Africa CDC wants donors and implementing partners to disclose how Ebola response funds are spent, warning that financial commitments must translate into services for affected communities.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has called for stricter financial accountability in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola response, urging international partners to demonstrate how pledged funds are reaching affected communities.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the continental public health agency backed the DRC government’s position on strengthening transparency, traceability and accountability in the management of resources mobilised to contain the outbreak.
The call comes after donors and partners pledged US$2.9 billion towards the Ebola response, raising questions about how quickly the commitments will be disbursed and whether the money will reach health facilities, frontline workers and communities affected by the disease.
Africa CDC said every dollar should be traceable from the initial donor commitment to the services ultimately delivered to communities.
“All national and international partners are called upon to align their interventions with national response priorities and to provide, in a complete and timely manner, the required financial and operational information,” the agency said.
The information should cover funds received, expenditure, areas of intervention and results achieved.
The agency’s position aligns with priorities established during a high-level meeting convened on August 5, 2026, under the leadership of DRC President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, which emphasised coordination and financial accountability in the Ebola response.
Africa CDC said it had consistently advocated for comprehensive monitoring of resources allocated to the response since the meeting.
The funding accountability push gained further momentum during the G20 Ministerial Meeting hosted by the United States in New York on September 23, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
DRC Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka used the meeting to urge donors to translate their financial commitments into rapid disbursements and effective implementation.
Africa CDC said its role in the response encompasses mobilising resources through engagement with donors and partners, facilitating and monitoring the disbursement of financial commitments, and providing high-level technical assistance in priority areas.
To strengthen oversight, the agency plans to work with the DRC government and its partners to improve its Financial Tracking Mechanism. The system is intended to consolidate financial and operational information, identify funding gaps and reduce duplication among organisations responding to the outbreak.
The agency also backed national accountability mechanisms, including administrative action, where appropriate, against organisations that fail to meet applicable transparency and reporting requirements. Any such action would be undertaken in accordance with national laws and procedures.
The emphasis on accountability highlights the importance of ensuring that large-scale emergency funding translates into practical public health interventions, including timely care, protection for affected communities and support for frontline response operations.
For the DRC, where Ebola outbreaks have repeatedly tested public health preparedness and response systems, coordination among government institutions, donors and implementing partners remains central to controlling the disease.
Africa CDC said it would continue working with the government and other partners to end the epidemic, strengthen public confidence and ensure resources dedicated to the response deliver timely care and protection.
The agency, an autonomous public health institution of the African Union, supports member states in strengthening health systems, disease surveillance and preparedness for health emergencies.
