short-term results, the question is: what happens when we leave?” he asked, “True sustainability rests in the ownership of stakeholders.”
Population Council’s Judith Bruce pressed for inclusivity in innovation. “Too often, ‘community’ is represented by a handful of older men. But where are the adolescent girls? Where are the young women?” she asked.
Digital health featured prominently in the discussions, with Africa CDC’s Nsengimana urging the continent to emulate fintech’s success stories. “M-PESA revolutionised financial inclusion. We need the same leap in health tech,” he said.
Debbie Rogers of Reach Digital Health underscored the importance of user-centered design. “Constraints drive creativity. In Africa, we don’t just work around them, we leapfrog because of them,” she said, citing the success of South Africa’s MomConnect, which has reached five million women.
For eHealth Africa’s leadership, Africa is no longer a passive participant but a driver of global conversations. “It’s an opportunity to not just join conversations but to lead them. With visibility comes influence, and Africa is now influencing global discussions,” said Director of Partnerships and Programs at eHealth Africa, Ota Akhigbe.
