The Inaugural African-Nordic
Health Summit
Rather than approaching women’s health as a set of disconnected interventions, the Summit asks: “How do we move from fragmented programs to integrated systems for women’s health, and from isolated pilots to partnerships capable of scaling impact?”
The inaugural African–Nordic Health Summit took place as a full-day convening on 22 January 2026 in Stockholm, Sweden, with a specific focus on women’s health.
The Stockholm Summit marks the launch of this first-of-its-kind platform, which will adopt a focused thematic lens each year. In 2026, the Summit will concentrate on women’s health as a concrete entry point to address broader questions of system integration, scale, and partnership design.
Speakers of 2026
The African–Nordic Health Summit 2026 will bring together a range of high-level speakers from across sectors, disciplines, and regions. Hear insights from leading voices in health. Learn more about them below:
Dr Douglas T. Mombeshora
Minister of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe
Dr. Florence G. Samiz
Deputy Minister of Health, Tanzania
Nina Larsson
Minister for Gender Equality, Sweden
Anita Erskine
Executive Director, Erskine Global Communications
Anna Frellsen
CEO, Maternity Foundation
Anja Langenbucher
Director, Europe Office, Gates Foundation
Abelone Melesse
Artist, Songwriter and Girls’ Rights Advocate
Cecilia Wikström
Chair of the Board, Elekta Foundation; Board Member, Elekta
Dr. Amani Idris Kikula
Senior Lecturer (Obstetrics and Gynaecology), Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
Dr. Cletos Masiya
Managing Director, Zarepath Health, Zimbabwe
Dr. Diane Gashumba
Ambassador of Rwanda and Dean of the Group of Women African
Dr. Githinji Gitahi
Group CEO, Amref Health Africa
Dr Gladwell Gathecha
Head of Division of Cancer and NCDs, Ministry of Health, Kenya
Dr. Uchenna Igbokwe
CEO, Solina Centre for International Development and Research, Nigeria
Elsebeth Søndergaard Krone
State Secretary for Development Policy, Denmark
Gunilla Carlsson
Chair of Sida’s Governing Board; Chair, Africa-Europe Foundation
Hugo Hagen
Vice President, Global Health Unit, Bayer
Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent
Chief Midwife, International Confederation of Midwives (ICM)
Jamesetta T. Smith
Director, Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries Unit (NCDI), Ministry of Health, Liberia
John-Arne Røttingen
CEO, Wellcome Trust
Karin Tegmark Wisell
Sweden’s Ambassador for Global Health
Lisbeth Erlands
Managing Director, Impact Fund Denmark
Luc Laviolette
Head of Secretariat, Global Financing Facility
María Barreix
Technical Officer, Maternal and Perinatal Health Unit, WHO
Maria Helling
CEO, Swecare
Margaret Lubaale
Executive Director of HENNET Kenya and GFF Investors Group CSO
Marie Rose Kayirangwa
Country Director, Jhpiego Rwanda
Mette Halborg Thorngaard
Partner, Dalberg Media
Naomi Kahiga
Clinical Officer, Kenya
Oleg Zhurov
Strategy & Operations Lead, Safe Birth, Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Petra Noreback
State Secretary to Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed, Sweden
Ponda Motsepe-Ditshego
Vice President, Inclusive Global Health and Impact, Amgen
Prof. Baba Mallam Gana
Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Borno State, Nigeria
Sanne Frost Helt
Senior Director, World Diabetes Foundation
Tore Lærdal
Founder, Laerdal Global Health
Ulla Elisabeth Müller
Chief, UNFPA Nordic Representation Office
Summit Partners in 2026
African-Nordic Health Summit
Get in touch at: health.summit@dalberg.com
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