The East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) and the Forum of Parliaments of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR) have today signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen regional cooperation in health governance, diplomacy, and policy harmonization across the Great Lakes Region.
The MoU, signed by Dr. Ntuli A. Kapologwe, Director General of ECSA-HC, and Ambassador Dr. Deo Mwapinga, Secretary-General of FP-ICGLR, underscores the growing commitment between inter-governmental and parliamentary institutions to jointly address shared health and development challenges.
Through this partnership, the two organizations will collaborate on key areas including parliamentary capacity building, health systems resilience, policy harmonization, gender and youth inclusion, digital health governance, and the promotion of democracy and the right to health.
“Healthy people are the foundation of peaceful and prosperous nations,” said Dr. Ntuli A. Kapologwe, Director General of ECSA-HC. “This partnership gives us the opportunity to bring the health and governance communities together to shape evidence-based laws, policies, and investments that benefit millions across the region.”
Amb. Dr. Deo Mwapinga, Secretary-General of FP-ICGLR, emphasized the importance of parliamentary leadership in transforming health outcomes: “Parliaments have a critical role in ensuring accountability and sustainability of health commitments. Through this MoU, we aim to empower lawmakers with the tools and knowledge to drive inclusive and effective health policies.”
Among the joint priorities is the establishment of a Regional Center of Excellence on Health Diplomacy and Governance, a hub for training parliamentarians, government officials, and technical experts in negotiation, policy formulation, and cross-border collaboration. The Center will also serve as a regional think-tank, generating evidence to integrate health into broader peace, security, and development frameworks.
The MoU will be implemented through a Joint Project Implementation Team (PIT) to coordinate activities, resource mobilization, and regular progress reviews.
About ECSA-HC
The East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) is an intergovernmental health organization established in 1974 to foster regional cooperation in health among its member states Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It works to strengthen health systems, promote policy harmonization, and support evidence-based decision-making across the region. Learn more https://ecsahc.org
About FP-ICGLR
The Forum of Parliaments of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR) brings together the national parliaments of 12 Member States to promote peace, democracy, human rights, and sustainable development through legislative action and oversight. Learn more https://fpcirgl.org