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X-WR-CALNAME:Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation | Catalyzing Africa's Economic Transformation
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.foretiafoundation.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation | Catalyzing Africa's Economic Transformation
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DTSTART:20260101T000000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260716T090000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260716T110000
DTSTAMP:20260603T234331
CREATED:20260403T092640Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260603T084940Z
UID:10000416-1784192400-1784199600@www.foretiafoundation.org
SUMMARY:8th Operational Working Group: “The WHO PEN-Plus Framework: Pathways to Equitable Chronic Disease Coverage through Private Health Insurance in Cameroon”
DESCRIPTION:Date: July 16\, 2026\nTime: 09:00am – 11:00am\nVenue: COFE Hotel\, Yaoundé \nBackground \nNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) represent a growing public health and economic challenge in Cameroon\, accounting for an estimated 38% of all deaths and exposing households to significant financial hardship. With out-of-pocket payments representing over 65% of total health expenditure\, many Cameroonian households—particularly those affected by chronic conditions—face catastrophic health expenditures when seeking care. This burden is exacerbated by the long-term and predictable costs associated with chronic diseases such as diabetes\, hypertension\, sickle cell disease\, and cardiovascular conditions. \nWhile private health insurance (PHI) has the potential to complement public health financing efforts and improve financial protection\, coverage for chronic diseases remains largely excluded from PHI schemes in Cameroon. Insurers often perceive pre-existing and long-term conditions as financially risky\, resulting in exclusions\, waiting periods\, or unaffordable premiums. These challenges are further compounded by health system weaknesses\, including underdiagnosis\, limited access to specialized care\, and fragmented service delivery. \nThe World Health Organization’s PEN-Plus strategy offers a promising pathway to address these challenges. By standardizing and decentralizing the management of severe and chronic NCDs to first-level referral facilities\, PEN-Plus improves continuity\, predictability\, and quality of care. Cameroon has made initial progress in adopting PEN-Plus into national policies and operational plans; however\, implementation remains limited\, and the strategy has yet to be fully leveraged as a foundation for financial protection mechanisms\, including private health insurance. \nAgainst this backdrop\, the Health Policy and Research Division of the Nkafu Policy Institute developed the policy brief “The WHO PEN-Plus: A Framework to Promote Equitable Chronic Disease Coverage in Private Health Insurance.” This Operational Working Group (OWG) aims to build on the evidence presented in the brief to practically explore how PEN-Plus can be strategically linked with PHI reforms to enable equitable\, sustainable\, and inclusive coverage of chronic diseases in Cameroon. \nObjectives \n\nTo examine the findings and recommendations of the policy brief and assess their implications for chronic disease coverage under private health insurance in Cameroon.\nTo assess the feasibility of aligning the WHO PEN-Plus framework with private health insurance design\, financing\, and regulatory mechanisms.\nTo develop a structured and time-bound roadmap outlining priority actions\, responsible stakeholders\, and implementation pathways to promote equitable chronic disease coverage under private health insurance.\n\nExpected Outputs \nThe expected outputs are: \n\nRefined and validated priority recommendations to leverage PEN-Plus for private health insurance schemes design.\nA shared understanding of the key policy and operational reforms required to expand chronic disease coverage.\nA clear implementation roadmap detailing short-\, medium-\, and long-term actions\, lead institutions\, and coordination mechanisms.\n\nTarget Participants \nThis OWG will gather government representatives from the Ministry of Public Health (NCD and health financing units); officials from the Ministry of Finance and insurance regulatory bodies; private health insurance providers and actuarial experts; clinicians and program managers involved in NCD care and PEN-Plus implementation; health economists and health systems researchers; civil society organizations and patient advocacy groups representing people living with chronic diseases; development partners and technical agencies supporting NCD and UHC initiatives. \nVenue & Date \nThis OWG will take place on July 16\, 2026\, at COFE hotel (Yaoundé) from 09:00am – 11:00am. \nAbout the Organizers \n\nAbout the Denis And Lenora Foretia Foundation\n\nThe Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation was established to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation by focusing on social entrepreneurship\, science and technology\, innovation\, public health and progressive policies that create economic opportunities for all. The foundation works in partnership with local governments\, policy makers\, private enterprises\, civil society organizations as well as development partners to expand the resources available to entrepreneurs\, farmers\, and small business owners in addition to improving individual livelihoods. \n\nAbout the Nkafu Policy Institute\n\nThe Nkafu Policy Institute is an African think tank with a mission to provide independent\, in-depth and insightful policy recommendations that allows all Africans to prosper in free\, fair\, democratic and sustainable economies. The Institute is made up of analysts\, experts and researchers from all over the world\, working on a wide range of topics\, including governance and democracy\, health and education\, peace and security\, science and technology\, and economic policy.
