Speak Up Africa Day is an annual flagship event that celebrates leadership, fosters innovation, and strengthens collaboration for health and sustainable development across Africa. Grounded in the conviction that African voices must lead African solutions, Speak Up Africa Day brings together policymakers, civil society, private sector, youth, and community leaders to reflect, connect, and co-create pathways toward a healthier and thriving continent.

The 2025 Edition: Africa Speaks, Africa Solves

Date: October 27, 2025

The second edition of Speak Up Africa Day builds on the foundations of 2024 with a renewed ambition: to move from dialogue to action. With the theme “Africa Speaks, Africa Solves”, this year’s gathering will put the spotlight on locally driven solutions and the voices often left out of decision-making.

Throughout the day, leaders, innovators, community representatives, and partners will come together to:

• Showcase African successes in health and sustainable development, proving that change is possible when ownership is local.
• Unite diverse actors — from governments and businesses to civil society, youth, and media — around a shared responsibility for Africa’s future.
• Shape practical pathways forward by turning lived experiences and evidence into actionable recommendations.

The format will mix inspiration and collaboration:

• A high-level opening with keynote speeches and strategic dialogues on leadership and resilience.
• Interactive co-creation workshops where participants will design proposals on pharmaceutical production, feminist movement-building, and stronger collaboration between media and policymakers.
• A closing session unveiling “The Next 4 Big Ideas” — concrete priorities to guide collective action beyond the Day.

By blending reflection, dialogue, and hands-on collaboration, Speak Up Africa Day 2025 will reaffirm a powerful truth: Africa’s development must be driven from within, anchored in community realities, and sustained by inclusive governance.

The 2024 Edition: Laying the Foundations

The inaugural Speak Up Africa Day, held in 2024 under the theme “Thinking Outside the Box: Celebrating Leadership & Promoting Collaboration and Innovative Solutions for a Healthy and Thriving Africa”, marked a milestone for health advocacy on the continent.

Gathering over 40 organizations, alongside policymakers, civil society leaders, and development partners, the event created a powerful space for learning, partnership-building, and collective action.

It highlighted the urgency of developing homegrown and sustainable solutions. As Dr. Ibrahima Socé Fall (WHO Africa) reminded participants, “Our countries must position themselves with a common voice to influence financing and develop endogenous solutions.”

A strong emphasis was also placed on inclusion and representation. “Women and young people face unique challenges that too often silence their voices. Yet their leadership is essential to shaping fair and effective health policies,” stressed Fatima Sy, President of ASAFE.

Innovation was another core theme, with digital health solutions spotlighted as a path to equity. “Designing digital tools that are adapted to local contexts is crucial to maximize their impact,” said Carolyn Kamasaka (PATH).

From these voices and exchanges emerged concrete outcomes:

• Commitments to stronger domestic health financing: Notably, Benin’s “Zero Malaria Business Initiative”increased national resources allocated to malaria control by 140% in 2023, proving the impact of public–private partnerships.
• Promotion of women and youth leadership: A recognition of the urgent need for inclusive governance in health decision-making processes.
• Advocacy for digital health solutions: Calls to develop accessible, locally adapted tools to expand access in underserved areas.
• Strengthened multisectoral partnerships: Reinforced the importance of governments, civil society, and the private sector working together to achieve sustainable health outcomes.