10 years of CHReaD: A Decade of Passion, Progress, and Purpose
Ten years ago, a simple yet powerful idea took root, one that dared to imagine Africa’s health challenges met with homegrown solutions. That vision united a diverse group of advocates bound by a shared belief that health research and development (R&D) could be reshaped to serve the continent’s unique needs. Today, the Coalition for Health Research and Development (CHReaD) stands as a living testament to their collective resolve, having grown from a fledgling initiative into a dynamic force for change. Its journey has been marked by resilience, from its early days hosted at PATH to finding a strategic home with Amref Health Africa, navigating transitions with agility. New leadership teams have stepped forward, each building on the legacy of their predecessors, yet the core mission remains unwavering: to ensure health R&D prioritizes African communities above all.
This year’s 10th anniversary was more than a celebration; it was a moment of introspection and reinvention. At the Annual General Meeting, members paused to ask difficult questions: How can we amplify our impact? Where must we adapt? The answers crystallized into bold action—streamlining operations, merging the Regulatory and Innovation Committees to eliminate redundancy, and establishing a dedicated Research Committee to champion locally driven evidence. These changes aim to ground CHReaD’s advocacy in data that reflects Africa’s realities, ensuring policies and investments address what truly matters. Behind the scenes, the coalition is crafting a sustainability framework to secure its future, combining resource mobilization with deeper partnerships, because progress hinges not just on plans but on the people who bring them to life.
Beyond internal restructuring, CHReaD is turning outward with renewed focus. The coalition seeks to ignite public demand for R&D, particularly for high-priority technologies that remain inaccessible to many. The goal is to transform communities from passive beneficiaries into active participants in the push for research development and innovation. Policy advocacy is also being sharpened, with targeted engagement to unlock domestic investment and drive reforms. Guiding this next chapter is a leadership team that blends experience with fresh energy—Mary Muia as Chairperson and Dr. Robert Karanja as Co-Chairperson, alongside specialists like Gloria Mululu in Communications, Jackson Otieno in Research & Innovation, Charles Kilel in Regulatory Affairs, and Stephen Kibindio in Finance. Together, they’re advancing a multifaceted agenda: lobbying for increased R&D funding, pushing regulatory reforms, nurturing local manufacturing, and fostering homegrown innovation.
CHReaD’s first decade proved the power of collaboration to move mountains. The years ahead demand even more—greater ambition, sharper strategies, and an unrelenting focus on equity. Because the true measure of success lies not in breakthroughs confined to labs or policies etched on paper, but in healthier communities, equitable access, and lives transformed. The dream that began ten years ago isn’t merely alive; it’s gathering momentum, ready to soar higher.