By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, June 10, 2026 - Kenya is hosting health leaders and policymakers from across Africa this week for the Africa Constituency Bureau (ACB) Global Fund Cluster-Based Learning Workshop, a forum aimed at strengthening coordination, sharing best practices, and advancing sustainable financing for health programmes across the continent.
The meeting has brought together representatives from African countries to discuss strategies for enhancing access to healthcare funding while reducing reliance on external support for critical public health interventions.
Speaking during the opening session in Nairobi, Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni praised the Africa Constituency Bureau for its role in strengthening Africa's voice and participation in the governance of the Global Fund.
She noted that the workshop provides an important platform for African countries to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and develop solutions to emerging health financing challenges.
"The Africa Constituency Bureau has played a critical role in ensuring that African countries effectively participate in decision-making processes within the Global Fund, helping shape policies that respond to the continent's unique health needs," Muthoni said.
The Principal Secretary highlighted Kenya's long-standing partnership with the Global Fund, describing it as one of the country's most significant health sector collaborations over the past two decades.
Since joining the partnership in 2002, Kenya has received substantial support to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, contributing to major improvements in public health outcomes.
Muthoni said Global Fund investments have helped expand access to life-saving medicines, strengthen health systems, improve disease surveillance and support prevention and treatment programmes across the country.
She noted that the partnership has played a key role in reducing the burden of HIV, TB and malaria, three diseases that continue to pose significant public health challenges across Africa.
The PS also updated delegates on Kenya's preparations for the Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 funding request, saying the government had made significant progress in developing a proposal that reflects the country's priority health needs.
According to Muthoni, the process has involved extensive consultations with stakeholders through an inclusive country dialogue framework, as well as comprehensive gap analyses to identify funding and service delivery needs.
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She said a draft funding request has already been developed in line with the agreed roadmap and national health priorities.
As countries increasingly face pressure to sustain health programmes amid changing global financing landscapes, Muthoni emphasized the need for stronger domestic resource mobilization and innovative financing mechanisms.
She reaffirmed the Kenyan government's commitment to increasing budgetary allocations to the health sector and strengthening co-financing arrangements to guarantee continuity of essential health services.
"The sustainability of health programmes requires greater domestic investment and stronger partnerships. Kenya remains committed to increasing health sector financing and ensuring that critical services continue to reach those who need them most," she said.
The workshop comes at a time when many African countries are seeking strategies to strengthen health systems resilience, expand universal health coverage and secure sustainable financing for disease control programmes.
Delegates are expected to discuss lessons learned from previous Global Fund cycles, financing innovations, governance reforms and approaches to improving accountability and impact in health investments.
The Africa Constituency Bureau serves as a platform for African countries to coordinate positions and strengthen engagement with the Global Fund, which remains one of the world's largest financiers of programmes targeting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
Health experts attending the workshop said stronger regional collaboration and increased domestic financing will be critical in safeguarding gains made against infectious diseases while building more resilient healthcare systems across Africa.