Top Pick for WHO Africa Office

Geneva : 13 May 2025

Africa faces significant health challenges, marked by underinvestment, fragile health systems, and persistent disparities. Addressing these issues requires visionary leadership, strategic investments, and innovative approaches. With over two decades of experience guiding health policy and collaboration across Africa and the world, [Name] has emerged as a pivotal figure shaping the continent’s health future.

A Vision Rooted in Experience and Practicality

Having served as a senior advisor at the World Health Organization in Geneva, [Name] has been deeply involved in formulating health policies that aim to strengthen health systems and improve outcomes. His leadership roles span directing health programs across Africa, advising ministers of health, and managing multinational teams to design and implement impactful health initiatives. Through collaboration with major agencies like the World Bank, European Union, GAVI, and the Global Fund, he has fostered partnerships that bring tangible resources and expertise to health development.

His grounded experience in Guinea—where he managed local health services during the Bamako Initiative era—gives him a nuanced understanding of the realities faced by health systems in challenging environments. This practical insight complements his strategic expertise, enabling him to advocate for reforms that are both ambitious and feasible.

A Strategic Roadmap for the Next Five Years

Looking ahead, [Name] envisions a comprehensive approach centered on six key areas, designed to catalyze immediate impact and foster long-term resilience:

1. A New Deal for Investment:
2. Chronic underfunding hampers progress. To turn the tide, he advocates for a new pact—mobilizing resources, leveraging innovative financing, and fostering partnerships to significantly boost health investment across Africa.
3. Rebuilding Primary Health Care:
4. Primary health care (PHC) remains the foundation of health sovereignty. Revitalizing PHC ensures accessible, quality services that address community needs and build strong, self-reliant health systems.
5. Building Resilient Systems:
6. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities. Resilience involves strengthening surveillance, emergency preparedness, and the capacity to maintain essential health services during crises.
7. Investing in Human Resources: