Remarks by the Board Chair and the Executive Director
APHRC continued on a strong trajectory in 2024 in leading evidence generation and use on the African continent and beyond.
The Center’s staff and leadership shared global platforms with world leaders in conversations on global health research, including the Global Science Summit, the Grand Challenges Annual Meeting, which brings together major influencers in global health innovation; the International Conference on Urban Health; and the UN General Assembly (UNGA). Furthermore, APHRC hosted its inaugural ‘Africa Health and Development Annual Research Symposia (AHDARS),’ aimed at creating awareness and greater understanding of emerging issues in the population, health, and development space. The event also served as a platform to showcase selected aspects of the Center’s programmatic work in Research, Capacity Strengthening and Policy Engagement and Communications. The symposium facilitated deliberations that contributed to a greater understanding of the ecosystem issues that could affect the widespread adoption of Artificial Intelligence and other data science tools in Africa.
In 2024, APHRC continued to boldly innovate by delivering 18 technological and policy solutions across its core thematic areas: Health and Wellbeing, Human Development, Population Dynamics and Urbanization, and Data Science.
The innovations range from a curriculum for Agent-Based Modeling (ABM), an innovative approach to analyzing demographic transitions and migration patterns in urban slums, a digital vaccine card and registry to monitor childhood vaccinations to the Data Science and Sharing (DASSA) platform developed to facilitate ethical data sharing and standardization. The DASSA platform has been developed through the integration of datasets and compliance with data governance frameworks. It will foster collaboration and support the growth of scientific research on the continent.
In addition, the Center established the Afrique Research Support Hub (ARSH), which aims to address a crucial gap in the capacity of earlyand mid-career African researchers to attract research funding. This initiative seeks to equip participants with the necessary skills to secure grants and enhance their research capabilities, ultimately strengthening the continent’s research ecosystem.
APHRC research findings and evidence directly contributed to 12 policy wins – instances where the Center’s research, advocacy, or engagement has influenced or contributed to a change or decision in public policy, legislation, or government practices. The 2024 policy wins highlighted in this report cover multiple countries, reinforcing the Center’s role as a trusted research partner in shaping national and subnational policy. These included contributions to national legislation such as the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Bill and Public Health Bills in Sierra Leone and Liberia, respectively, both informed by APHRC’s work on post-abortion complications. The Center’s research also influenced the development of Kenya’s National Nutrition Action Plan and the Nairobi Childcare Regulations, drawing the Kenya Senate’s attention to gaps in care for pregnant adolescents.
Amidst a rapidly changing global political, social, economic, and environmental landscape, we remain focused on institutional resilience, continuous learning, and aligning our systems to drive evidence-informed change on the continent. The journey ahead is one of growth and societal impact.
We extend our gratitude to those who made our work in 2024 possible. To our funders—your trust and investment enabled us to pursue rigorous research and advocate for evidence-based solutions. To our collaborators and partners—your expertise and shared commitment enriched our efforts and broadened our impact. And to our dedicated staff—your intellectual rigor and persistence drove everything we achieved. Thank you for being an essential part of our journey.
