This official side event at the 3rd International Conference on Public Health in Africa will convene experts from international, national, and regional health systems institutions to discuss and reflect on their experience with key systems thinking approaches, capacity strengthening in the application of systems thinking in health and the competencies required. Through review of evidence and interactive discussions, experts will engage in structured activities to define how systems thinking can promote health system resilience and improve individual and institutional capacities to achieve essential public health functions and universal health coverage. The side event will provide a platform for collective learning and knowledge-sharing, advancing the continent’s achievement of UHC, health security, and contributing to the effective implementation of the New Public Health Order.