Nairobi, 12 November 2026, Government representatives and health partners meeting in Nairobi have adopted a new action agenda to strengthen health information systems and ensure that reliable health data are used to improve healthcare services, prevent avoidable deaths and reach communities most in need.
The Nairobi Health Data Action Agenda, adopted at the conclusion of the First Africa Health Data Forum, sets out eight priorities to help countries move beyond collecting and reporting health information towards using it to guide policies, direct investments and improve people’s health.
“The Nairobi Health Data Action Agenda must translate countries’ priorities into practical investments that can be financed, implemented and measured. Ultimately, every investment in health information must make a difference in people’s lives, through better decisions, stronger health services and improved health outcomes” said Dr Abdurahmane Diallo, Director of Programme Management, WHO Regional Office for Africa.
Convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with partners, the three-day forum brought together Ministers of Health, senior government officials, WHO leadership and development partners to take stock of progress, address persistent gaps in health information systems and agree on practical actions.
Despite significant progress that countries are making in digital health reporting and data collection, many countries continue to face fragmented information systems, inadequate financing, shortages of skilled professionals and limited capacity to translate available information into effective decisions.
Under the Nairobi Action Agenda, countries committed to strengthening national leadership, increasing sustainable domestic financing, improving the quality of health information and connecting fragmented data systems. The Agenda also prioritizes investment in skilled professionals, responsible use of digital health and artificial intelligence, and the routine use of evidence in healthcare planning and re
The commitments respond to findings from two WHO reports launched during the forum.
The Maturity and Functionality of Health Information System in the WHO African Region, based on an assessment of 40 countries, found an overall maturity score of 59 out of 100, highlighting significant gaps in financing, governance and analytical capacity.
The second report “Health Data Systems and Capacity in Africa”, based on the SCORE 2025 assessment of 52 countries, found that while countries have made progress in monitoring health-system performance, none had reached the highest level of sustainable capacity for using data and evidence effectively in policy and action.
Country experiences presented during the forum, including initiatives from Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya and Egypt, demonstrated how countries are using digital technologies and stronger information systems to improve health planning and services.
To translate the Nairobi commitments into action, countries agreed to identify national priorities and integrate them into existing health strategies and costed investment plans. Governments and partners also committed to better aligning technical and financial support with country priorities, reducing duplication and strengthening national ownership.
Implementation will be guided by a continental results, monitoring and accountability framework through 2030, with annual national reviews to track progress and assess whether stronger information systems are translating into better decisions and health outcomes.
The Africa Health Data Forum will convene every two years to review progress and strengthen collaboration, with the next meeting planned for 2028.
The Nairobi agreement marks a shift from identifying weaknesses to coordinated, country-led action, with a shared commitment to ensure that better health information leads to stronger healthcare services and better health for all.
