News and Opinions  –  2026

Six key takeaways from ReAct Africa Annual AMR Conference 2026

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2026-08-27

The ReAct Africa Annual AMR Conference 2026, held on 21–22 July in Lusaka, Zambia, brought together nearly 200 participants from 35 countries to advance practical, people-centred solutions to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Participants represented governments, academia, health professionals, civil society, communities, youth and faith actors, development partners, and stakeholders from animal health, agriculture and the environment.

A medium shot of conference attendees seated at tables, focusing on a smiling woman wearing glasses and a colorful patterned top conversing with another participant during a session.
Collaborative dialogue and peer exchange in action at the ReAct Africa AMR Conference.

Held under the theme “Africa Leading the Way to Institutionalising Pragmatic People-Centred AMR Solutions from Grassroots to Regional Level,” the conference sought to move the AMR conversation beyond identifying challenges towards demonstrating what works, what can be adapted and scaled, and how successful approaches can become embedded within routine systems and institutions.

Connecting policy to practice: Core discussion themes

Across two days, discussions connected high-level political commitments with practical country and community experiences. Sessions explored governance and accountability, sustainable financing, surveillance, stewardship, diagnostics, primary healthcare, infection prevention and control, WASH, digital innovation, research and development, and the role of communities and frontline actors in shaping effective AMR responses.

Six priorities for moving AMR action forward across Africa

A large group of nearly 200 conference participants and delegates standing and seated outside on a green lawn in front of trees and a building at the ReAct Africa Annual AMR Conference 2026 in Lusaka, Zambia.
Delegates and stakeholders from across 35 countries gather at the ReAct Africa Annual AMR Conference 2026 in Lusaka, Zambia. Photo: ReAct Africa.

A central outcome of the conference was the identification of six priorities for strengthening implementation across Africa:

1. Prioritise a realistic set of high-impact interventions within National Action Plans on AMR, focusing resources and attention on actions that can deliver meaningful results.

2. Institutionalize responsibilities within routine systems and formal mandates, ensuring that AMR action is not dependent on short-term projects or individual initiatives.

3. Finance implementation through domestic budgets, investment cases and existing financing mechanisms to support more sustainable national responses.

4. Implement integrated interventions across prevention, diagnostics, surveillance, stewardship and access, reflecting the interconnected nature of the AMR challenge.

5. Include communities, frontline workers and vulnerable groups in decision-making and implementation, ensuring that AMR responses reflect lived realities and local needs.

6. Measure and scale proven approaches using evidence, accountability mechanisms and regional peer learning, allowing successful interventions to inform broader implementation across countries.

From dialogue to delivery: Institutionalising and scaling what works

 

The conference reinforced a clear message:

Africa has practical experience, locally led innovations and solutions that can strengthen the AMR response. The next step is to institutionalise, finance and scale them.

Moving from dialogue to delivery will require sustained political commitment, stronger One Health collaboration, meaningful participation of communities and frontline actors, and greater investment in interventions that have demonstrated their value.

The ReAct Africa Annual AMR Conference 2026 Summary Report shares the major discussions, priorities and direction emerging from the conference as stakeholders work towards a more sustainable, equitable and people-centred AMR response across the continent.

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