URL:https://www.foretiafoundation.org/events/8th-operational-working-group/
LOCATION:Cofe Hotel\, Yaounde\, Cameroon
CATEGORIES:EPHI,Event,Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.foretiafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/8th-OWG.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Nkafu Policy Institute":MAILTO:info@foretiafoundation_org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260716T113000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260716T133000
DTSTAMP:20260603T234331
CREATED:20260403T093533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260603T085120Z
UID:10000417-1784201400-1784208600@www.foretiafoundation.org
SUMMARY:9th Operational Working Group: “Lessons from Community-Based Health Insurance for Scaling Universal Health Coverage in Cameroon”
DESCRIPTION:Date: July 16\, 2026\nTime: 11:00am – 1:30pm\nVenue: COFE Hotel\, Yaoundé \nBackground \nCameroon’s health financing system remains heavily reliant on out-of-pocket payments\, exposing households to financial hardship and limiting access to essential health services. Although the government launched Phase I of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program in 2023\, implementation remains selective and leaves significant segments of the population—particularly informal sector workers and rural communities—without adequate financial protection. \nCommunity-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) schemes have long been viewed as grassroots mechanisms to improve healthcare access and financial protection among underserved populations. In Cameroon\, CBHI initiatives have demonstrated strengths in fostering community trust\, promoting risk pooling at the local level\, and improving healthcare utilization among members. However\, challenges such as limited scale\, weak financial sustainability\, fragmented governance\, and insufficient integration into national health financing frameworks have constrained their broader impact. \nThe Nkafu Policy Institute’s paper “Lessons from Community-Based Health Insurance for Scaling Universal Health Coverage in Cameroon” highlights critical insights from CBHI experiences and outlines strategic lessons for strengthening and scaling health coverage nationwide. As Cameroon seeks to expand private health insurance (PHI) and accelerate progress toward UHC\, these lessons offer valuable guidance on inclusivity\, trust-building\, risk pooling\, governance\, and sustainability. \nThis Operational Working Group (OWG) aims to critically examine the paper’s recommendations and engage key stakeholders in developing a practical roadmap for leveraging CBHI experiences to strengthen and scale universal health coverage in Cameroon\, including synergies with private health insurance mechanisms \nObjectives \n\nTo examine and validate the recommendations of the policy brief on Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) and its relevance for scaling Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Cameroon.\nTo identify policy\, regulatory\, and institutional gaps limiting the implementation and sustainability of proposed recommendations.\nDevelop a practical and time-bound roadmap for leveraging CBHI lessons to strengthen UHC implementation and inform the expansion of inclusive private health insurance mechanisms.\n\nExpected Outputs \nThe expected outputs are: \n\nPriority policy insights from the CBHI experience validated by stakeholders and applicable to national UHC and PHI reforms.\nA clear articulation of key reform areas\, including governance\, financing\, risk pooling\, community engagement\, and institutional coordination.\nA structured roadmap outlining short-\, medium-\, and long-term actions\, identifying responsible actors and strategic entry points for implementation of the validated recommendations.\n\nTarget Participants \nThis Operational Working Group will convene representatives from the Ministry of Public Health\, particularly the UHC units\, the Ministry of Finance\, and relevant regulatory authorities\, alongside managers of Community-Based Health Insurance schemes\, private health insurance providers\, health economists\, and health systems researchers. The session will also include civil society organizations\, community leaders\, and development partners involved in health financing and social protection reforms. \nVenue & Date \nThis OWG will take place on July 16\, 2026\, at COFE hotel (Yaoundé) from 11:00am – 1:30pm. \nAbout the Organizers \n\nAbout the Denis And Lenora Foretia Foundation\n\nThe Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation was established to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation by focusing on social entrepreneurship\, science and technology\, innovation\, public health and progressive policies that create economic opportunities for all. The foundation works in partnership with local governments\, policy makers\, private enterprises\, civil society organizations as well as development partners to expand the resources available to entrepreneurs\, farmers\, and small business owners in addition to improving individual livelihoods. \n\nAbout the Nkafu Policy Institute\n\nThe Nkafu Policy Institute is an African think tank with a mission to provide independent\, in-depth and insightful policy recommendations that allows all Africans to prosper in free\, fair\, democratic and sustainable economies. The Institute is made up of analysts\, experts and researchers from all over the world\, working on a wide range of topics\, including governance and democracy\, health and education\, peace and security\, science and technology\, and economic policy.
