A stethescope./PHOTO; pexels-etatics-inc
East and Southern Africa are poised to benefit from a new regional initiative aimed at strengthening health systems and expanding access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
Launched during the International Conference on Public Health in Africa in Durban, the programme Regional Access and Accountability for Increased SRHR Equity in East and Southern Africa (RAISE SRHR) represents a €19 million investment by Team Europe, the collective effort of the European Union, Germany, and Sweden, working alongside African regional partners and UN agencies.
The initiative underscores a growing recognition that achieving universal health coverage and gender equity requires long-term partnerships that mobilize resources, knowledge, and accountability systems across borders.
Building Stronger Health Systems Through Partnership
RAISE SRHR seeks to improve access to life-saving SRHR services and commodities while strengthening governance and collaboration among key regional actors.
The programme is being implemented in close partnership with the East African Community (EAC), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and several UN agencies including UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, and WHO.
By focusing on both access and accountability, the initiative aims to help countries close persistent health gaps and ensure that regional integration directly benefits local communities.
According to Petra Pereyra, Ambassador of the European Union to Botswana and SADC, the new initiative captures the essence of what Team Europe represents: shared responsibility and collective progress.
“The programme we launch today reflects what Team Europe stands for: partnership, solidarity, and shared ambitions,” said Pereyra. “Together with EU Member States, the East African Community, and the Southern African Development Community, we are investing in health systems that deliver by strengthening data and accountability for sexual and reproductive health and rights, and ensuring access to essential health commodities. This is Team Europe in action collaborating with our African partners, united for equality and human rights for all.”
Strengthening Accountability and Access
RAISE SRHR builds on long-standing European investments in Africa’s health sector under the Africa–EU Health Partnership.
The programme focuses on two interlinked priorities:
- Strengthening data and accountability systems for SRHR, to ensure that decision-making and resource allocation are guided by transparent, evidence-based reporting.
- Supporting equitable access to quality-assured sexual and reproductive health commodities through regional pooled procurement and local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
For Eric Nzeyimana, Principal Health Officer at the East African Community, the launch marks a significant milestone in collective health system resilience.
“The RAISE SRHR Initiative represents a significant milestone in our collective journey to strengthen and sustain resilient health systems across the East African region and beyond,” said Nzeyimana.
“It builds on our ongoing efforts to enhance the use of health data, improve access to quality SRHR commodities, and address persistent inequalities within our health systems.”
He added that the programme’s co-creation with African institutions demonstrates a maturing model of regional ownership one that moves beyond donor dependency toward sustainable governance.
A Moment of Transition for Regional Health Systems
Across Southern Africa, the initiative arrives at a critical time. Many health systems remain under pressure from the shifting architecture of Official Development Assistance (ODA), climate shocks, and the demands of post-pandemic recovery.
Lamboly Kumboneki, Senior Programme Officer at SADC, emphasized that this is a turning point for regional health security.
“This initiative takes place at a crucial moment for our region,” Kumboneki noted.
“The sustainability of health systems in our Member States is at a crossroads, shaken by the new architecture of Official Development Assistance. This programme will support our ambition as a region to build resilient and sustainable health systems by building local and regional capacity and facilitating access to quality and affordable medicines.”
A Catalyst for Local Manufacturing and Gender Equity
The partnership also recognizes that investing in SRHR systems has ripple effects beyond healthcare, driving local industry, innovation, and inclusive economic growth.
Simone Goertz, Head of Economic and Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Gaborone, linked the initiative to Germany’s wider support for regional value chains.
“The pharmaceutical sector is not just an industry; it is a cornerstone of health security and economic resilience,” Goertz said.
“The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of regional production, collaboration, and equitable access to essential medicines. This programme fits well with Germany’s long-standing support for gender equality and for regional value chain development, regulatory harmonisation, and access to finance for pharmaceutical companies.”
Similarly, Elisabeth Hårleman, Head of Development Cooperation for Sweden’s Regional SRHR Team, said the initiative reflects Sweden’s integrated approach to foreign policy and development.
“This programme embodies Sweden’s integrated foreign policy and development cooperation where we team up, within the EU, to ensure a coordinated and efficient engagement with our partners on the African continent,” she said.
“Health and SRHR are prioritised areas for the Swedish Government’s global assistance as they set conditions and circumstances for social, gender, and economic inclusion.”
Partnership
The RAISE SRHR programme exemplifies a form of institutional philanthropy where collective investment translates into social infrastructure.
By pooling resources across nations and sectors, Team Europe and its African partners are creating a model of shared accountability, one that redefines what sustainable giving looks like in global health.
Through evidence-driven collaboration and local empowerment, the initiative reinforces a simple but powerful principle: that equity in health begins with equity in partnership.
