Smart Africa, a pan-African initiative driving Africa’s digital transformation, has signed a Strategic Cooperation Framework on Digital Health with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, marking a major milestone in the continent’s journey toward improved healthcare through digital innovation.
Building a Secure and Ethical Health Data Ecosystem Across Africa
This landmark agreement aims to strengthen health data systems in Africa by supporting the creation of an African Health Data Space—a secure, value-driven, and ethical ecosystem for cross-border health data exchange. The goal is to ensure that health data can flow seamlessly, safely, and with purpose, aligning with international standards for data protection, interoperability, and ethical use.
By enabling the secure sharing of health information across African countries and healthcare systems, the initiative seeks to improve the quality of care, data-driven decision-making, and health policy outcomes for more than a billion people across the continent.
“Today is more than just the signing of a document — it is the beginning of something transformational. Through this partnership, we are laying the foundation for the African Health Data Space: a future where health data flows securely, ethically, and with purpose, across borders, across sectors, and for the benefit of every African citizen,”
— Lacina Koné, CEO, Smart Africa
Key Focus Areas of the Strategic Cooperation
The collaboration between Smart Africa and GIZ focuses on several critical pillars of digital health development in Africa:
- Enhancing Health Data Interoperability: Promoting seamless data integration across platforms and institutions to support holistic patient care and efficient health system management.
- Establishing Ethical and Responsible Data Governance: Developing robust policy frameworks that safeguard personal health information while enabling responsible data use for research, planning, and treatment.
- Boosting Innovation in Digital Health: Creating an enabling environment for healthtech startups, public health institutions, and international partners to collaborate and scale digital solutions across the continent.
- Promoting Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing: Empowering African healthcare workers, data scientists, and policymakers through training and access to best practices in digital health transformation.
Driving Africa’s Digital Health Transformation
This strategic partnership is a direct response to the increasing need for digitally resilient healthcare systems in Africa, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed gaps in health data infrastructure and service delivery across the region.
By supporting health data governance, cross-border data exchange, and the adoption of digital public goods, Smart Africa and GIZ aim to position Africa as a leader in ethical and inclusive digital health systems. The initiative is also expected to catalyze investment in digital infrastructure, foster inter-country cooperation, and drive public-private partnerships that accelerate healthcare innovation.
About Smart Africa and GIZ
Smart Africa is an alliance of 40+ African countries representing over 1 billion people. It is committed to accelerating sustainable socio-economic development through the adoption of ICT and digital technologies.
GIZ, the German Agency for International Cooperation, works with partners around the globe to deliver effective solutions for sustainable development. Through its work in digital health, data policy, and governance, GIZ supports countries in achieving universal health coverage and improving healthcare systems.
