Day 1 Plenary proceedings. Day 1 in Lusaka has established one non-negotiable: reproductive health is not a side agenda. It is the foundation of Africa's future. The 1st Continental Conference for Non-State Actors on Demographic Dividend and Reproductive Health continues tomorrow. #LusakaConference2026 #RHCounts #A2DSRH #LusakaConference2026 #DemographicDividend #RHCounts #HCID #AUDANEPAD #AGENDA2063 @AUDA_NEPAD @_AfricanUnion @UNAIDS @UNFPA @MedRAP @mohzambia

The 1st Continental Conference for Non-State Actors on the Demographic Dividend and Reproductive Health, currently taking place in Lusaka, has brought together over 200 delegates from across the continent—not just to convene, but to collaborate, co-create, and co-implement actionable commitments. We are convening this conference in partnership with @MedRAP2022, UNAIDS, and the Government of Zambia. The conference represents a powerful multi-stakeholder commitment to advancing Africa’s development priorities. This is more than a gathering. It is a solutions-driven platform that reflects a shifting mindset: Africa no longer treats reproductive health in isolation. Instead, it is being recognized as central to the continent’s development agenda and a critical lever for unlocking Africa’s demographic dividend. A strong and consistent message from most speakers has been the critical role that non-state actors play in advancing both the demographic dividend and reproductive health outcomes. Their contributions—through innovation, advocacy, service delivery, and community engagement—are essential to driving sustainable impact across the continent. @etfeuropa @MedRAP2022 @Agenda2063N @Nyiko_Chulu @daphmuzawazi

We are convening Every voice, Every sector for One agenda. Parliamentarians, researchers, youth advocates, and community leaders—this is what a continental coalition for advancing reproductive health looks like. Grounded in communities. Driving change at scale. Meet the final group of our speakers. #LusakaConference2026 #A2DSRH The 1st Continental Conference for Non-State Actors on Demographic Dividend and Reproductive Health is not only an institutional gathering—it is a coalition of practitioners, advocates, and decision-makers working at the intersection of policy and people, grounded in the realities of the communities they serve. The third group of opening ceremony leaders features a parliamentary health network chair, a university vice-chancellor, a tropical disease strategist, and a youth movement leader - voices that are both shaping policy and responding to lived realities on the ground. 📍 Lusaka | 8–10 April 2026 RH Counts: Invest. Act. Deliver. @UNAIDS @UNFPA @_AfricanUnion @Yplus_Global @ThipeFaith @ModouLaminBBah2 @cidrzinfo

Lusaka Speaks for Africa: A New Era for Non-State Actors Today, the air in Lusaka carries a different weight—it carries the voice of a continent. The 1st Continental Conference for Non-State Actors on Demographic Dividend and Reproductive Health has officially opened, marking a historic shift in how Africa addresses its most pressing challenges. For too long, non-state actors have been viewed as peripheral figures in the grand halls of policy. But today, as our HCID Director Mr. Symerre Grey-Johnson (@SymerreGrey) so powerfully declared on behalf of our CEO H.E. Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas (@nardosbthomas), they are no longer just observers. They are the agenda. The strength of Africa lies not just in its government offices, but in the tireless work of civil society, the moral leadership of faith communities, the vibrant energy of youth movements, the legislative oversight of parliamentarians, and the innovation of the private sector. These groups represent the “last mile”—the critical connection between high-level policy and the lived reality of millions. They provide an accountability layer that no government, no matter how well-intentioned, can replicate on its own. This week in Lusaka is about more than just speeches; it is about a collective alignment of purpose. We are here to commit to a future where reproductive health and the demographic dividend are prioritized as the foundations of sustainable development. As we move forward, the mission is clear: Invest. Act. Deliver. Because when non-state actors lead, Africa delivers. #A2DSRH #LusakaConference2026 #DemographicDividend #RHCounts #HCID #AUDANEPAD #AGENDA2063 @UNZA_ZM @_AfricanUnion @UNAIDS @UNFPA @MedRAP