Accelerating access to assistive technology: African Regional workshop report

WHO and UNICEF convened the Regional workshop on accelerating access to assistive technology in Nairobi, Kenya, from 9 to 11 June 2026. The workshop brought together 89 participants from 14 African countries, alongside civil society organizations and partners, to review progress, share country experiences and identify priorities for strengthening access to assistive technology across the Region.

Structured around the five pillars of the WHO-GATE framework: People; Policy and finance; Products; Provision; and Personnel, the workshop combined technical presentations, country experience sharing and national planning. Countries identified priorities including stronger policy and financing, improved supply and provision systems, workforce development, user empowerment, and better data and information systems.

The workshop formed part of a series of WHO–UNICEF regional workshops on assistive technology, following meetings held in Brazil and Indonesia in 2023 and Egypt in 2024, and built on lessons and experience from these earlier workshops. This report summarizes the discussions, country experiences and priority actions emerging from the African Regional workshop.