Connect, Co-create, Learn
with the next generation of African Health Entrepreneurs
About AfyaFest 2025
AfyaFest 2025 is a flagship event of the Africa Health Collaborative—a bold, pan-African platform bringing together young innovators, health entrepreneurs, higher education institutions, health professionals, and private & public sector partners from Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Ethiopia, Senegal, Zambia, and Canada to co-create and scale transformative solutions for primary healthcare (PHC).
This inaugural gathering is your launchpad to turn big ideas into impact. Co-create and accelerate bold, scalable innovations that:
- Improve healthcare access for vulnerable populations
- Create dignified jobs, especially for women and youth
- Integrate solutions into national and regional health systems
- Celebrate African ingenuity and cultural relevance
Hosted by Amref Health Africa

Who Can Participate
Participants will include invited student-led teams and early-stage entrepreneurs from Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Ethiopia, Senegal, Zambia, and Canada—ensuring a rich mix of perspectives and experiences.
- Student-led teams from AHC Partner Universities (apply as established teams with solutions in development).
- AHC-affiliated early-stage health entrepreneurs with a minimum viable product (MVP) and demonstrated traction.
The Experience
Three days. One goal: Transform ideas into impact.
- Inspiring Plenaries & Panels – Hear from youth innovators, sector leaders, and policy influencers on health as an economic driver and the future of primary healthcare in Africa.
- Thematic Tracks & Studio Time – Dive deep into Maternal & Child Health, NCDs & Mental Health, Climate & Health, and Global Health Security through fireside chats, venture “quests,” and one-on-one mentor sessions.
- Masterclasses & Technical Workshops – Build skills in investment readiness, business model development, and navigating policy and regulation for solution adoption.
- Solution Showcases & Pitches – Experience venture storytelling at its best, from live innovation showcases to high-energy pitch sessions before expert juries.
- Networking & Collaboration Spaces – Connect with investors, incubators, government representatives, and fellow changemakers in dedicated networking sessions, dinners, and informal meetups.
- Celebration & Awards – Honour outstanding innovations and close AfyaFest with recognition of the ideas ready to scale across Africa.
FAQ
We’re spotlighting solutions in four urgent health priorities:
- Maternal and Child Health (RMNCAH) – Better access and quality of care for women, children, and adolescents.
- Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) & Mental Health – Prevention tools, patient-centered care, and stigma reduction.
- Climate & Health – Climate-resilient PHC infrastructure, services, and nutrition solutions.
- Global Health Security – Disease surveillance, early warning systems, One Health approaches, and diagnostics.
We’re seeking bold, scalable solutions that can transform PHC in Africa:
- Medical & Biomedical Devices – Affordable tools for screening, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring; indigenous solutions (e.g., traditional medicines) that improve inclusive healthcare access.
- Digital Health Technologies – Telehealth, AI tools, provider training, community engagement platforms, and data innovations for smarter decision-making.
- Service Delivery Innovations – New models that improve care quality, efficiency, and patient experience.
- MSME Models – Community-based enterprises with local relevance and strong growth potential.
- Showcase Your Innovation – Put your solution in front of experts, investors, and potential partners.
- Strengthen Your Business Model – Get real feedback to validate your product-market fit.
- Expand Your Network – Build connections with innovators from Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Ethiopia, Senegal, Zambia, and Canada
- Accelerate Your Growth – Meet policy leaders, funders, and incubators who can help you scale.
Scenes from AfyaFest 2025












More News & Events
Skip scroller content
Emerging Leaders’ Day: From Youth Participation to Youth Influence
Emerging Leaders’ Day will bring together young health leaders from across Africa to build leadership skills, strengthen networks, and influence conversations shaping the future of health systems.

Leading Change Through Lived Experience
Across Africa, an emerging generation of health leaders is transforming personal challenges into powerful innovations. Through the AHC’s Young Leaders Committee, young researchers, entrepreneurs, technologists, and advocates are drawing on lived experiences with illness, caregiving, mental health, and healthcare inequities to design solutions that strengthen health systems and expand access to care.

2027-2028 Doctor of Public Health Scholarships Open
We are pleased to announce the start of the 2027-2028 Mastercard Foundation graduate scholarship recruitment at the University of Toronto. This doctoral scholarship opportunity is open to recent alumni and graduating students at our Africa Health Collaborative partner universities. These graduate scholarships will be awarded to individuals who have demonstrated academic excellence in associated health-related disciplines […]

Health Innovation as a Pathway to Africa’s Health Sovereignty
Join the next HiAS as Dr. Robert Karanja explores how talent, research, investment, policy, and partnerships can unlock Africa’s potential in digital health, biotechnology, and deep-tech innovation.

Apply for Research Seed Grants from Moi University and the University of Toronto
Apply for the Research Seed Grants by Moi University and the University of Toronto. Eligible researchers can receive up to CAD $5,000 in seed funding to strengthen research capacity, generate new knowledge, and foster long-term institutional collaborations.

Ubuntu Rising: A Youth Leadership Summit for Africa’s Health Future
Ahead of the 18th World Congress on Public Health, Ubuntu Rising will bring together young African health leaders, innovators, and changemakers to co-create a shared agenda for youth leadership, employment, and innovation in health across the continent.

Young Leaders Redefining What Health Work in Africa Means
This International Youth Day, read about how the AHC’s young leaders are challenging traditional ideas and reimagining health work, strengthening health systems, and building the future of healthcare across Africa.

Associate Director, AHC Programs
Apply for this senior leadership role with the Africa Health Collaborative (AHC) to lead regional programs, strengthen partnerships, and advance health leadership, education, and innovation across Africa.

Turning Research into Policies that Improve Health and Wellbeing
Join Dr. Collins Okoyo, Principal Statistician at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), as he shares practical lessons on bridging the gap between research and policy, drawing on over a decade of experience in health data science, epidemiology, and disease modelling.

Addis Ababa University and Moi University Formalize Partnership to Advance Africa’s Health Workforce
Addis Ababa University and Moi University have signed a Memorandum of Agreement under the Africa Health Collaborative, establishing a strategic partnership to strengthen health education, research, innovation, and workforce development. The collaboration will create new opportunities for students, researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs across Africa.
