WHO convenes first Africa Health Data Forum in Nairobi to drive coordinated action

Nairobi, Kenya – The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to host the inaugural Africa Health Data Forum in the Kenyan capital from November 10–12, 2026. The three-day gathering aims to bolster health information systems across Africa by fostering country-driven priorities, investment, and enhanced collaboration among development partners.

The forum will convene a diverse group of stakeholders, including African Member States, international organizations, technical and financial institutions, academia, civil society, and the private sector. Their collective mission is to address health data system deficiencies on the continent, rather than merely proposing new recommendations.

WHO emphasizes that the forum will facilitate the sharing of country-specific experiences, innovations, and practical solutions, while pinpointing areas where additional technical assistance, financing, and partnerships are needed. Participants are expected to deliberate on how WHO and development partners can collaborate to tackle shared and region-specific challenges in health data management.

A primary objective of the forum is to improve coordination among partners and ensure that technical and financial resources align with national priorities, thereby enabling a transformation of health information systems from a country-led perspective. Discussions will also focus on fostering knowledge exchange, innovation, and collaboration, incorporating successful approaches from select countries that could be adapted to other settings.

The forum is being orchestrated as WHO endeavors to advance health data transformation through investment, innovation, and partnership, under the overarching theme of "Better Data, Better Health for All."