From 17th to 23rd October 2026, the Africa Health Collaborative (AHC) will hold its Annual Convening, hosted by Amref International University in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme “Africa Unlocked: Co-creating Impactful and Sustainable Youth-led Health Innovations.”
The Convening will bring together young innovators and health leaders, universities, governments, policymakers, development partners, private sector leaders, entrepreneurs and researchers from across Africa to explore practical solutions that strengthen primary health care and create lasting impact.
This year, the spotlight is on Africa’s greatest strength—its young people. Together, participants will explore how youth-led innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration can create jobs, improve access to quality healthcare and build stronger, more resilient health systems across the continent. The Convening serves as the Collaborative’s flagship platform for learning, partnership, and collective action, creating space for ideas, evidence, and innovation to shape the future of health across the continent.
Throughout the week, participants will engage in thought-provoking discussions, share research and practical experiences, showcase innovations, share stories of change, and build partnerships that can help turn promising ideas into sustainable action. The Convening will also spotlight research by emerging scholars and celebrate innovations developed by AHC partners, communities and young entrepreneurs.
The 2026 Convening builds on the success of the 2025 gathering in Kigali, Rwanda, hosted by the African Leadership University, where partners identified shared priorities and made commitments to strengthen Africa’s health workforce and innovation ecosystem. Institutions announced major investments in scholarships, workforce development and innovation infrastructure, while partners committed to expanding cross-institutional exchange programmes, advancing AI-focused health curricula, strengthening shared learning and exploring an African Health Workforce Mobility Framework.
The Africa Health Collaborative continues to strengthen its role as a platform for African-led health solutions. Over the past year, the Collaborative has expanded opportunities for young innovators through initiatives like the Health Innovation Festival (HIFest) and FemSTEM Africa, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors and ecosystem leaders to help transform promising ideas into scalable health solutions. It has also championed inclusive leadership through the Women in Global Health Leadership Fellowship, highlighting the impact of investing in women leaders across Africa’s health systems. At the same time, AHC has continued to amplify young voices and fresh thinking on the future of healthcare through thought leadership that encourages new thinking about building health systems that are more equitable, innovative and responsive to community needs.
The 2026 Annual Convening builds on these achievements. More than a conference, it is a platform for collaboration, learning and action—where ideas become partnerships, evidence shapes policy, and young leaders help drive Africa’s health transformation.
Join us in Nairobi as we unlock Africa’s potential through collaboration, innovation and youth leadership to build stronger, more resilient health systems across Africa.
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