Our Mission
The ALU School of Health is dedicated to cultivating a new generation of workforce-ready, entrepreneurial, and cross-disciplinary health professionals. We also support ventures poised to strengthen primary healthcare, drive digital transformation, and innovate in health financing across Africa.
Impact
Shaping the Future of African Health by 2027
By the close of 2027, the ALU School of Health, through the Africa Health Collaborative, aims to be a recognized leader in African health transformation.
Our key milestones include:
- Program Excellence: Successful delivery and high participant satisfaction across all our short courses, fellowships, and venture support programs.
- Entrepreneurial Growth: Supporting 150 health ventures with funding and mentorship, tracking their progress in product development, market entry, and job creation.
- Ecosystem Influence: Establishing strong strategic partnerships and successfully piloting the Health Systems Scoring Index (HSSI) to inform policy and investment.
- Future Foundation: Completing market validation and curriculum frameworks for potential post-2027 academic offerings, ensuring long-term impact.
Programs
Africa Health
Collaborative
The Africa Health Collaborative is a multi-stakeholder partnership dedicated to transforming primary healthcare systems across Africa. It comprises nine higher education institutions from Africa and Canada, along with the Mastercard Foundation. The Collaborative aims to prepare diverse youth for meaningful work in health and well-being through contextually appropriate and sustainable primary healthcare systems.
Core Pillars:
- Health Employment (HEMP): We expand capacity to train primary healthcare workers to meet growing demand and equip professionals with future-ready skills.
- Health Entrepreneurship (HENT): We implement and sustain entrepreneurial ecosystems that launch health startups, generate revenue, and create meaningful employment across the continent.
- Health Ecosystems (HECO): We enable the growth and transformation of Africa’s health sector by equipping students and professionals with advanced skills across various disciplines critical for sustainable health sector development.
Key Programs within the Collaborative:
- Africa Health Venture Fund: Offers up to US$10,000 in financial support, strategic guidance, and mentorship to promising health-focused ventures.
- Africa Health Collaborative Research Fund 2025: Provides initial support for early-career researchers to develop high-quality research activities focused on health systems strengthening in primary healthcare within Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Public Sector Fellowships: Supporting health leaders within public systems through leadership coaching and practical experience.
Health Mission Undergraduate Program
ALU students with a declared “health mission” engage in unique experiential learning opportunities, including health-aligned internships, projects, and exposure to real-world health challenges and innovations. This program ensures our undergraduates are equipped with practical skills and a deep understanding of Africa’s health landscape.
What You'll Gain
Practical experience, exposure to diverse health sectors, networking opportunities, and a foundation for future health leadership or entrepreneurship.
Call to Action:
Explore how to integrate a health mission into your ALU studies!
Featured Event
From Potential to Impact: Advancing Africa’s Health Workforce and Innovation Ecosystems
The Africa Health Collaborative is pleased to announce the 2025 Convening, a dynamic gathering of health leaders, innovators, policymakers, representatives from partner institutions, and other key stakeholders committed to strengthening health systems across the continent.
- Kigali, 2025
Events
Research &
Innovation
At the ALU School of Health, our research and innovation initiatives generate critical insights and foster breakthroughs that strengthen African health systems. We focus on applied research that directly informs policy, practice, and entrepreneurial solutions.
Research Focus Areas
Primary Healthcare Strengthening:
Investigating effective models for PHC delivery, workforce development, and community engagement across diverse African contexts.
Digital Health & AI Adoption:
Exploring the impact, challenges, and opportunities of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in improving health outcomes.
Health Systems Leadership & Financing:
Analyzing innovative approaches to health system governance, resource allocation, and sustainable financing models.