Japan Strengthens Africa’s Health and Digital Future

From local production of vaccines to digital infrastructure and renewable energy, Japan is investing in health innovation in Africa.

At a time of great transformation for global health, solidarity is more important than ever. While some countries have retreated from their commitments, Japan has continued its steadfast investment in a shared future that prioritises human dignity and security.

Japan is reaffirming this commitment at the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) — a forum that champions African-led development — by placing youth employment and digital transformation at the heart of its agenda.

In line with these priorities, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) announced US$160 million in bonds to support infrastructure, education and innovation across Africa. The initiative also invites Japanese companies and financial institutions to partner with African countries for mutual benefit.

Japan’s leadership in global health has long been underpinned by a strong sense of shared responsibility and solidarity. Wealthy countries are encouraged to follow Japan’s lead by building partnerships, scaling up proven innovations and fostering sustainable growth in Africa.

This approach could be transformative for local manufacturing, digital health innovation and climate-resilient health systems — areas where African-led solutions are already gaining ground.

The Accra Compact, adopted at the Africa Health Sovereignty Summit convened by Ghanaian President John Mahama, reaffirms the leadership and sovereignty of African nations in determining the health of their people.

For over a decade, Japan has supported both the Access and Delivery Partnership (ADP) and the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund) to develop and deliver health technologies to those who need them most.

This partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and GHIT supports the journey of medical innovations — from vaccines and medicines to diagnostics — from lab to bedside. GHIT stimulates research and development, while ADP, led by UNDP, works with countries and communities to introduce and scale up finished products.

One recent success is the development and rollout of a new paediatric treatment for schistosomiasis, a parasitic worm infection that affects 50 million preschool-aged children. The GHIT Fund and the Paediatric Praziquantel Consortium — led by German pharmaceutical company Merck — worked together to develop the medicine and transfer the technology to Kenyan manufacturer Universal Corporation Limited (UCL). Thanks to this collaboration, UCL is now producing the medicine locally, ensuring sustainable access for affected communities.

This momentum is spreading across Africa. Countries from Senegal to Rwanda are becoming regional manufacturing hubs for diagnostics, vaccines and medicines. In 2024, the Institut Pasteur de Dakar inaugurated a new diagnostic manufacturing site, while Rwanda collaborated with BioNTech to open what could become Africa’s first mRNA vaccine facility.

Meanwhile, digital technologies and AI are reshaping Africa’s health systems. In June, 50 African Union member states endorsed a digital micro-planning tool co-created by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and other partners, to accelerate the elimination of neglected tropical diseases.

Scaling up homegrown tools will strengthen epidemic preparedness and improve resilience against future outbreaks. With Africa’s digital economy projected to reach $712 billion by 2035, investors have strong incentives to support the boom in digital infrastructure.

Japan is already playing a key role. It has partnered with Ghana to establish mobile laboratories at major points of entry to strengthen pandemic preparedness. Earlier this year, Japan and Côte d’Ivoire also committed to supporting UNDP’s timbuktoo initiative, which promotes entrepreneurship opportunities for African startups, including health-tech accelerators.

Innovation and investment are especially urgent in countries disproportionately affected by climate extremes. African nations are pioneering climate-resilient health systems, supported by initiatives such as the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme, which has mobilised more than $15 billion. Joint projects like Solar for Health and Smart Health Systems have brought reliable power to 1,000 health facilities across 14 countries, ensuring uninterrupted vaccine storage and healthcare delivery.

As the impact of climate change intensifies, programmes like these must be scaled sustainably. Japan’s leadership sets a strong example — and other countries should follow by funding equitable, inclusive and mutually beneficial interventions.