WACI Health at the World Health Summit

In October, WACI Health  joined global health stakeholders for the World Health Summit in Berlin, centered on the theme, “Building Trust for a Healthier World.” This year’s theme underscored the pressing need to restore confidence in health systems strained by inequities in a more complex global governance landscape. As Dr. Tedros A. Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, said in his opening: “Trust itself does not make people healthy, but no one can be healthy without trust.”

Civil society plays a critical role in building the trust necessary for effective health interventions. For WACI Health, the Summit was a vital platform to engage with civil society colleagues and experts around the world working to advance health equity, as well as partners from global health institutions, private sector, academia, and governments. The discussions reinforced the transformative shifts needed to build and maintain health systems that are resilient, well-resourced, and people-centered.

Highlights from our engagement at the World Health Summit:

Panel on Regional Manufacturing of Health Technologies
Rosemary Mburu, Executive Director of WACI Health, took part in a panel hosted by Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The session delved into regional manufacturing of medicines and other health technologies. Our intervention highlighted the need to create demand for locally-manufactured products through effective engagement with country governments and civil society. Ms Mburu emphasized the importance of including civil society and communities through all stages of the R&D process to ensure there is a market for the solutions that are being developed and they respond to the needs on the ground. The conversation was a powerful reminder of the role of regional manufacturing in building health resilience in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Collaboration with CEPI
As a civil society delegate with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Rosemary Mburu joined various discussions with CEPI and other LMIC representatives. The civil society delegates shared their knowledge and insights on ways to strengthen collaboration for pandemic preparedness. More needs to be done to elevate these voices in global pandemic preparedness conversations, and ensure equitable access to vaccines and treatments in future crises.

Town Hall with the Global Fund
Rosemary Mburu moderated a town hall discussion with Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, and fellow advocates of the Global Fund. The discussion offered an invaluable opportunity to discuss the Fund’s impact on communities and strategize together for its 8th Replenishment. Last month, the Global Fund Advocates Network (GFAN) released 8 Asks for the 8th Replenishment, a set of priorities that aim to maximize the Global Fund’s capacity to serve the world’s most vulnerable communities and set a renewed vision for global health. 

Intervention at the ONE Campaign’s Global Health Lab
WACI Health joined a critical discussion on the changing landscape of global health financing at the ONE Campaign’s Global Health Lab session. The session examined the mounting challenges to bridging funding gaps, especially in Africa, as donor support stagnates and an increasing number of global challenges reshape the landscape. WACI Health’s intervention called for a restructuring of the global financing ecosystem with a framework that better aligns resources to meet the needs of all nations, especially those in the Global South. We must ensure a more effective and equitable resource allocation that strengthens health systems in our countries and builds long-term sustainability.

Throughout the sessions, we noted the role of African leadership and the importance of the localization agenda, advocating for health systems that are led by and truly responsive to the communities they serve. Civil society engagement remains crucial, both to hold institutions accountable and to ensure that health strategies reflect and prioritize the community. As Dr. Tedros emphasized, “Everything we do depends on the trust of the communities we serve.”

In upcoming global governance conversations, including at the G20, WACI Health is committed to supporting equitable partnerships, elevating African leadership in health, and advocating for systems that place health equity at the forefront. We will continue amplifying civil society voices to ensure that health and community needs remain a central focus in global dialogues. 

Celebrating 20 Years of ACTION

In October 2024, the ACTION Global Health Partnership marked its 20th anniversary, celebrating two decades of advancing political leadership for major global health initiatives and equitable health outcomes across the world. ACTION is a partnership of 14 locally rooted, independent civil society organizations working across continents in both the Global North and South, driven by a shared mission to ensure equitable health outcomes for all. 

Since joining the Partnership in 2014, WACI Health has worked closely with partners to strengthen political will and leadership to end the TB epidemic, improve immunization and nutrition efforts, and build sustainable health systems.

