AU Bingwa Initiative
The AU Bingwa Initiative was launched on the 7th of April 2022 by the AUC Chairperson, H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat. It started as a public-private-youth initiative led by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) with the aim of accelerating the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in Africa by establishing a network of COVID-19 vaccination youth champions across the continent. The initiative is named after the Swahili word “Bingwa,” which means “champion.”
The AU Bingwa COVID-19 Vaccination Initiative had three main objectives:
- Create a network of Bingwas: Empower a network of young volunteers who were responsible for educating and mobilizing their communities to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Directly contribute to vaccinating at least 100 million Africans: The Bingwas worked towards the goal of reaching and vaccinating at least 100 million Africans,
- Indirectly contribute to bridging the 760 million vaccination gap in Africa: By increasing demand for coronavirus vaccinations, the Bingwas worked to bridge the gap in vaccination coverage in Africa,
THE AU BINGWA INITIATIVE 2.0
The AU Bingwa Initiative has the potential to make a significant impact on efforts to achieve Africa’s health security by leveraging young Africans for advocacy, community engagement, and health education. Given the positive response to the AU Bingwa campaigns by the volunteers and their audiences, the mandate of the Bingwa volunteers has been expanded to address a broader range of public health challenges facing the continent.
The second phase of the AU Bingwa Initiative, co-created with 250 youth delegates attending the YPC 2023, will be launched in 2024. It is expected to address a broad range of health challenges, from Digital Health and Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing to Mental Health, SRHR, Climate Change, and AMR (Antimicrobial resistance) and other pressing health topics and challenges on the continent.
The AU Bingwa 2.0 will leverage youth engagement for advancing sustainable health security in Africa to contribute to the “2 million community health workers initiative” endorsed by the Decision (Assembly/AU/Dec.649 (XXIX) taken by the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government, at the 29th Ordinary Session of the AU in 2017.
Young African people will be recruited, trained, and empowered to serve as Community Health Workers (Youth Health Champions/Advocates) for a positive impact on public health outcomes in their communities.
The AU Bingwa 2.0 will serve as an initiative to promote and create job opportunities for young people, empowering them to contribute to strengthen health systems and sustainable development.
The Bingwa Plus Initiative, an extended wing of Bingwa 2.0, will identify and finance youth-led health initiatives providing innovative and scalable solutions to health security challenges on the continent.
It aims to empower young Africans (aged 18-35) to address public health issues in their communities. It will act as an incubator/accelerator, providing funding, mentorship, and resources to help young leaders develop and implement innovative, scalable solutions to public health challenges in their communities.
AU Bingwa Launch
The AU Bingwa Inititaive was launched on the 7th of April 2022 by the AUC Chairperson, H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat
Call for Applications
The Africa CDC calls for young Africans who are motivated and willing to solve health security challenges in their communities by becoming a Bingwa. The call for applications for the AU Bingwa Initiative is currently closed.
Community Engagement
The Bingwa Initiative brings together an army of young champions from across the continent to drive health security in Africa. Learn more about our previous community engagements below
