Decolonizing public health in Africa: What role can Global North nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) play?

Introduction: Our work has examined the controversial role of NGOs in health development in Africa. NGOs are criticized for perpetuating the power structures of domination inherited from colonialism by appropriating development assistance for health (DAH) resources, thereby replacing national governments on the ground and imposing their own agenda in the provision of health services to populations. Methods: We have utilized two sources of knowledge to address this concern. A review of the literature published after 2014 was used to explain the inappropriate practices of the development aid industry in relation to the health sector in Africa. Next, the authors' experiences in dealing with this situation were drawn on to define a new partnership for global public health that meets Africa's needs. Results: The strategy of Africa's Global North partners is increasingly to use NGOs as the preferred intermediaries for their support, accusing African countries of being corrupt and incompetent. With the resources they appropriate, the NGOs take the place of national governments on the ground and, in many cases, undermine four key pillars in the development of any health system: governance, financing, human resources, and the provision of services, thereby contributing to the ongoing weakening of healthcare systems in Africa. The accompaniment approach, in which donors transfer DAH resources to governments, who in turn choose the NGOs they wish to work with, would be a more beneficial partnership for Africa. The fight against corruption and the strengthening of Africa's capacity for health action would be technical-assistance priorities in a new partnership grounded in mutual trust. Discussion: The decolonization of public health in Africa is underway. Africa offers TFPs and NGOs a new partnership based on trust, in which it decides on the health agenda and the support model that will be most beneficial to it.