The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU) have signed a new agreement to modernize health systems in sub-Saharan Africa. The plan will deploy the Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN) across the region.
The GDHCN lets countries securely verify digital health credentials across borders. It builds on the EU’s digital COVID certificate model, which served 76 nations.
Under the pact, the EU will provide €8 million from 2025 to 2028. WHO will offer technical and policy support, working with regional agencies such as Africa CDC.
Part of the EU-AU Health Partnership, this initiative aligns with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and the Digital Health priorities in Africa.
Countries will use the GDHCN to safely handle vaccination records, reduce fraud, and make health credentials portable across borders. All data remains under national control, preserving privacy and consent.
Only four African countries—Benin, Cabo Verde, Seychelles, and Togo—are currently part of the earlier EU COVID certificate network. The new effort aims to expand participation and strengthen trust in digital health platforms.
Officials say this is a key step toward resilient, people-centered health systems that can respond better to emergencies and ongoing care needs.
