Foi Science made headlines in Nairobi this week by winning first place at AfyaFest 2025, a major gathering of innovators and health leaders from across the continent. For founder Nomahlubi Nompunga, walking to the stage to receive the prize was more than a victory moment, it was a celebration of a mission that blends science, sustainability and community empowerment.
Foi Science has built its name as a pioneering South African cosmetics company that harnesses African biodiversity for sustainable beauty solutions. Its work goes far beyond skincare, transforming food waste into healing biopolymers, building digital health tools and empowering rural women and youth. For Nomahlubi and her team, the AfyaFest win is a reminder that business can be a force for social good and environmental care.
AfyaFest itself was held from August 26 to 28 in Nairobi, hosted by Amref Health Africa and Amref International University, with the Africa Health Collaborative as the main organizer. The event drew innovators, policymakers, funders and researchers from Kenya, Ethiopia, Senegal, Rwanda, Ghana, South Africa, Mauritius and Canada. At its core, the festival was about finding answers to Africa’s twin challenges: improving health systems while building resilience to climate change. It provided a platform for practical solutions that can make a real difference in people’s lives, from community-led maternal care to climate-smart health responses designed for vulnerable populations.
The urgency is clear. Climate disruptions are making health burdens worse across Africa. According to the World Health Organization, climate change could cause an additional 250,000 deaths each year between 2030 and 2050 from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress. Heatwaves, droughts and floods are already fueling the spread of disease while limiting access to healthcare, putting further strain on fragile health systems. Against this backdrop, AfyaFest stood as a rallying point to rethink how Africa’s health systems can adapt and grow stronger in the face of these pressures.
What made the gathering unique was its emphasis on African-led solutions. Innovators across the continent are already addressing complex health problems with ideas shaped by local realities. From mobile clinics reaching remote communities to digital platforms that track vaccine delivery in real time, these homegrown approaches are cost-effective and deeply relevant. AfyaFest gave them visibility, networks and momentum, linking them to policy and investment so they can scale across borders. The festival also showed how Francophone and Anglophone Africa can come together in collaborative action, sharing lessons and building partnerships that go beyond language and geography.
Foi Science’s win symbolized this spirit of innovation and collaboration. By using science to tackle waste, create new materials and empower women and youth, the company embodies how business can contribute to both health and climate action. Its recognition at AfyaFest highlights the importance of supporting enterprises that deliver impact on multiple fronts.
Amref’s role in hosting the event marked another important shift. Academic institutions are no longer just places of theory but are becoming centres of action, co-creating the future of healthcare, training the next generation of leaders and grounding policy in evidence from the field. The Africa Health Collaborative plays a similar role by supporting local incubators and working alongside ministries of health to strengthen ecosystems for innovation.
Youth also stood out at this year’s AfyaFest. Africa has the youngest population in the world and their leadership is vital in shaping the continent’s future. The festival featured youth-led sessions that put young voices at the centre of designing health solutions. Their role in advancing Primary Health Care is especially critical. This model of care, which brings services closer to communities, ensures prevention, early intervention and continuity of care, making health systems more resilient and accessible for everyone, particularly in underserved areas.
Kenya provided an ideal backdrop for the festival. As the country pursues Universal Health Coverage while also serving as a regional technology hub, it represents the kind of environment where health innovation can thrive. But AfyaFest also reminded participants that innovation must be inclusive. Women, youth and rural communities, groups too often left behind, must be placed at the heart of designing and scaling solutions.
In the end, AfyaFest was more than a three-day event. It was a call to action to champion African-led solutions that build stronger health systems and protect communities against climate risks. Foi Science’s win is a story of what is possible when science meets purpose, when businesses take responsibility for people and the planet, and when innovators from across the continent come together to drive change. It is a reminder that progress in health and climate resilience is not a distant goal but something that can be shaped now with bold ideas, collaboration and the courage to act.
