WHO supports Member States in strengthening research governance, building and sustaining resources for health research and development, enhancing the production and use of evidence, establishing sustainable research financing, developing and implementing digital health capabilities, and harnessing and scaling up high-impact innovations.

While Africa is home to 18% of the global population, the continent currently accounts for less than 1% of global health research output, invests far less in innovation (approximately 0.01% per capita) and lags behind in digital health implementation. These figures indicate a significant gap in capacity building, investment and utilization.

Several factors contribute to this gap, including limited funding, inadequate infrastructure, weak governance, and insufficient integration of research findings, digital health and innovation into health practice.