Organisation: Africa CDC Bingwa Plus Initiative, Africa CDC Youth Pre-Conference

Location: Central Africa, Eastern Africa, Northern Africa, Southern Africa, Western Africa

Theme: Advancing Youth Leadership for Africa’s Health Security and Sovereignty.

Duration: Two Days

Application Deadline:13 September 2026, 17:00 EAT

Overview

The Africa CDC Youth Pre-Conference (YPC 2026) is a two-day youth platform, from 21- 22 November 2026, bringing young Africans together to share ideas, showcase solutions, build networks, and contribute to Africa’s public health agenda. Held ahead of the 5th International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2026), the event will focus on strengthening youth participation in health security and sovereignty across the continent. Participants will engage with public health leaders, policymakers, researchers, innovators, and fellow young professionals while contributing to recommendations that can shape discussions at CPHIA 2026. The programme will cover areas including digital health, research and innovation, public health workforce development, emergency preparedness, local manufacturing, and sexual and reproductive health and HIV. Selected participants will receive sponsorship covering flights, accommodation, meals, and CPHIA registration.

YPC 2026 Objective

1. Put young Africans closer to decision-making. Create direct opportunities for young people to engage public health leaders, policymakers, and institutions, and to shape recommendations on Africa’s health security and sovereignty.

2. Surface African-led ideas, research and innovation. Give visibility to youth-led solutions and connect promising work with institutions, partners, mentors and networks that can help it grow.

3. Strengthen the next generation of Africa’s health workforce. Build connections and pathways across public health, research, digital health, emergency response, local manufacturing, policy, advocacy and community engagement.

4. Advance YES! Health through action. Translate the Africa CDC youth engagement strategy into concrete opportunities, partnerships and institutional commitments for young Africans.

YPC 2026 Expected outcomes

A consolidated set of youth priorities and recommendations to inform discussions and commitments at CPHIA 2026.
Greater visibility for youth-led research, innovation, advocacy and public health solutions from across African Union Member States.
Stronger networks and partnerships connecting young leaders with African public health institutions, researchers, policymakers, funders and implementers.
Clearer pathways for young Africans to contribute to health workforce development, disease preparedness and response, innovation, local manufacturing and community leadership.
Concrete opportunities to advance implementation of the YES!Health Strategy and sustain youth participation beyond the conference

Five tracks of YPC 2026

Digital Health, Research and Innovation
Building Africa’s Public Health Workforce
One Health, Emergency Preparedness and Response
Local Manufacturing and Health Sovereignty
Youth Leadership on Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV

YPC 2026 BENEFITS

Selected participants will join a pan-African community of young people helping shape the next chapter of public health on the continent.

Influence the youth priorities and recommendations that will feed into CPHIA 2026.
Engage African public health leaders, policymakers, researchers, innovators and practitioners.
Showcase your work, research, ideas or community experience.
Build relationships with peers from across African Union Member States.
Develop new knowledge and connections across YPC workshops, dialogues and interactive sessions.
Participate in YPC 2026 and continue into CPHIA 2026, taking place from 23–27 November 2026.

NB: Sponsorship includes flight tickets, accommodation, meals, and CPHIA registration fee for selected young delegates.

YPC 2026 QUALIFICATIONS

Be 18-35 years old at the time of application.
Be a citizen of an African Union Member State.
Be enrolled in at least an undergraduate programme, or have relevant educational,
professional or community experience in public health or related fields.
Relevant fields may include public health, medicine, nursing, community or
environmental health, research, digital health and technology, health policy, public
service, development, communications and journalism, entrepreneurship,
manufacturing, social sciences or other disciplines contributing to Africa’s health
security and sovereignty.
Demonstrate leadership potential and a strong commitment to improving health,
including through research, youth-led initiatives, advocacy, innovation, community
engagement, professional practice or related activities.
Be available to participate fully in YPC 2026 and CPHIA 2026.
Be willing to contribute to peer exchange and the cultural life of the Youth Pre-Conference.