ESPEN Steering Committee Reviews Progress and Sets Strategic Direction for 2026–2030
Brazzaville (Congo) - The 10th meeting of the ESPEN Steering Committee was held on 24–25 November 2025 in Brazzaville, in a hybrid format that brought together representatives of Member States, donors, implementing partners, pharmaceutical partners, and WHO leadership. The meeting provided a key governance moment to review progress, reflect on emerging challenges, and shape the strategic direction of ESPEN in a rapidly evolving global health and financing landscape.
Discussions highlighted the significant progress achieved by countries across the African Region in advancing the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases, including recent validations and verifications of elimination milestones. Steering Committee members acknowledged the collective efforts of countries, partners, and WHO in sustaining momentum despite increasing pressures related to declining external funding, supply chain disruptions, and competing health priorities. At the same time, the Committee emphasized the need to further strengthen national ownership, integration of NTD interventions within primary health care systems, and multisectoral collaboration to ensure sustainability.
Opening Remarks delivered by Dr. Diallo Abdourahmane (WHO-AFRO DPM)
The Committee reviewed ESPEN’s strategic priorities for the coming years, with particular attention to strengthening data systems, supply chain management, laboratory capacity, and cross-border coordination. Members welcomed ongoing innovations, including new digital tools and planning platforms, and underscored the importance of aligning partner-developed solutions within a coherent regional architecture to maximize efficiency and country use. Integration—across diseases, sectors, and institutions—was repeatedly emphasized as central to achieving long-term impact and health system maturity.
A major focus of the meeting was the review and discussion of ESPEN’s Strategy 2026–2030, which outlines a shift toward high-level strategic and catalytic support to countries, reinforcing leadership, coordination, and evidence-based decision-making. The Steering Committee expressed strong support for this strategic orientation, recognizing the need to adapt ESPEN’s role to changing country contexts as more programmes move toward elimination and post-elimination surveillance. Guidance was also provided on priorities for resource mobilization, governance arrangements, and partnership engagement to ensure ESPEN remains fit for purpose in the years ahead.
The Steering Committee reaffirmed the value of ESPEN’s public–private partnership model as a platform for collective action, bringing together governments, donors, implementing partners, and pharmaceutical contributors around a shared vision of NTD elimination. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to sustaining dialogue, strengthening coordination with regional institutions, and supporting countries to protect hard-won gains while accelerating progress toward the WHO NTD Roadmap 2030 targets. Formal recommendations and agreed actions from the meeting will be submitted through WHO governance channels for further consideration.
