Africa CDC x Informa Markets: Scaling Public Health Leadership Across the Continent

In January 2026, Africa took a bold step toward global health leadership. On 14 January 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya and Mr. Peter Hall, President of Informa Markets for Middle East, India, Türkiye & Africa, formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand the Africa CDC International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) and other flagship gatherings.

For Tropiki readers, curious about Africa’s innovation, leadership and global connectivity, this is more than an announcement. It is a story of African expertise meeting world-class platforms, where ideas cross borders as swiftly as planes through the continent’s busiest airports.

A Meeting of Expertise and Experience

Dr. Jean Kaseya describes the collaboration as “an opportunity to spotlight African expertise while connecting our innovators to global audiences.” She emphasized that Africa CDC retains full scientific, strategic and convening leadership, with Informa Markets providing international event expertise to expand reach and impact.

Mr. Peter Hall said, “Working with Africa CDC allows us to expand Africa’s reach and showcase its solutions on a global stage.” With over 50 years of experience organizing healthcare events, including the World Health Expo, Informa Markets brings credibility, scale and operational know-how to the partnership.

Anchored in Continental Priorities

This collaboration explicitly ties into Africa CDC’s 2023–2027 Strategic Plan and the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty (AHSS) agenda, reinforcing it as part of long-term continental health objectives. CPHIA serves as Africa’s premier forum where policy meets science and innovation meets action, connecting leaders and innovators from across the continent.

CPHIA: History, Scale and Impact

Since its launch in December 2021, CPHIA has convened four successful editions, each building momentum and influence across Africa’s public health landscape. The upcoming fifth edition in 2026, hosted in Addis Ababa, is expected to draw thousands of delegates, including Heads of State, Ministers of Health, researchers, frontline health workers, private-sector leaders and international institutions.

The partnership seeks to:

Empower African innovators: Early-career scientists, public health professionals and startups gain mentorship, visibility and investment opportunities.
Build cross-border collaboration: Leaders from Nairobi to Lagos to Johannesburg align on disease control, pandemic preparedness and health security strategies.
Spotlight African leadership: African solutions to public health challenges are presented with the scale and reach they deserve.

Stories Behind the Stats

Picture a young epidemiologist from Accra presenting malaria surveillance findings to global experts or a Nairobi-based startup demoing an AI-powered disease-tracking app to policymakers and investors. These are the human stories behind the partnership, real people shaping Africa’s health future.

A Sensory Glimpse of CPHIA

Step into the conference hall: conversations buzzing in multiple languages, digital displays flashing cutting-edge research, hands clasped in greeting and live sessions streaming across continents. Workshops are dynamic and charged with energy, filled with debates, laughter and collaborative breakthroughs. For attendees, the experience is immersive part classroom, part expo, part innovation festival.

Faces of CPHIA

A snapshot of the people who embody this partnership:

Young Scientists: Presenting groundbreaking research.
Tech Entrepreneurs: Showcasing digital health solutions.
Policy Leaders: Ministers and advisors aligning strategies.
Community Health Workers: Sharing insights from the frontlines.
Global Partners: International experts collaborating with African peers.

About Africa CDC & Informa Markets

Africa CDC is an autonomous agency of the African Union, supporting member states in disease surveillance, emergency response and health security.
Informa Markets operates 450+ international brands in over 30 countries, offering platforms across healthcare, trade and data services. Their expertise in organizing global healthcare events ensures CPHIA’s impact resonates worldwide.

Looking Forward

As Africa faces emerging and persistent health challenges from infectious diseases to climate-linked outbreaks, collaborations like this demonstrate that African solutions are not just participating in global health; they are leading it.

For Tropiki readers, it’s a reminder that innovation, connection and opportunity thrive not only in tech hubs or safari lodges but also in labs, conference halls and communities across Africa, shaping the continent’s health future.

Closing Punch

As Africa confronts both emerging and persistent health challenges, from infectious diseases to climate-linked outbreaks, collaborations like this demonstrate that African solutions are not just part of the global health conversation, they are shaping it. For Tropiki readers, it’s a reminder that innovation and leadership thrive in labs, conference halls and communities across the continent. Africa is not following — it is leading.