Annual Meeting 2026 | Kigali, Rwanda

Mar 31

In mid-March 2026, the Annual Meeting of the GLISTEN Network was held to review progress on the objectives of the network and discuss strategy for the further development and expansion of the activities and programmes core to growth.

Member representatives from Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa and the United States of America gathered in-person in Kigali, Rwanda and remotely online for an extensive and interactive programme over two days.

The gathering leveraged the strong connections and relationships furthered since the inaugural meeting held in 2025 and covered a wide range of actions reflected in a review of the highlights of the year such as the formalisation of member roles and committee structures, signature of the consortium agreement, the launch of the online presence and the submission of grants led by members.

Key challenges addressed during the meeting included funding in the current environment, working with rural trial sites that cover large areas, clinician training and addressing NCDs with the current infectious disease infrastructure. These discussions enabled the identification of priorities for the network for the year ahead.

The strategic session focused on key questions including the expansion of the network to make it truly African and new ways to approach clinical trials without the high costs. The result is a clear vision, definitive goals and outputs for the next 12 months.

In line with its strategic vision, the network affirmed its mission to conduct disruptive, Africa-centered science that evaluates NCD interventions to inform policy, to develop research capacity for the next generation of African scientists and infrastructure, and to promote partnerships across the Global South.