Ahaki

The Role of Development Finance Institutions in advancing Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa
2024-10-23 16:00 - 17:00 (Africa/Kampala)
A crucial discussion on advancing vaccine manufacturing in Africa takes centre stage at the 2024 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC.
Join us tomorrow as we explore how development finance institutions can strengthen Africa’s vaccine manufacturing capabilities, featuring insights from leaders in global health, policy, and innovation.
Our distinguished panel will dive deep into sustainable financing models, technology transfer, and building resilient healthcare systems.

Don’t miss this important dialogue on shaping the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa!

Register via: https://lnkd.in/dAm98qiG
hashtag#WBGMeetings hashtag#IMFMeetings

Launch of the Resilience Action Network Africa (RANA) Uganda Working Group
2024-09-18 09:00 - 12:00
A unique opportunity to discuss, explore, and collaborate on key priority issues on climate, finance, health, gender, nutrition, and issues vital to individual and community resilience within Uganda and beyond. Join us for the launch of the Uganda Working Group under Resilience Action Network Africa (RANA), an independent, cross-cutting African civil society advocacy network focused on strengthening Africa’s resilience to work on the issues above.

KELIN EXCHANGE LEARNING VISIT
2024-09-11 08:00 - 2024-09-13 17:00
Cross-learning on reproductive justice litigation in Africa is essential for strengthening our capacity and that of our partners. By sharing knowledge and experiences, we learn from each other and enhance our ability to advance reproductive justice. We look forward to having the KELIN Kenya team at Afya na Haki for this valuable exchange.

ULS ANNUAL LAW CONFERENCE BREAK-OUT SESSION
2024-08-30 14:00 - 15:00
Are courts the key to unlocking better health outcomes? Join us for a thought-provoking breakout session on the justiciability of the right to health at the Uganda Law Society Annual Law Conference. We’ll delve into how courts can be instrumental in advancing maternal and reproductive health. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn, unlearn, relearn, and contribute to this critical conversation.

X-SPACE on the Role of Courts in Advancing Maternal and Reproductive Health
2024-08-16 17:00 - 19:00
The Judiciary plays a critical role in ensuring reproductive justice and broader health rights. Regional perspectives following the national colloquium on maternal and reproductive health and the law were shared. This X Space fostered knowledge sharing and learning from across the continent and beyond.

Reproductive Justice Litigation Baraza 2024
2024-08-15 08:00 - 2024-08-17 17:00
Africa’s only Reproductive Justice Litigation Baraza is back! This annual event, hosted by Afya na Haki and partners, is a strategic space where a diverse group of reproductive justice litigation experts from across the continent meet to sharpen their litigation knowledge and skills to propel the realization of reproductive justice in Africa.
Stay tuned for more details!
#LitigationBaraza2024 #LIRAProgramme

NATIONAL COLLOQUIUM ON MATERNAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND THE LAW
2024-08-08 14:30 - 18:00
Theme: “The Role of Courts in Advancing Maternal and Reproductive Health”
Watch on YouTube via > https://www.youtube.com/live/gxYz_qwe3m4?si=LjpvrZYjCd-cvka3

Side Event on Strategic Litigation for Advancing Adolescents Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (AYSRHR) in East Africa
2024-06-20 15:00 - 16:00
Objectives of the Side Event
The general objective of the side event is to advance adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health and rights (ASRHR) in the East African Community (EAC) by leveraging strategic litigation and legal reform to dismantle systemic barriers and promote culturally relevant, Africentric solutions. The specific objectives of the side event are to:
1. Unpack the key findings from the baseline study on litigation in the EAC, highlighting opportunities where strategic litigation can dismantle systemic barriers to ASRHR and advance reproductive justice.
2. Integrate diverse perspectives, including legal, research, and youth voices, to inform a holistic approach to AYSRHR litigation strategies.
3. Showcase 2-3 successful cases of strategic litigation in the EAC, that have advanced reproductive justice, analyzing the strategies employed and their impacts.
4. Facilitate a multi-stakeholder dialogue to identify roles, contributions, and pathways for leveraging strategic litigation to promote AYSRHR in the EAC region.
Expected Outcomes
1. A summary report capturing the baseline study findings, priority areas for litigation, and recommended strategies from the panel discussions.
2. A youth advisory group, comprising engaged youth representatives, to ensure continued youth inputs and perspectives on AYSRHR litigation.
3. An initial multi-stakeholder roadmap outlining the potential roles, responsibilities, and collaborative actions required to operationalize strategic litigation for AYSRHR across the EAC.
4. A case study compilation documenting successful litigation examples discussed during the event, including analysis of strategies employed, impacts, and lessons learned for replication.
Register to attend via: https://forms.office.com/r/WEHSGr1TuV

Research Dissemination: Advancing Pharmaceutical and Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa
2024-03-14 14:00 - 18:00

Stakeholder Dialogue on Digital Health in Uganda
2023-12-14 08:00 - 14:00
This critical dialogue will provide a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and strategizing among key stakeholders in the digital health landscape. Together, they will discuss challenges, harness opportunities and harmonize perspectives for an inclusive and trustworthy digital health environment.

