Our Programs
At AFREHO, we believe that lasting change begins with deliberate, community-centred action.
Our programs are designed to address the most pressing environmental health challenges across Africa , from climate resilience and clean water access to youth inclusion, emergency response and green economic transformation.
Each program reflects our commitment to evidence-based practice, strong leadership and sustainable impact. Explore our work below and discover how AFREHO is building a healthier future for Africa.
Environmental Health Leadership
Environmental health challenges across Africa cannot be solved by technology alone—they require visionary leaders who can navigate complex political landscapes, mobilize communities, and drive systemic change. AFREHO’s Environmental Health Leadership program is designed to identify, train, and empower the next generation of environmental health leaders across the continent. We believe that strong leadership is the foundation upon which sustainable environmental health systems are built.
Climate Resilience & Smart Systems
Africa is on the frontlines of climate change, facing rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, extreme weather events, and profound impacts on food security, water availability, and public health. AFREHO’s Climate Resilience & Smart Systems program responds to these challenges by promoting integrated, technology-enabled solutions that help communities anticipate, adapt to, and thrive in a changing climate.
Safe water, dignified sanitation, and good hygiene practices are fundamental to human health and well-being. Yet across Africa, millions of people still lack access to these basic necessities. AFREHO’s WASH program addresses this gap through integrated, community-centered interventions that go beyond infrastructure to embrace behavior change, institutional strengthening, and sustainable service delivery models.
Research & Innovation
Effective environmental health policy and practice must be built on a foundation of rigorous, context-appropriate research. Yet Africa has long been underserved by environmental health research that reflects its diverse realities and priorities. AFREHO’s Research & Innovation program addresses this gap by supporting and conducting high-quality research that generates locally relevant evidence, informs policy, and drives practical innovation.
Youth & Gender Inclusion
Africa is the world’s youngest continent, with 60% of its population under the age of 25. This demographic reality presents both an unprecedented opportunity and an urgent responsibility. AFREHO’s Youth & Gender Inclusion program recognizes that lasting environmental health transformation cannot be achieved without the full participation of young people and the equitable inclusion of women and girls in all aspects of environmental health policy, practice, and governance.
Across Africa, communities face increasing threats from natural disasters, disease outbreaks, conflict-induced displacement, and technological hazards. These emergencies disrupt essential services, compromise water and sanitation systems, create hazardous living conditions, and expose vulnerable populations to profound environmental health risks. AFREHO’s Emergency Response program ensures that environmental health is central to humanitarian action—from the first hours of a crisis through recovery and reconstruction.
Circular Economy & Green Jobs
Africa’s rapidly growing cities and economies are generating unprecedented volumes of waste—plastic, electronic, organic, and industrial. Traditional linear models of “take-make-dispose” are straining infrastructure, polluting environments, and threatening public health. AFREHO’s Circular Economy & Green Jobs program champions a different vision: one where waste becomes resource, where materials are kept in use, and where environmental protection goes hand-in-hand with economic opportunity.