World Bank Expands $290 Million Health Security Program to Central Africa

The World Bank Board of Directors has approved a major expansion of its Health Security Program (HeSP) to Central Africa, a transformative regional initiative designed to strengthen health systems, enhance epidemic preparedness, and build resilience against future pandemics and climate-related health shocks.

The third phase of the Health Security Program in Western and Central Africa brings a total of $280 million in International Development Association (IDA) grants and credits, supplemented by an additional $10 million grant from the Global Financing Facility (GFF) for Women, Children, and Adolescents. The funds will directly support Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of Congo, and the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC).

A Regional Effort to Build Health Resilience

The expanded initiative aims to increase regional collaboration and strengthen national capacities to prevent, detect, and respond to health emergencies—including infectious disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and climate-driven health risks.

The program builds on lessons learned from previous health crises such as the Ebola epidemic, COVID-19, and cholera outbreaks, which exposed weaknesses in public health systems across Africa. It also aligns with broader development frameworks, including the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"The region faces a convergence of challenges, including fragility, displacement, porous borders, and changing weather patterns that heighten the risk of health emergencies," said Trina Haque, World Bank Regional Director for Human Development in Western and Central Africa. "HeSP responds to these urgent needs by investing in surveillance, laboratory networks, and frontline health workers, while promoting inclusive and resilient service delivery."

Strengthening Health Systems and Cross-Border Cooperation

At its core, the Health Security Program seeks to move participating countries from reactive crisis response to proactive preparedness. It will strengthen national and regional capacity through several priority investments:

• Improved disease surveillance and laboratory networks, enabling faster detection and diagnosis of emerging pathogens.

• Upgraded health infrastructure, with a focus on climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable facilities.

• Training and capacity building for health professionals, including women epidemiologists and veterinary scientists, under a One Health approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health.

• Development of national and regional contingency plans for coordinated crisis management across borders.

• Community-level engagement to ensure inclusive participation and equitable access to health services.

The inclusion of CEMAC, a key regional economic bloc, underscores the program's commitment to cross-border coordination, recognizing that infectious diseases and climate impacts do not stop at national boundaries.

Protecting Essential Health Services

The $10 million GFF grant will provide targeted support to Cameroon, helping the government maintain essential health services for women, children, and adolescents even during crises. This funding will also strengthen primary health care resilience, ensuring that facilities remain operational during epidemics or climate shocks.

"This additional financing ensures that essential maternal and child health services remain uninterrupted, even when systems are under stress," said a GFF spokesperson. "It will help sustain long-term progress in health outcomes while safeguarding vulnerable populations."

Health Security as a Driver of Development

Beyond immediate health gains, the World Bank views HeSP as a regional development engine that will create jobs, spur trade, and foster social stability. "HeSP is more than a health initiative—it's a catalyst for inclusive growth," said Marina Wes, Acting World Bank Regional Integration Director for Western and Central Africa. "By fostering cross-border collaboration and harmonizing health systems, the program will generate positive spillovers in trade, mobility, and social cohesion."

The initiative is expected to create thousands of jobs in health services, logistics, and construction—particularly benefiting youth and women in underserved communities. By emphasizing local hiring, training, and gender inclusion, the program seeks to ensure that the benefits of regional investment reach those most in need.

Building Long-Term Preparedness and Sustainability

Central Africa remains one of the world's most vulnerable regions to health emergencies. With fragile governance, high displacement rates, and weak infrastructure, the region's populations are at heightened risk of epidemics like cholera, measles, and zoonotic diseases such as Ebola and Rift Valley fever. Climate-related hazards—including floods, droughts, and vector-borne diseases—further compound the risks.

HeSP's focus on green and resilient health infrastructure will ensure that new facilities are energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable, and capable of withstanding extreme weather. Moreover, the program's One Health framework emphasizes coordination between human, animal, and environmental sectors to prevent and control zoonotic diseases—pathogens that jump from animals to humans.

A Regional Vision with Global Impact

The Health Security Program is structured as a multi-phase programmatic approach (MPA), with a total financing envelope of $688 million across eight countries in West and Central Africa. Earlier phases have already supported Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, where investments in laboratories, disease surveillance, and community health systems have yielded measurable improvements in outbreak response capacity.

The expansion to Central Africa represents a significant step toward building a continent-wide health security architecture, one capable of addressing current crises and preventing future pandemics.

"The COVID-19 pandemic showed us that no country is safe until every country is prepared," Haque emphasized. "By strengthening regional cooperation and investing in preparedness now, we can save lives, protect economies, and ensure a healthier, more resilient future for all."

As implementation begins, national health ministries, CEMAC, and regional partners will collaborate with the World Bank to operationalize investments, with the first phase expected to roll out by early 2026.

With its emphasis on solidarity, preparedness, and sustainability, the Health Security Program stands as a model for how developing regions can build robust, inclusive systems capable of confronting the global health challenges of the 21st century.