Equity Group Holdings and AMREF International University (AMIU) have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen healthcare education, research, innovation, leadership development and entrepreneurship as part of a shared commitment to improving access to quality healthcare across Africa.
The partnership brings together the financial expertise of Equity Bank Kenya, the social impact and development experience of Equity Group Foundation (EGF) & Equity Afya, the insurance capabilities of Equity Life Assurance Kenya (ELAK), and the health education, research and innovation leadership of AMREF International University. By leveraging their complementary strengths, the institutions will advance healthcare education, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and community health programmes to build stronger health systems and improve healthcare outcomes across the continent.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Equity Group Managing Director and CEO and Equity Group Foundation Executive Director, Dr James Mwangi, said the partnership reflects Equity’s commitment to health systems strengthening through collaboration with institutions that possess deep sector expertise.
“Health cuts across every sector because good health drives productivity, and productivity creates prosperity. We have invested significantly in expanding access to quality, affordable healthcare, but we recognise that achieving meaningful impact requires working with specialised institutions. This partnership brings together world-class expertise, research capability and decades of experience in healthcare, strengthening our ability to build a more effective healthcare ecosystem,” said Dr Mwangi.
He added:
“This is an African partnership and reflects a new model of leadership built on collaboration. Doctors and other healthcare professionals are highly skilled practitioners, but entrepreneurship requires a different set of competencies. Together, we want to develop healthcare entrepreneurs who can establish and grow sustainable health facilities supported by innovative financing solutions.”
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AMREF International University Vice Chancellor, Prof Joachim Osur, said the partnership addresses one of Africa’s biggest healthcare challenges by helping health professionals transform technical knowledge into sustainable businesses that respond to community needs.
“The missing link has been transforming knowledge into monetised products through entrepreneurship. Many qualified healthcare professionals struggle to fully utilise their expertise because they rely solely on formal employment. Through this partnership, we will equip them with the entrepreneurial skills needed to build sustainable healthcare businesses while responding to the healthcare needs of our communities,” said Prof Osur.
“Nearly 80 per cent of Africans seek healthcare at the primary healthcare level. If we transform primary healthcare, we will transform healthcare across the continent while promoting greater equity in access to health services. This partnership gives us an opportunity to achieve that together,” he added.
Under the partnership, AMREF International University will provide expertise in health education, research, curriculum development, capacity building and healthcare innovation, alongside opportunities for internships, mentorship, scientific collaboration and professional training. Equity Bank Kenya will support healthcare infrastructure financing and experiential learning opportunities, while Equity Group Foundation will collaborate on health entrepreneurship, curriculum development, community health, climate and health initiatives, environmental conservation and humanitarian research. Equity Life Assurance Kenya will complement these efforts by promoting insurance literacy, expanding access to insurance solutions and providing technical risk management support.
The five-year collaboration is expected to strengthen healthcare leadership, accelerate innovation, foster health entrepreneurship and expand access to quality healthcare by combining Equity Group’s integrated ecosystem with AMREF International University’s expertise in health education, research and community health across Africa.