Register to attend online via: http://tinyurl.com/2s9ynamu

Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) 2023
2023-11-23 13:00 - 2023-11-30 14:30
Side Event: This side event was typically led by experts who shared valuable insights on how to ensure that regional production of health products meets the needs and demands of Africa. Click HERE to watch how it went
Poster Presentation ➡️ Back to the Roots CPHIA 2023 poster presentation

X Space on Access to health for all through National Health Insurance schemes
2023-10-24 18:00 - 20:00

Side Event during the 77th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People's Rights, Arusha, Tanzania
2023-10-23 17:30 - 18:30
This side event aims to assess the impact of the Maputo Protocol on SRHR and NCDs litigation at national and regional levels. A wide array of experts will discuss the achievements, opportunities, and strategies for strengthening the use of the Maputo Protocol to achieve reproductive justice.
#ACHPR77
Register to join via: https://tinyurl.com/3k8psa2a
Side Event Agenda
Side Event Concept Note

The role of African judges in shaping policy on SRHR using an Africentric approach
2023-09-14 18:00 - 20:00

X Space on Enhancing the role of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Associations in Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa
2023-09-13 17:00 - 19:00

Regional meeting on Enhancing the role of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Associations in Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa
2023-09-12 09:30 - 2023-09-13 17:00
Introduction
The Medicines Transparency Alliance (MeTA) Uganda in collaboration with Afya na Haki held a regional meeting on vaccine manufacturing in Africa. The meeting took place at Lake Victoria Hotel in Entebbe, Uganda from 12th -13th September 2023.
Background
The “Africentric Advocacy and Research Approaches to Advancing Regional Vaccine Manufacturing and Access in Africa (ARMA-Programme)” is a civil society-led initiative implemented by a consortium of organizations led by Afya na Haki. ARMA-Programme aims to support policy advocacy on regional manufacturing of vaccines in Africa through well-developed research and coordinated regional advocacy to inform policy formulation on local vaccine manufacturing and access in Africa.
Meeting Objective
To strengthen the role of pharmaceutical manufacturers’ associations in providing a coordinated private sector voice for vaccine manufacturing in Africa.
Participants
Policymakers from WHO, Africa CDC, AUDA-NEPAD, Government departments including Ministries of Health, Trade, Regional Affairs, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations, Civil Society Organisations.

Summer school on Digital Health
2023-09-07 08:00 - 17:00
Afya na haki is collaborating with the University of Warwick to implement a project titled “There is no app for this! Regulating the migration of health apps in sub-Saharan Africa.” As part of this project, the University of Warwick held a summer school with the project implementing partners to discuss regulatory and policy perspectives on digital health at the School of Law at the University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. Our role in the project being research and activism in Uganda, we presented on activism in the digital health and human rights space in Uganda, where we shared the history of activism in Uganda, success stories on activism in the areas of maternal health and SRHR, and highlighted critical lessons for digital health activism.
“Activists need to occupy policy spaces to contribute to the development of legal and policy frameworks that are responsive to the digital health needs of the community and respectful of human rights” – Nsereko Ibrahim, Head of Advocacy Capacity Enhancement, Afya na Haki at the Summer school
This work is supported with funding from the Wellcome Trust.

Launch of the Partnerships for Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) Documentary
2023-08-23 14:00 - 17:00
This investigative piece documented the perspectives of practitioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders on local vaccine manufacturing in the region and governments’ implementation of the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) framework. The documentary will be used as a regional advocacy tool to inform the development and design of strategic and impactful campaigns that will advance and support market shaping for Diagnostic Vaccines and Therapeutics (DVTs) in Africa.

