Africa CDC, Zipline sign MoU to boost epidemic preparedness in Africa

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and Zipline International have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen health system responsiveness, epidemic preparedness and access to essential medical supplies across Africa through drone-enabled health logistics.

The partnership aims to expand access to medical products, improve emergency preparedness, strengthen health data systems and enhance epidemic early warning and response capabilities, including in remote and hard-to-reach communities.

Under the MoU, Africa CDC and Zipline will collaborate with African Union (AU) Member States to support the integration of drone-based logistics into public health systems, where national governments decide to adopt such solutions. The initiative focuses on ensuring timely delivery of vaccines, diagnostics and essential medicines, particularly during disease outbreaks, health emergencies and in disaster-prone regions.

The collaboration aligns with the Africa CDC Strategic Plan 2023–2027 and the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty (AHSS) agenda, which promote African-led solutions to strengthen public health institutions, expand local manufacturing, build workforce capacity and leverage innovation for continental health security. It also supports Africa CDC’s One Health approach and Digital Transformation Strategy, aimed at improving connectivity and modernisation of public health systems across the continent.

According to Africa CDC, the partnership is guided by five core principles: Member State ownership and leadership, equity and access for underserved populations, sustainability and health sovereignty, transparency and accountability, and innovation with measurable impact. All activities under the MoU will be undertaken under the leadership of AU Member States, with coordination and guidance from Africa CDC.

The scope of cooperation includes capacity building, workforce development, operational research, innovation, technology transfer, epidemic preparedness and emergency response. The partnership also seeks to strengthen data-driven surveillance and early-warning systems and promote coordinated action to maintain service continuity in hard-to-reach and high-risk areas.

“This partnership with Zipline is more than an innovation in logistics, it is a commitment to equity, access and resilience,” said Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC. “By leveraging advanced drone technology, we can connect communities that have long been beyond the reach of essential health services, empower our health workforce with real-time data and supplies, and build a continent that responds faster, works smarter, and saves more lives”.

As part of the agreement, Africa CDC will work with Member States, partners and donors to mobilise political commitment, investment and collaboration in digital and drone-enabled logistics. Zipline will provide its operational expertise, autonomous aircraft network, warehousing capabilities and data-driven supply chain management systems to support the integration of aerial delivery into national public health systems.

Africa CDC said the MoU aligns with its Strategic Plan and the New Public Health Order, which aim to build resilient, technologically advanced, equitable and African-led health systems. The partnership is intended to support this agenda by integrating autonomous logistics into national supply chains, strengthening disease surveillance, building workforce capacity and improving emergency preparedness across Member States.

In a blog post by Zipline, the company said the approach builds on existing experience in countries including Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire, where Zipline-supported systems have enabled health workers to access supplies and data in near real time. In Rwanda, the Ministry of Health integrates information on product movement, patient care and disease trends into a single national dashboard, with Zipline’s system feeding into this platform to support faster decision-making, more efficient resource allocation and earlier detection of emerging health events.

“Africa CDC and Zipline are working together to accelerate a continent-wide shift toward equitable, resilient, responsive health systems,” said Caitlin Burton, CEO, Zipline Africa. “By combining African leadership with Zipline’s technology and operational expertise, we’re strengthening supply chains, empowering health workers, improving early-warning systems, and ensuring every community has reliable access to care. This is innovation in service of health equity — and in service of Africa’s future.”

Zipline began operations in Africa in 2016 with its first deployment in Rwanda and has since expanded its autonomous delivery services across several countries on the continent. The company operates a large-scale autonomous delivery network supporting last-mile distribution of medical products for governments and health institutions. According to Zipline, its operations have contributed to improved supply chain performance, faster delivery of essential health commodities, enhanced outbreak detection and response, and economic stimulation.

The MoU also commits both organisations to knowledge exchange, advocacy and technical dialogue through policy forums, joint research and communication initiatives highlighting Africa’s leadership in health technology and system resilience.

Africa CDC said the partnership supports the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and contributes to the continent’s long-term vision of resilient, equitable and self-reliant health systems driven by innovation and technology.