This guide to managing public health programmes in Africa is timely. It comes when the region is not only re-organizing, but re-thinking how to ensure that we reach the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals in an increasingly fragmented and difficult context. But with threats come opportunities, and as the region changes focus to face this new world, this guide will equip new leaders in public health with the tools they require to make their mark on health development and security regionally and at country level.

The unknown can be intimidating. This document provides theoretical guidance alongside examples of approaches to our unique public health challenges that have been shown to work. Here you will find a practical, step-by-step guide to selecting, designing, evaluating, implementing, monitoring and scaling up public health programmes; a bridge connecting knowledge with practice. The guide, aimed at senior leaders within the World Health Organization, ministers of health, or any other health leader, is drawn from the collective experience of many previous and current health leaders.

Africa still carries the largest burden of disease of any global region. This guide will empower public health leaders to build their programmes towards the goal of a healthier Africa.  

Dr Benido Impouma 
Director, DPC Cluster 
WHO Regional Office for Africa