The Inaugural Regional Reproductive Justice Litigation Baraza
2023-08-07 08:00 - 2023-08-10 17:00
Presentations:
Africentric Approaches to Reproductive Justice in the EAC Region
Afya na Haki (Ahaki) is implementing the Litigating Reproductive Justice in Africa (LIRA) Programme which aims to establish, strengthen and sustain a regional network of stakeholders invested in progressive. evidence-based and collaborative litigation for access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SHR) in Africa. Ahaki has collaborated with Makerere University Human Rights and Peace Centre to organise an Inaugural Regional Baraza. This Baraza will bring together experts and specialists on all issues related to reproductive justice to develop and execute an SHR litigation agenda grounded in the reproductive justice paradigm.
For the past several years, Africa has witnessed a steady stream of jurisprudence that is expanding the frontiers on legal access to SHR and reproductive justice. Courts operating in varied normative and sociocultural contexts have delivered a medley of positive landmark rulings interpreting and clarifying the application of reproductive rights and freedoms within their jurisdictions.
However, focus on individual rights might not necessarily lead to broader social and political change required to create a safe and enabling environment for enjoyment of reproductive rights.
Consequently, the paradigm of reproductive justice which seeks to understand and account for the realities that structure women and men’s sexual and reproductive lives differently with varying outcomes must be championed.
OBJECTIVES
1. Frame an Africentric reproductive justice litigation agenda.
2. To design a reproductive justice framework that contextually resonates with the legal systems in Atrica.
3. To support ongoing and new strategic litigation to serve as a catalyst for progressive administrative and institutional action.
AGENDA
CONCEPT NOTE
Regional Reproductive Justice Litigation Alliance Consensus document

Masterclass Webinar
2023-08-02 15:00 - 17:00

WOMEN DELIVER: The role of courts in realising Reproductive Justice in Africa
2023-07-18 18:00 - 20:00

Side event at the Women Deliver Conference
2023-07-18 07:00 - 08:30
Join us at the 6th Women Deliver Conference during our side event on “Litigating Reproductive Justice: Reimagining an Africentric Approach.”
CLICK TO VIEW THE SIDE EVENT AGENDA

Regional Conference on Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa
2023-06-13 08:00 - 2023-06-14 17:00
Watch the event video:

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD OR PREVIEW: COMMUNIQUE FROM THE REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON VACCINE MANUFACTURING IN AFRICA

Event Photos:

Download Presentations:

How CSOs can do advocacy to ramp vaccine manufacturing in Africa –
Pharmaceuticals legal and institutional reforms
Vaccine manufacturing Rwanda and Uganda –
The state of vaccine manufacturing-Africa CDC
Pharma Manufacturing Assoc.

Background:
For more than a century, vaccine Research and Development (R&D) and manufacturing have been concentrated in Europe, India and the United States. Until recently, there were only 10 vaccine manufacturers across five African countries –Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia jointly producing a tiny fraction of the continent’s needs. Africa’s vaccine manufacturing capacity does not match the severity of its vaccine-preventable disease burden. With the inability to produce its own, Africa has ended up at the back of the queue for lifesaving vaccines like the coronavirus jabs where less than 12% of the African population is fully vaccinated compared with about 71% of the population in Europe.
This underdevelopment may be attributed to various factors including; a) the unfavourable and inadequate policies and regulatory frameworks at national, regional, continental and global levels that do not holistically support vaccine manufacturing; b) limited efforts by African states to pool resources especially technical skills and financial resources which persistently weakens the development of health sector innovations, research, development and industrialization on the continent; and c) limited financing that further restricts the capacity of the National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) to enact appropriate frameworks to regulate and support vaccine manufacturing. These inevitably stifle African-based initiatives in vaccine manufacturing.
Key stakeholders, especially the Civil Society movements in Africa, and academia play a significant role in advancing manufacturing initiatives on the continent; however, they significantly lack the capacity to proactively engage policy makers to demand support towards vaccine development initiatives that would foster sustainable vaccine manufacturing in Africa.
It is upon this background that Afya na Haki (Ahaki) under the Africentric Advocacy and Research Approaches to Advancing Regional Vaccine Manufacturing and Access in Africa (ARMA-PROGRAMME) will convene a Regional Conference on Vaccine Manufacturing in Africa to draw on Africentric evidence, experiences and expertise to advance vaccine manufacturing in Africa.
Objectives
The objectives of the regional conference are;

To discuss the state of vaccine manufacturing in Africa and Africa’s preparedness for the future pandemics
To understand the role of civil society and other key players in advancing vaccine manufacturing in Africa.
To benchmark on the experiences and best practices from the various research and regional advocacy initiatives that will inform the regional advocacy and policy agenda on vaccine manufacturing in Africa.

Expected outcomes;

Increased policy debate on sustainable vaccine manufacturing in Africa for regional and global health security.
Unified regional and global voices towards addressing the existing gaps in ensuring that Africa is prepared for the future pandemics.

Participants:
The regional conference will bring together key players from Eastern, Western and Southern Africa including the African Union, academic, civil society, policy makers from relevant government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), pharmaceutical manufacturers associations, development partners, media and among others.

Exploratory Think Tank on Data Governance during Public Health Emergencies in Uganda
2023-05-11 11:00 - 15:00
The exploratory think tank aimed to invite and engage a range of experts and stakeholders working in the space of digital health in Uganda (including tech industries, civil society, and academia) for knowledge exchange and partnership building in considering the challenges and experiences of digital data governance observed during COVID-19 in Uganda.

