Title : Inclusive partnerships in global health– What can we learn from team Europe initiatives in Africa?

Inclusive and equitable partnerships are increasingly recognized as essential for effective and sustainable global health cooperation. As the European Union strengthens its role as a global development actor, Team Europe Initiatives (TEIs) have emerged as a key mechanism for coordinating the efforts of EU institutions, Member States, and implementing partners around shared priorities. While TEIs are founded on principles of partnership, inclusiveness, and local ownership, questions remain regarding how these principles are translated into practice and how power is distributed among actors involved in their design and implementation.

This mixed-method study examined the inclusiveness of health-related Team Europe Initiatives in Africa by a quantitative part, including a geographical distribution of patterns of engagement across regions and participating EU Member States. Second, giving insights of perceptions of actors involved in TEIs in health, from both European and African point of view, regarding perceptions of inclusiveness, partnership dynamics, power relations, and the implementation processes in TEIs.

The findings show that health-related TEIs are predominantly concentrated in Africa, although participation among EU Member States varies considerably. Stakeholders generally viewed the initiative model as a promising approach for strengthening collaboration, fostering trust, improving coordination, and supporting more stable long-term engagement. Many participants highlighted the potential of TEIs to increase the coherence and visibility of European global health action.

However, the study also identified persistent challenges related to inclusiveness and power-sharing. Interviewees described decision-making processes as often being driven by European actors, with limited opportunities for local partners to influence priorities, resource allocation, and programme design. While local ownership is a stated objective of the Team Europe approach, stakeholders reported that unequal access to decision-making forums and resources can reinforce existing power asymmetries between European and African partners. These dynamics risk limiting meaningful participation and reducing the extent to which initiatives reflect local needs and priorities.

The presentation will discuss the implications of these findings for the future of EU–Africa health cooperation and broader debates on equitable global health partnerships. It will explore how strengthening the role of partner-country actors in governance, agenda-setting, and implementation can contribute to more balanced partnerships and enhance the legitimacy, effectiveness, and sustainability of Team Europe Initiatives.

Dr. med. Saskia-Linda Stämmler is a medical doctor completing her anesthesiology residency in Germany, with a focus on acute and intensive care medicine. She holds a Master’s degree in Global Health from the Karolinska Institute, graduating with distinction. Her doctoral research focused on malaria, sepsis, and epidemiology in children in Africa. Her academic interests include global health ethics, health equity, and sustainable health systems. She has been active in health policy advocacy and political education, co-initiated the “Movement Snacks” project at Karolinska, and currently serves as Chair of Endulen e.V., supporting healthcare education and hospital development in Tanzania.