On 17 December 2025, ADI brought together association representatives from across the African region for the annual ADI Africa regional member meeting, held online. The 3-hour meeting welcomed 32 participants from 17 countries, including Burundi, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. This annual meeting provides a vital space for member associations and Membership Development Programme (MDP) associations within the region to connect, reflect on shared challenges, exchange best practices and learn from one another. Despite differences in context, size and resources, the sense of solidarity and collaboration was evident throughout the meeting.
The meeting opened with general updates from ADI CEO Paola Barbarino; Deputy CEO and Director of Policy & Communications, Chris Lynch; Head of Membership, Laura Aubert and Head of Accreditation, Amalia Fonk-Utomo; offering members an overview of recent ADI developments and regional priorities.
Members then heard from Muriel Rason-Andriamaro from Madagascar Alzheimer Masoandro Mody, who delivered an insightful presentation on her association’s social media efforts, with a particular focus on how they manage their Facebook profile. Muriel shared practical strategies and demonstrated how consistent content, community engagement and clear messaging have led to significant growth in reach over the past few years. This was followed by a presentation from Dr Mataa M. Mataa from Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in Zambia (ADDIZ), who spoke about the restructuring and scaling up of the association. He highlighted how strategic changes and the development of strong partnerships have supported organisational growth and enabled the association to reach more people affected by dementia across the country. A presentation from Kudzai Mpunzwana from Zimbabwe Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Association (ZARDA)’s fundraising initiatives was also scheduled. Unfortunately, Kudzai was disconnected due to a power cut in her area – a reminder of the very real challenges many members face. Kudzai will record her presentation, which will be shared with members before the end of the year.
One of the highlights of the meeting was a fireside chat between Elaine Mateus from Federação Brasileira das Associações de Alzheimer (Febraz) and Diego Aguilar, ADI Regional Director for the Americas. Together, they shared observations and insights into how Brazil achieved a national dementia plan, walking participants through the different stages of the process, the challenges encountered, and practical tips for advocacy at a national level. The session offered valuable lessons and inspiration for members working towards similar goals in their own countries.
Fundraising remains one of the main challenges for many associations in the region. A dedicated session on Fundraising and Cases for Support, led by Rosie Houghton, ADI Corporate Partnerships Account Manager, addressed this directly. Rosie shared discussed how associations can better articulate their impact and funding needs. This was followed by breakout room discussions, where members reflected on where their associations currently stand in terms of fundraising strategies and identified areas they plan to focus on in the near future.
The meeting concluded with a short discussion on how to promote and raise funds to participate in the ADI Global Conference in Lyon, France next year. Members shared creative and achievable ideas, once again highlighting the innovation and determination present across the region.
Reflecting on the meeting, Laura Aubert, ADI Head of Membership, shared the following:
This meeting marked the final regional member meeting of the year, and it was a powerful reminder of just how much progress has been made across the Africa region. I continue to be incredibly impressed by the dedication, creativity and impact of our members, who achieve so much despite facing significant challenges, limited resources and, in many cases, a lack of external support. It is truly a privilege to collaborate with such committed and inspiring people
As the year comes to a close, the ADI Africa regional member meeting highlighted not only the challenges faced across the region, but also the strength, resilience and collaboration that continue to drive progress for people living with dementia and their families.
