The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a framework for South-South cooperation to advance knowledge exchange, capacity development, standards and interoperability, responsible artificial intelligence, scientific collaboration, and mutual learning across both regions.

Guatemala / Ghana, October 2026. The Collaborative Network of the Americas on Health Informatics (RECAINSA) and the Pan African Health Informatics Association (HELINA) have formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a framework for collaboration to strengthen digital health cooperation between Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and Africa.

The alliance brings together two regional networks with complementary trajectories and shared challenges in digital health governance, capacity development, interoperability, innovation, and knowledge generation. Through this agreement, RECAINSA and HELINA will promote the exchange of experiences, methodologies, good practices, evidence, and lessons learned from their respective regional contexts, with the aim of strengthening cooperation between both regions and fostering peer-to-peer learning.

The MoU identifies several priority areas for collaboration, including joint knowledge exchange activities; health information standards and interoperability; responsible and ethical artificial intelligence; regional exchanges and Digital Health Convergence Workshops; scientific collaboration, research, and evidence generation; capacity development and communities of practice; and strengthened South-South cooperation among networks and institutions across both regions.

Building a Bridge for South-South Cooperation Between Africa and LAC

A central component of the alliance is the strengthening of linkages between the digital health ecosystems of both regions, facilitating exchanges among professionals, institutions, technical communities, academia, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders engaged in digital health transformation.

RECAINSA and HELINA will seek to promote peer learning and enable greater circulation and visibility of knowledge, experiences, and evidence generated across Africa and LAC.

The agreement also seeks to contribute to greater representation of perspectives from both regions in regional and global discussions related to digital health governance, standards, research, capacity development, and health system transformation.

“Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean share many challenges, but they also share an extraordinary capacity to generate knowledge, innovation, and learning from within their own contexts. This alliance with HELINA will enable us to connect our communities, learn from one another, and strengthen a more structured South-South cooperation agenda around shared priorities for the digital transformation of our health systems,” said Joseline Carías Galeano, Executive Director of RECAINSA.

“Oceans may separate our continents, but necessity has forged a singular voice. In the quiet brilliance of our own contexts lies the blueprint for our wellness where knowledge shared across the South turns local resilience into global light. When Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean connect their digital horizons, we do not just transform health systems rather we reclaim the power of our monumental act of collective healing. ” said Sosthenes Elias Bagumhe, President of HELINA

Standards and Interoperability

The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a specific area of collaboration on health information standards and interoperability, focused on the exchange of experiences, implementation approaches, tools, technical capacities, and lessons learned across both regions.

In this area, the agreement recognizes RECAINSA’s role as the legal and financial host of HL7 Central America and Dominican Republic (HL7 CAM), the first regional affiliate in the history of HL7 International, bringing together eight countries.

This linkage will enable the Parties to explore technical exchanges and capacity development activities related to HL7 standards, including HL7 FHIR®, implementation guides, interoperability testing, and other standards-based approaches. The agreement also provides a framework for exploring technical workshops, demonstrations, interoperability laboratories, connectathons, and other practical mechanisms for learning and exchange among specialists from both regions.

“Interoperability is not only a technological challenge; it requires capacity, governance, shared standards, and collaboration across institutions. This agreement creates a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences between Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean and to strengthen the practical implementation of international standards across diverse contexts,” said Daniel Otzoy, CEO of HL7 Central America and Dominican Republic (HL7 CAM).

Responsible and Ethical Artificial Intelligence

RECAINSA and HELINA will also promote the exchange of experiences, frameworks, policies, and lessons learned related to the responsible and ethical governance, development, implementation and evaluation of artificial intelligence in health.

Collaboration may address regulatory, ethical, technical, and institutional dimensions, including transparency, accountability, equity, safety, privacy, and human oversight.

Both networks may also develop capacity-building activities, dialogue, research, and knowledge generation initiatives on artificial intelligence in health, with particular attention to the realities and priorities of Africa and LAC.

Regional Exchanges and Digital Health Convergence Workshops

The agreement also provides for the exchange of experiences, methodologies, evidence, and lessons learned related to Digital Health Convergence Workshops and other multi-stakeholder engagement mechanisms.

RECAINSA and HELINA may facilitate exchanges among policymakers, technical experts, academic institutions, civil society organizations, professional networks, private-sector actors, and development partners from both regions.

The alliance also opens opportunities to co-design spaces for dialogue, learning, and collaboration between Africa and LAC around shared digital health priorities.

Capacity Development and Communities of Practice

Capacity development is another priority area under the MoU. Both organizations may develop training programs, technical workshops, mentorship initiatives, peer-learning activities, and exchanges among communities of practice, technical groups, and professional networks from Africa and LAC.

The collaboration will also seek to facilitate the exchange of educational materials, methodologies, teaching experiences, and other resources that contribute to strengthening institutional and professional capacities across both regions.

Research, Evidence, and Knowledge Generation

RECAINSA and HELINA will promote scientific collaboration and evidence generation through research, publications, case studies, policy papers, technical documents, and other knowledge products addressing areas of shared interest.

The agreement also provides opportunities for collaboration among researchers, academic institutions, technical experts, and professional networks, as well as engagement in scientific review processes, thematic development, and knowledge dissemination.

Through this alliance, both organizations seek to contribute to documenting and increasing the visibility of experiences and lessons learned from Africa and LAC, while strengthening their presence in regional and global digital health spaces.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding establishes a long-term platform for cooperation between RECAINSA and HELINA and opens a new chapter for connecting knowledge, capacities, communities, and experiences across both regions.

An Invitation to Collaborate

RECAINSA and HELINA invite public institutions, academic organizations, professional networks, civil society organizations, international organizations, development partners, foundations, private-sector actors and other organizations interested in digital health transformation to learn more about this alliance and explore opportunities for collaboration.

Both organizations welcome engagement with regional and global partners interested in contributing technical expertise, knowledge, research, capacity development, interregional exchange or supporting the development and implementation of future joint initiatives.

Organizations interested in technical or strategic collaboration, or in exploring mechanisms to support activities arising from this agreement, are invited to contact RECAINSA or HELINA through their institutional channels.

About RECAINSA

The Collaborative Network of the Americas on Health Informatics (RECAINSA) is a non-governmental, nonprofit organization that promotes digital health transformation across Latin America and the Caribbean. Its work is structured around four strategic pillars: governance and institutional strengthening; capacity development and digital culture; regional coordination and communities of practice; and evidence and knowledge generation for decision-making.

About HELINA

The Pan African Health Informatics Association (HELINA) promotes the strengthening of health and biomedical informatics across Africa and serves as the regional African representation within the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA). Its work is focused on supporting the digital transformation of African health systems, strengthening health informatics capacity, and promoting standards-based approaches.

Institutional Contacts

RECAINSA
info@recainsa.org 

https://recainsa.org

HELINA

president@helina.africa

www.helina.africa