Global health

Healthcare systems around the world are facing increasingly complex crises: pandemics, climate change, staff shortages, antimicrobial resistance, inequalities in access to care… Gaps persist: Today, a person born in a low-income country lives on average 18 years less than in a high-income country (World Bank). Health shocks weaken economies, exacerbate poverty and threaten social stability.

Risks know no borders. Strengthening global health has become a strategic imperative. More resilient, equitable and better prepared health systems save lives but also protect livelihoods, avert humanitarian crises and support sustainable development. For international cooperation, investing in health means investing in security, prosperity and global stability.

4.5
billion people

In 2021, about 4.5 billion people, more than half of the world’s population, did not have access to essential health care.

Priorities


We are working to build the capacity of local institutions and players to guarantee health services that can withstand current and future shocks and respond effectively to the needs of the population.

“One Health”: Enabel supports systems capable of better anticipating, preventing and responding to health crises by linking human, animal and environmental health. This comprehensive vision makes it possible to prevent health risks linked to interactions between species and environmental changes.
But health is not just about care. We integrate socio-economic factors, living conditions and food systems into our actions and propose sustainable solutions that reduce inequalities.

Skills, innovation and digitisation: Enabel has many years’ experience in initial and continuing training of healthcare staff and draws on an international network of experts to enhance skills, improve human resources management and support the quality of healthcare provision. Enabel also deploys innovative solutions, particularly in digital health, to modernise healthcare systems.

Equitable access and social health protection: Enabel supports the implementation of health coverage mechanisms, financial planning and the structuring of accessible services, in order to reduce inequalities, protect households and support progress towards universal health coverage.

Consistency with international priorities: Our action is in line with the strategies of Belgium and the European Union, while responding to global challenges: equal opportunities, demographic transition, climate, peace and stability. This consistency strengthens the impact and legitimacy of our actions.

Fair and sustainable partnerships: Our added value is based on solid collaborations with governments, local communities and private-public players. Our dual presence – at institutional level and in communities – enables us to influence public policy while bringing about tangible changes in everyday life.

Man working in a hospital laboratory


Services


Enabel organises its services through different gateways to the healthcare system:

  • Strengthening health systems in a comprehensive way through solid partnerships
  • Social Health Protection
  • Access to and quality of essential medicines
  • Equipment and infrastructure management
  • Health human resources
  • Digital health and data
  • Climate and health
  • Sexual and reproductive health and rights
  • Non-transmissible diseases
  • Mental health
  • Malaria

Experience

Local production of medicines and vaccines

The MAV+ project supports the African Union’s objective of producing vaccines and medicines locally and strengthening the African pharmaceutical ecosystem. It is financed by the European Union, Belgium, France, Germany and the European Investment Bank (EUR 1.9 billion) and notably supports Senegal.

Enabel is developing local pharmaceutical production, reducing external dependence and improving access to health care. In 2024, Senegal reached level 3 of regulatory maturity of the World Health Organisation, which guarantees a high level of regulation. Enabel is also promoting a Team Belgium approach by mobilising the expertise of Quamed, the Federal Agency for Medicines and Products, and Sciensano.

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Combating sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Fight against Sexual Violence (PLVS) and the Fight against Sexual Violence and Impunity (LVSI) programmes aim to reduce sexual violence and its consequences in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The programmes are funded by Belgium and ensure that survivors receive medical, psychosocial and legal care, while reinforcing prevention and the fight against impunity.

Activities include the creation of integrated centres for victims, training for health professionals, magistrates and police officers, and community awareness campaigns. The project also supports the justice system by making it easier to register complaints and follow up judgements, while promoting the social reintegration of survivors.

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Access to quality health care in Burundi

The health programme, supported by the Belgian cooperation, is working to improve access to quality health care for all, particularly women and vulnerable people, in the provinces of Cibitoke, Kirundo and Bujumbura. Enabel’s work includes mental and reproductive health, the development of district surgery, the digitisation of the health information system and the training of medical staff.

Enabel also supports the introduction of social protection mechanisms to move towards universal health coverage.

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Digital health systems

In Burundi, the National Health IT Development Plan aims to modernise the health information system to improve data quality and support decision-making. The programme is funded by Belgium and introduced digital tools for collecting and managing information, deployed the DHIS2 software for managing health data, and created a data centre to centralise and secure data.

It has integrated technologies into the management of human resources and healthcare products, while training professionals in healthcare IT.

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