- The Africa Health Collaborative to Host Ubuntu Rising Ahead of the 18th World Congress on Public Health
Nothing about us, without us
As Africa’s health systems evolve, young people must have a voice not only in the future we imagine, but in the decisions that shape it.
The Africa Health Collaborative (AHC) will host Ubuntu Rising, a youth-led summit and working session on 5 September 2026 ahead of the 18th World Congress on Public Health (WCPH) in Cape Town. The event will bring together young African health professionals, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, alongside representatives from AHC partner institutions to develop a shared agenda for strengthening youth leadership, employment, and innovation in health.
Through the Africa Health Collaborative, leading universities, the Mastercard Foundation and health ecosystem partners are helping young health professionals move from education to employment, entrepreneurship, and leadership by expanding access to mentorship, innovation programs, funding opportunities, and professional networks.
Ubuntu Rising builds on this work by giving young leaders a platform to shape the policies and priorities that will define the future of health across the continent. The recommendations developed during the session will form the AHC Youth Agenda, ensuring youth voices inform the Collaborative’s advocacy, partnerships, and programs long after the event.
What to Expect
Ubuntu Rising is designed as a working session—not simply a conference event. Participants will work together to identify priorities, challenge assumptions, and develop practical recommendations.
The event will feature collaborative dialogue and action-oriented discussions with young people focused on three priority areas:
- Youth Leadership: Strengthening pathways for young people to participate meaningfully in health systems leadership.
- Youth Employment: Identifying actionable approaches to expand meaningful employment opportunities across the health sector.
- Youth Innovation: Identifying priorities that enable young entrepreneurs and innovators to develop and scale solutions for Africa’s health challenges.
The Output: The AHC Youth Agenda
The ideas, priorities, and recommendations emerging from the session will contribute to an AHC Youth Agenda. The Agenda will provide a reference point for future AHC programming, partnerships, and engagement with stakeholders across the wider health ecosystem.
Event Details
- Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026
- Venue: The Westin Cape Town
- Time: 08:30 SAST
- Context: Held immediately before the 18th World Congress on Public Health (6–9 September 2026, CTICC, Cape Town).
Who Should Attend?
We welcome
- Young health professionals, researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs.
- Representatives from AHC partner institutions and leadership.
- Policymakers, academics, and civil society stakeholders championing youth-led change.
Please note: Attendance at Ubuntu Rising is limited to delegates registered for the 18th World Congress on Public Health.
Register
Secure your place and join the next generation of African health leaders as they shape a shared vision for stronger, more inclusive health systems.
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