URL:https://www.foretiafoundation.org/events/9th-operational-working-group/
LOCATION:Cofe Hotel\, Yaounde\, Cameroon
CATEGORIES:EPHI,Event,Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.foretiafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/9th-OWG.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Nkafu Policy Institute":MAILTO:info@foretiafoundation_org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260716T140000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260716T160000
DTSTAMP:20260603T234331
CREATED:20260403T103538Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260603T085134Z
UID:10000418-1784210400-1784217600@www.foretiafoundation.org
SUMMARY:10th Operational Working Group: “Expanding Private Health Insurance in Cameroon: Insights\, Challenges\, and a Roadmap for Inclusive Coverage”
DESCRIPTION:Date: July 16\, 2026\nTime: 2:00pm – 4:00pm\nVenue: COFE Hotel\, Yaoundé\, Cameroon \nBackground \nThe research report “Expanding Private Health Insurance in Cameroon: Insights\, Challenges\, and a Roadmap for Inclusive Coverage” is developed within the framework of a broader project aimed at strengthening health financial protection and accelerating progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Cameroon. Drawing on primary research\, operational working groups\, policy briefs\, and peer-reviewed publications\, the report synthesizes extensive evidence to propose a strategic and actionable roadmap for expanding private health insurance (PHI) in an inclusive\, equitable\, and sustainable manner. \nThe report examines Cameroon’s healthcare and health insurance landscape\, governance and regulatory frameworks\, equity and inclusion gaps\, consumer trust and perceptions\, digital innovation pathways\, and the integration of PHI within the UHC agenda. It culminates in a structured roadmap built around strategic pillars including regulatory strengthening\, inclusive coverage models\, public–private collaboration\, digital systems\, public awareness\, and sustainability mechanisms. \nAs the project approaches its consolidation phase\, it is essential to validate the proposed structure\, strategic pillars and action points with key stakeholders to ensure relevance\, feasibility\, and ownership. This Operational Working Group (OWG) will provide a platform for expert review\, constructive feedback\, and consensus-building around the report’s final recommendations and implementation roadmap. \nObjectives \n\nTo review and validate the proposed structure\, analytical framework\, and strategic pillars of the research report.\nTo assess the feasibility and relevance of the proposed recommendations in light of Cameroon’s institutional\, regulatory\, and market realities.\nTo refine and strengthen the roadmap for implementation\, identifying priority actions\, responsible stakeholders\, and realistic sequencing of reforms.\n\nExpected Outputs \nThe expected outputs are: \n\nA validated and strengthened outline of the research report\, reflecting stakeholder inputs and technical alignment.\nA refined set of actionable and prioritized recommendations for expanding private health insurance in Cameroon.\nClear guidance on implementation pathways\, including institutional responsibilities\, coordination mechanisms\, and monitoring considerations.\n\nTarget Participants \nThis Operational Working Group will convene senior representatives from the Ministry of Public Health\, Ministry of Finance\, and regulatory authorities\, alongside private health insurance providers\, health economists\, legal and governance experts\, digital health innovators\, civil society organizations\, and development partners. Participation will prioritize individuals with decision-making authority and technical expertise to ensure that the validation process produces practical and implementable outcomes. \nVenue & Date \nThis OWG will take place on July 16\, 2026\, at COFE hotel (Yaoundé) from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. \nAbout the Organizers \n\nAbout the Denis And Lenora Foretia Foundation\n\nThe Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation was established to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation by focusing on social entrepreneurship\, science and technology\, innovation\, public health and progressive policies that create economic opportunities for all. The foundation works in partnership with local governments\, policy makers\, private enterprises\, civil society organizations as well as development partners to expand the resources available to entrepreneurs\, farmers\, and small business owners in addition to improving individual livelihoods. \n\nAbout the Nkafu Policy Institute\n\nThe Nkafu Policy Institute is an African think tank with a mission to provide independent\, in-depth and insightful policy recommendations that allows all Africans to prosper in free\, fair\, democratic and sustainable economies. The Institute is made up of analysts\, experts and researchers from all over the world\, working on a wide range of topics\, including governance and democracy\, health and education\, peace and security\, science and technology\, and economic policy.
URL:https://www.foretiafoundation.org/events/10th-operational-working-group-expanding-private-health-insurance-in-cameroon-insights-challenges-and-a-roadmap-for-inclusive-coverage/
LOCATION:Cofe Hotel\, Yaounde\, Cameroon
CATEGORIES:EPHI,Event,Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.foretiafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/10th-OWG.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Nkafu Policy Institute":MAILTO:info@foretiafoundation_org
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