On January 20, 2022, the Africa Academy for Public Health (AAPH) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, hosted an Annual Symposium in collaboration with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS). At this momentous occasion AAPH launched their 2^nd Strategic Plan for 2022-2026. Special guests included Minister Ummy Mwalimu, Minister of Health in Tanzania; Dr. Donald Wright, US Ambassador to Tanzania; Professor Wafaie Fawzi, Richard Saltonstall Professor of Population Sciences and Professor of Nutrition, Epidemiology, and Global Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Professor Kawshik Ramaiya, Chief Executive Officer at Shree Hindu Mandal Hospital, Dar es Salaam; and Professor Andrea Pembe at MUHAS.

Minister Ummy Mwalimu commended AAPH’s commitment to improve the health of communities in Tanzania and beyond as the organization aims to advance public health priorities of sub-Saharan Africa through innovative research, training, practical capacity building, and knowledge translation.

Mary Mwanyika- Sando, Chief Executive Officer at AAPH, speaking of the past accomplishments and future aspirations mentions that, “looking back, I can only attest our success to collaboration. The same is our way forward.”

Following this symposium, the Africa Research, Implementation Science, and Education (ARISE) Network met to discuss prospects of future interventional studies focused on adolescent health and nutrition in sub-Saharan Africa. ARISE is a network for collaborative education and research activities in Africa. The ARISE Network brings together colleagues and institutions from nine countries in Africa to advance training and regional research capacity.

The Harvard-affiliated Africa Academy for Public Health (AAPH) is a regional hub for health-related research, training and education, and knowledge translation. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Tanzanian academic and research institutions have been working together for over 40 years, which brought about the birth of AAPH 12 years ago to advance public health priorities in sub-Saharan Africa. AAPH’s strategic research partnerships have contributed greatly in strengthening the Tanzanian health sector.