In the run-up to the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), I find myself reflecting not only on the logistics of another packed week of side events but also on the deeper question of what it will take for African institutions not merely to contribute but to lead and help shape the terms of global partnership.
This question is not academic. It is urgent, and it cuts to the heart of how Africa positions itself in a rapidly shifting global development and financing landscape.
“The future of African-led innovation will not be secured by a one-sided event or a single funding announcement. It will be built in the slow, deliberate work of reshaping systems, nurturing talent, and building trust.”
The aid debate is shifting
Over the past few weeks, debates in Washington on the State Department’s foreign assistance role, the future of the U.S. Development Finance Corporation, and broader reforms have underscored a simple truth: that Africa’s future cannot rest solely on structures designed elsewhere.
Aid flows, however generous, are shaped by politics and priorities far from our shores. They can be increased, suspended, or redirected with the stroke of a pen. The same is true of philanthropy. Even as Asian and Indian giving surges, much of it remains locally focused, reminding us why Africa must strengthen its own engines of sustainability while deepening mutually beneficial global partnerships.
The takeaway is sobering but also liberating; Africa’s sustainability cannot be outsourced.
Sustainability is bigger than funding flows
We have learnt at eHealth Africa that sustainability is not only about money. It is about resilience, governance, and ownership. It is about ensuring African organisations can anchor global partnerships without being subsumed by them.
That means shifting decision rights closer to home. It means data stewardship that reflects African realities while meeting global standards. It means procurement systems that build local capacity instead of hollowing it out. And, perhaps most importantly, it means building credibility, through evidence, delivery, and transparency, that makes African institutions indispensable to global progress.
New models of partnership
Encouragingly, we are beginning to see this shift. The Ford Foundation’s $2 billion BUILD initiative is one example of a new kind of trust-based, long-term support that allows institutions to focus on outcomes rather than chasing grant cycles. Such approaches are still the exception rather than the rule, but they show what is possible.
In Africa, we are also experimenting with consortium-based models that draw on complementary strengths, reduce duplication, and build a platform for scale. At UNGA80, eHealth Africa is co-hosting African-led Innovation: Shaping Sustainable Futures with or without Aid together with Population Services International, Population Council, and Reach Digital Health.
The event itself is important, but the bigger significance lies in the “with or without aid” framing. It is a recognition that the actual test is not whether aid dollars flow, but whether African institutions can chart a path that is resilient either way.
The choices ahead
So what does this look like in practice? I believe there are at least three imperatives.
First, diversification beyond traditional ODA. This is not about turning away from donor support but about broadening the base. It means tapping into African philanthropy, private capital, and innovative financing mechanisms, while ensuring governments are enabled to mobilise domestic resources more effectively. A diversified portfolio of funding strengthens resilience and reduces the vulnerability that comes from over-reliance on a single stream.
Second, building credibility through delivery. The credibility of African institutions cannot be demanded; it must be earned. That requires strong governance, transparent financial management, and consistent delivery on commitments. When institutions demonstrate reliability over time, they not only attract more resources but also gain the confidence to influence how those resources are structured.
Third, reframing partnerships as mutual investments. Partnerships work best when they are not transactional. When African institutions are seen not just as implementers but as co-investors shaping outcomes, the relationship becomes more durable and impactful. This reframing invites reciprocity, where all parties bring something meaningful to the table and share accountability for results.
Beyond UNGA
UNGA is a milestone, but it is not the destination. The real test is not in the speeches or the panels, but in the choices we make together in October, November, December, and beyond, and whether we have the discipline to follow through.
The future of African-led innovation will not be secured by a one-sided event or a single funding announcement. It will be built in the slow, deliberate work of reshaping systems, nurturing talent, and building trust. It will be determined by whether global partners see African institutions not as beneficiaries of generosity, but as indispensable drivers of global progress.
That is a high bar. But it is also an achievable one, and one worth striving for.
As we gather at UNGA80, I hope that we see this week not only as a showcase but also as a testing ground for what comes next, i.e., funding models that strengthen resilience, partnerships that last beyond one grant cycle, and innovations that scale precisely because they are rooted in local ownership and global solidarity.
Because ultimately, the future of African-led innovation is not about aid. It is about agency. And that future is ours to shape.
Ota Akhigbe is a Director at eHealth Africa, where she leads strategy, partnerships, and sustainability. With deep experience in shaping cross-sector collaborations across health, governance, and development, she writes regularly on African-led innovation and global health for BusinessDay.
