About Us
Africa Frontline First is an Africa-led partnership from the Community Health Impact Coalition, the Financing Alliance for Health, and Last Mile Health, under the championship of H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Mission
To increase financing for community health to save and improve lives in Africa.
Vision
We aim to unlock financing to train and deploy 200,000 professional community health workers, delivering essential care to 100 million people across Africa by 2030.
Over the past two decades, our co-founders have been championing the lifesaving work of community health workers, who are often the first point of care for vulnerable and underserved populations and have a strong track record of success. However, financing has limited the ability of community health workers to achieve their full potential at scale – directly impacting the lives of patients. With an estimated $4.4 billion funding gap for community health in Africa, we need new approaches to tackle this enormous challenge.
Africa Frontline First was founded to change this reality, as these three organizations joined forces to leverage their expertise and vision to forge a new partnership. This collaboration comes at a vital window of opportunity, with over 40 countries across Africa now committing to professionalize community health workers. Africa Frontline First exists to make financing more available and effective for countries, enabling national community health worker programs to deliver at scale.
Our Leadership
High-Level Champions
Africa Frontline First’s high-level champions provide strategic guidance, advocate for increased political will and resources, and champion the professionalization of community health workers. Led by H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the champions include both top-level influence and on-the-ground expertise to help drive the desired change for community health workers and patients in Africa.
The esteemed members include:
H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Former President of Liberia
Ray Chambers
Ambassador for Global Strategy, World Health Organization
H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya
Director General, Africa Centres for Disease Control
Graça Machel
Deputy Chair, The Elders
Margaret Odera
Community Health Worker & Founder, CHW Champions Network
Leadership
Africa Frontline First is led by two Co-Executive Directors:
Juliet Odogwu
Co-Executive Director, Africa Frontline First
Nan Chen
Co-Executive Director, Africa Frontline First
Our Team
Our staff are drawn from co-founding organizations and seconded to the Africa Frontline First secretariat, bringing unique expertise and resources to advance our mission.
Our Partners
Africa Frontline First is powered by a collective movement of partners working to accelerate community health worker programs that save and improve lives.
Co-founders
Our co-founding partners bring unparalleled expertise and a proven track record in strengthening community health systems, designing innovative financing solutions, and advocating for community health workers in Africa. They've spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives, including shaping WHO guidelines on community health workers, implementing exemplary community health programs that increase access to essential healthcare, and mobilizing sustained financing for community health in Africa.
By harnessing their collective expertise and unique strengths, Africa Frontline First is positioned to drive transformative change for community health workers and the communities they serve.
Implementing Partners
We provide technical support to 17 African governments to access and use financing effectively to strengthen community health systems. In each country, we partner closely with an implementing partner with deep country insights and expertise in community health to accelerate health system strengthening efforts.
