Blog
From Transition Ambition to Investment Reality: Financing the Path to Community Health Sovereignty
Community health financing is at an inflection point. External funding fell sharply in 2025, even as countries showed that political will and coordinated financing can move fast when aligned. On the margins of UNGA81, Africa Frontline First convened Ministries of...
Financing Progress towards Health Sovereignty: Our 2023–2025 Impact Report Is Here
Today, Africa Frontline First is releasing ‘Financing Progress towards Health Sovereignty', a deep-dive into how country-led investment in community health systems is transforming frontline delivery across the continent. Community health workers (CHWs) are among the...
Paving the Way for Domestically Funded Community Health in Guinea
Fatoumata Yarie Diakité became a Community Relay, or RECO, because she wanted to help the people around her. "When I see someone understand a health message or agree to go to the health center, I know my efforts are not in vain," she says. In the rural commune of...
Africa Frontline First and ECSA Health Community formalize regional partnership to strengthen community health worker systems across East, Central, and Southern Africa
Memorandum of understanding and joint action plan signing on the sidelines of the 79th World Health Assembly will mark a commitment to professionalize community health workers as a cornerstone of universal health coverage in the region. GENEVA, 21 MAY 2026 — The East,...
Vision 2030: Building a Sustainable, Government-Owned National Community Health Worker Program in Sierra Leone
For nearly two decades, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has worked alongside the government of Sierra Leone and national health partners to expand access to lifesaving services and strengthen the country’s health system. Since 2005, more than...
In the face of challenge, optimism is a choice—and it’s our responsibility.
A letter from Nan Chen, Co-Executive Director, Africa Frontline First Dear partners, It’s an understatement to say that 2025 has been a challenging year in global health. Early in the year, I found myself deeply discouraged. With so many meaningful gains to health...
Opening remarks delivered by H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, at the End Malaria Council Meeting
Welcome to all of you, and thanks for being here. We meet to reset our course - to push ourselves to fulfil a shared commitment to end malaria, a high-burdened disease. You are all familiar with the statistics: Since 2022, malaria accounts for over 249 million cases,...
Burkina Faso is scaling up digital community health systems through a national roadmap
Burkina Faso has taken a decisive step forward towards strengthening its health system through digitization. From September 8 to 12, 2025, the Ministry of Health convened a high-level workshop in Ouagadougou on the digitization of community health and the integration...
Takeaways from World Health Assembly 78 that are driving our work into the future
“If community health workers are strengthened, all our aspirations in public health will be better served” - Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi Dr. Nishtar’s inspiring call to action echoed what many leaders emphasized at the 78th World Health Assembly: professional...
Encouraging Change – How Catalytic Investment in Community Health Systems Can Support Better Care in Zambia
By the Africa Frontline First Team Speaking in Soli, her native language, Maelesi Nyangu repeatedly used one English word to describe her prenatal care: encouragement. This is thanks to Barbara Mdunulu, the community health worker assigned to her community. As part of...
The End of USAID: A Catalyst for Africa’s Sustainable Community Health Financing Future
Key takeaways The abrupt termination of USAID has had a substantial impact on community health worker programs in Africa. From our rapid assessment of countries, this means up to 50% of community health worker programs are at risk. Fast, coordinated funding is...
Statement from Africa Frontline First on the mpox public health emergency
[September 09, 2024] In response to the World Health Organization and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declaring mpox a public health emergency of international and continental concern, Africa Frontline First affirms its commitment to...
All for Health, Health for All: Collaboration Fuels Progress in Community Health
The global community is convening this week in Geneva, Switzerland for the 77th World Health Assembly. This year’s theme, All for health, health for all, underscores that achieving universal health coverage requires collaboration, which is a cornerstone of Africa...
Statement: Africa Frontline First Launches High-Level Council, Chaired by H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
[May 8, 2024 at 3pm GMT] – Africa Frontline First is honored to announce the launch of its High-Level Council, composed of five influential leaders with a longstanding commitment to community health in Africa. Africa Frontline First is an Africa-led partnership from...
Equipping Countries to Unlock More Financing for Integrated Community Health Programs: The Story of Zambia
Through the National Community Health Strategy, Zambia has committed to improving access to health services at the community level and ensuring that community health workers are skilled and equipped. However, financing remains the primary obstacle to realizing this...
2023 in Review: Transforming Community Health Through Collective Action
A well-known proverb says: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. In 2023, Africa Frontline First prioritized long-term impact and radical collaboration. We chose to go far and to go together. By partnering with regional institutions,...
Keynote Address Delivered by Amb. Lewis Brown at the Special Ministerial Session on Transformative Leadership During CPHIA 2023
Your Excellencies, Honourable Ministers, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen On behalf of Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, I commend the organizers for this 3rd Conference on Public Health in Africa and thank the Government and people of Zambia for their...
Community Health Workers From the Frontlines to the Forefront at UNGA 78
It is often said that 'In the heart of every community, there is work that is noble, valuable, and essential'. At the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 78), community health workers proved this adage right. Their presence was not just...
Protecting Our Health Heroes: Lessons from a New Report on Protecting the Health and Care Workforce.
Amidst the uncertainties of the pandemic, Community Health Workers (CHWs) stood as an inspiring example of resilience. In the heart of communities, they worked tirelessly, yet often overlooked by conventional healthcare systems. In the wake of the unprecedented...
76th World Health Assembly: The Tipping Point for Community Health Workers
The 76th World Health Assembly (WHA) brought together global health leaders and key stakeholders around some of the world's most urgent public health challenges. By the end of this year’s gathering, one message rang loud and clear: the world must invest and support...
Advancing Community Health – Key Takeaways from the 3rd International Community Health Workers Symposium
On the 22nd – 24th of March 2023, something momentous happened that builds on the growing momentum of community health across Africa and around the world. It was the 3rd International Community Health Workers Symposium, where government officials, thought leaders,...
Organizations Urge African Union Summit to Put the Community Health Workforce on the Agenda
Nairobi, Feb. 14, 2023 - The Africa Frontline First initiative and partners urgently call on the leaders attending the 36th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly to prioritize discussions on financing a strong community health workforce on the official...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Africa Frontline First?Africa Frontline First (AFF) is a collaborative initiative that supports the financing and strengthening of integrated community health service delivery to achieve health for all.Through unique partnerships between governments, donors,...