Context

The 3rd International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2023) is a four-day, in-person conference hosted by the Zambian Ministry under the theme “Breaking Barriers: Repositioning Africa in the Global Health Architecture” – a theme that will be explored across nine plenary sessions, several parallel and abstract sessions and dozens of official side events. The conference will provide a unique platform for African researchers, policymakers and stakeholders to come together and share perspectives and research findings in public health while ushering in a new era of strengthened scientific collaboration and innovation across the continent. CPHIA 2023 is the third iteration of the conference, held virtually in 2021 and in person in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2022. Building on the previous year’s convenings, CPHIA 2023 will showcase how the continent is breaking down barriers, reaffirming Africa as a powerhouse in science and innovation, a generator of new knowledge and health products, and an exemplar of progress.

About the Side Event

Developing countries heavily rely on foreign aid to finance their health systems. However, rising economic pressures globally partly due to COVID-19 and reduced external funding call for increased domestic investments to ensure resilient and sustainable health systems for Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Given this reality, beyond mobilizing more financial resources, these countries need government-owned and efficient utilization of their limited resources through strategic and efficient allocation and spending and leveraging resources from private stakeholders using public-private-partnership mechanisms. 

The side event under the theme; “Catalyzing Domestic Investment in Health; Building Resilient Health Systems through Innovative Financing and Strategic Partnerships" is organized by the United Nations Populations Fund in collaboration with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). The side event aligns with the Africa Leadership Meeting (ALM) Declaration and the fourth pillar in the Africa CDC's Vision for a New Public Health Order I.e. Increasing Domestic Investment in Health which calls upon all stakeholders to promote innovative domestic financing mechanisms including public-private partnerships.