African Union Development Agency and Sightsavers join forces to fight neglected diseases

Press note for immediate release

20 October 2026

African Union Development Agency and Sightsavers join forces to fight neglected diseases

African-led efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), build more resilient health systems and advance health equity across the continent will be strengthened through a new regional partnership between Sightsavers and the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD).

The new Memorandum of Understanding, signed on 20 October 2026, will unite AUDA-NEPAD’s leadership and convening power with Sightsavers’ technical expertise in NTD elimination, disability inclusion and community-centred health programmes.

NTDs are a group of debilitating diseases which affect more than a billion people. Sightsavers supports governments across the African continent to treat, prevent and eliminate five of these conditions: trachoma, river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis and intestinal worms.

The partnership will focus on three strategic areas: strengthening key regional partnerships and coordination; deepening political commitment to country-led programmes and sustainable financing; and research and innovation that fosters learning between countries.

Caroline Harper, chief executive officer of Sightsavers, said: “We’re at a critical moment for NTD elimination in Africa. There’s been remarkable progress – 22 African countries had eliminated at least one NTD by the end of 2025. But with international funding for global health increasingly uncertain, we need strong political commitment, greater domestic investment and coordinated action to sustain progress.

“Our partnership with the African Union Development Agency will help keep up momentum, strengthen country ownership and support sustainable elimination across the continent.”

Dr Nardos Bekele-Thomas, chief executive officer of AUDA-NEPAD, said: “NTDs are a public health challenge and a barrier to inclusive development in many African countries. Our new partnership with Sightsavers demonstrates our shared commitment to African-led solutions that strengthen health systems, improve equity and support countries to achieve their national and continental development goals.

“Together, the organisations will support sustainable, country-led progress towards NTD elimination while strengthening integrated, climate-resilient health systems aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 ambitions.”

Sightsavers’ collaborates with health ministries and other partners to eliminate NTDs. The organisation has trained more than 3.8 million community volunteers who have helped to deliver more than two billion drug treatments, as a result 132 million people across Africa are no longer at risk of at least one NTD.