• The AU and Global Fund signed an MoU to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
• The deal aims to strengthen health systems and boost local resource mobilization.
• It supports the AU’s 2030 goal to eliminate major diseases across the continent.

The African Union (AU) and the Global Fund have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to eliminate AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, while strengthening health systems, increasing domestic resource mobilization, and promoting health security and sustainable development in Africa.

Signed on October 3, 2025, the MoU also seeks to enhance healthcare systems and health security through greater local resource mobilization.

“This collaboration will drive digital innovation, strengthen health infrastructure, and promote resilient and inclusive health systems that meet the needs of all Africans,” said Ambassador Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah, AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development.

The agreement focuses on several key areas, including promoting national health financing reforms through Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and regional health financing hubs, as well as developing coordinated responses to emerging health threats and biological resistance.

Africa’s health systems face persistent challenges. According to the UNDP, the continent has yet to complete its epidemiological transition and must tackle a dual challenge: eradicating endemic diseases such as AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, while addressing the rise of chronic diseases.

A report by the African Development Bank (AfDB) also highlights limited access to quality healthcare and inadequate medical infrastructure. The institution estimates that health-related issues cost Africa about $2.4 trillion in lost productivity each year.

These challenges are compounded by cuts in international aid introduced under the Trump administration, which could create major funding gaps in healthcare services across several low-income African countries. According to the United Nations, some countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, have already increased or plan to increase their health budgets to address these gaps.

This AU–Global Fund partnership is part of the African Union’s strategic program to end AIDS and tuberculosis and eliminate malaria by 2030, through integrated strategies and sustainable financing mechanisms.