Partners' Training on Reproductive Justice Litigation in Africa
2023-04-27 08:00 - 13:00
THEME: “Reframing SRHR Litigation from Reproductive Choice to Reproductive Justice”
Background
Afya na Haki (Ahaki) is implementing a programme titled “Litigating Reproductive Justice in Africa (LIRA)” which aims at establishing, strengthening and sustaining a regional network advancing reproductive justice litigation to ensure access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Africa. This programme fronts the shift from reproductive choice to reproductive justice in advancing SRHR in the region through the utilisation of national, sub-regional and regional litigation among others. The programme interventions are therefore, purposively designed towards achieving an environment where Africa embraces reproductive justice through progressive, evidence-based and collaborative litigation for access to SRHR.
Through the LIRA programme, Ahaki enhances the capacities of African organisations/ individuals towards litigating access to SRHR, utilising various interventions including conducting tailored training. It is against this background that this training will focus on fostering an in-depth understanding of a shift from reproductive choice to reproductive justice.
Objectives
1. To foster a deeper understanding of the shift from Reproductive Choice to Reproductive Justice in framing SRHR litigation.
2. To provide a platform for sharing experiences on SRHR Litigation in Africa
Methodology
The training will be delivered by experts through interactive physical and virtual sessions.
Outcome
Partners capacitated on the shift from Reproductive Choice to Reproductive Justice.

Virtual CLE Training
2023-04-20 08:00 - 13:00

Digital health data management among the young in Uganda
2023-03-30 08:30 - 14:00 | Ahaki, Nakwero, Uganda

Twitter space: The Africa Health Agenda: Is Africa ready for a future pandemic
2023-03-06 18:00 - 20:00
Theme: “Is Africa ready for the next pandemic?”
Background
Africa, a continent of 54 countries with about 1.2 billion people, produces only 1% of the vaccines it administers. The remaining 99% are imported. Most come from international procurement mechanisms, such as one organised through the United Nations children’s charity UNICEF[1]. Until recently, there were only ten vaccine manufacturers across five African countries –Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia – jointly producing a tiny fraction of the continent’s needs. Most of these countries have undertaken so-called fill-and-finish packaging and labelling with very limited upstream production of antigen formulations, principally due to a lack of local scientific capacity, along with weaknesses in the commodity supply chain. These obstacles need to be removed for the independence and sustainability of production in Africa. Other key barriers include regulatory hindrances, powerful trade blocs, scarcity of potential purchasers, competition with subsidised markets, political instability, geographical and logistical challenges, lack of sustainable financing mechanisms and low economic purchasing power.
Africa’s vaccine manufacturing capacity does not match the severity of its vaccine-preventable disease burden. With the inability to produce its own, Africa has ended up at the back of the queue for lifesaving vaccines like the coronavirus jabs. The figures speak for themselves: Less than 12% of the African population is fully vaccinated compared with about 71% of the population in Europe. The COVID-19 pandemic systematically exposed these weaknesses and flaws in current health systems of different countries on the African continent. It also further exposed the looming inequitable access to health and the strong influence of the Global North on the health systems in Africa.
Africa’s position in the current global health environment is critical as is evidenced by the underdeveloped capacity of member states to conduct Afrocentric research, development and manufacturing of vaccines. Continental oversight bodies lack the necessary resources to institutionalize vaccine development and are heavily reliant on the Global North.
The Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC2023)brings together most prominent African voices that will challenge the status quo and find solutions for building resilient health systems in Africa. In a time where many global health convening systemically discriminate and diminish the contributions of Africans, AHAIC is committed to be global south inclusive.
It is upon this background that Ahaki is convening a virtual side event to bring together prominent practitioners, advocates, policy makers, activists among other stakeholders in the field of vaccine research and development and advocacy to contribute to the on-going conversations on sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa for Global health security and Africa’s readiness for the next pandemic.
Objectives of the side event;
To contribute to the ongoing conversations on sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa for Global health security.
To assess Africa’s readiness for the next pandemic through sharing regional experiences and possible solutions to addressing the existing gaps.
Outcome
Increased policy debate on sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa for Global health security.
Unified regional and global voices towards addressing the existing gaps in ensuring Africa is prepared for the next pandemic.
Delivery of the side event and target audience
The side event will be convened virtually through a Twitter space conversation. This Space will target prominent practitioners, advocates, policymakers, and activists, among other stakeholders in the field of vaccine research and development and advocacy.
Date and duration of the side event
Monday 6th March 2023 (6 – 8p.m EAT).

Twitter Space- Dealing with 87-year-old public health legislation in contemporary times: A Critical Review of Uganda's Public Health Act and Public Health (Amendment) Act
2022-12-13 17:00 - 19:00
Many countries have relied on colonial legislation for a long time but have reformed existing public health laws to address contemporary issues. Did Uganda’s Public Health Amendment Act address these?