Through ACTION, partners leverage their insights, experiences, and networks for coordinated advocacy on critical global health issues. Being part of ACTION provides WACI Health with unique opportunities for knowledge-sharing, coordinating messaging, and conducting joint advocacy through multiple entry points in the Global South and Global North. 

We convene civil society groups and facilitate their engagement with global decision-makers, informing health policies and programs that prioritize equity and accountability. Together, we also engage communities and political leaders to demonstrate the value and impact of health investments. This collaboration amplifies our collective voice and expands the reach of our strategic and targeted advocacy.

WACI Health congratulates the ACTION Global Health Partnership for 20 years of effecting change and looks forward to our continued work together to advance health equity.

Learn more about ACTION.

WACI Health at UNGA 79

As the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unfolded in New York, civil society and communities from across the world joined the discussions both within and outside the UN’s formal halls, striving to hold leaders accountable to the people-centered principle that begins the UN Charter: “We the peoples of the United Nations.”

Nombasa Gxuluwe (Programs Manager), Fitsum Lakew Alemayahu (AU Liaison Manager, CiSPHA Coordinator), Laura Philidor (CSEM Advocacy and Communications Officer), and Carthi Mannikarottu (Communications Lead) from WACI Health attended the Summit of the Future Action Days, the High Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance, and various side events discussing issues of health and civil society engagement in global governance.

Highlights from #UNGA79

Looking to the Future
At the Summit of the Future (20-23 September), Member States adopted The Pact for the Future, which includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. The Pact pledges actions in five focus areas: peace and security, sustainable development, science and technology, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance. While it includes aspirational statements on the future we want, it lacks specific timelines and targets or commitments to resources for the change we need. It also fails to highlight health as a specific action clause despite the outsized role health plays in driving success of all other sustainable development goals.

Leading up to the Summit, the Health ImPACT Coalition – co-led by STOPAIDS, International Treatment Preparedness Coalition, Global (ITPC), Frontline AIDS, Global Fund Advocates Network (GFAN), Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) and WACI Health – mobilized over 300 health advocates to elevate issues of health, community leadership and engagement, community data, and accountability in the Pact discussions (See toolkit for more). At the Summit of the Future, ITPC’s Executive Director Solange Baptiste delivered a statement on behalf of the Coalition.

The Health ImPACT Coalition co-leads hosted a civil society side event to discuss next steps for the coalition and take stock on our joint advocacy since the Coalition’s creation in May. The co-leads agreed to maintain the momentum through continued consultations and connect with other advocacy groups for experience sharing. While the Pact for the Future lacks the concrete targets and accountability mechanisms needed to drive true transformation, we – along with our civil society partners – remain committed to holding world leaders accountable to their commitments for a better future for all. This includes continuing to push for more inclusive and effective governance, including within the UN system and global initiatives.

Tackling the Silent Pandemic
At the UN High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) on September 26, world leaders adopted a political declaration, which sets key targets to combat AMR and address the growing threat of drug-resistant infections. Antibiotic resistance directly caused 1.2 million deaths in 2019 and was linked to nearly 5 million associated deaths; a recent study projects that from 2025 to 2050, 39 million deaths will be directly attributable to AMR. The declaration emphasizes a One Health approach to tackle antibiotic resistance and includes targets such as reducing AMR-related deaths by 10 percent by 2030 and mobilizing USD $100 million to implement AMR National Action Plans. It also reiterates a commitment to universal health coverage (UHC) as being critical in AMR efforts, aligned with CSEM messages.

WACI Health worked with the Stop TB Partnership to amplify a set of Key Asks developed by Stop TB Partnership, along with partners. Strong advocacy resulted in TB being a top priority in the Political Declaration on AMR with seven references to TB in the final declaration. In addition, WACI Health with other CiSPHA partners and the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN) produced an African CSOs Common Position on AMR through consultations and inputs from CSOs in Africa and around the world.

Notably, the final declaration fell short in addressing antibiotic use in food systems. At a civil society side event hosted by ReAct and a global coalition of civil society and community advocates, environmentalist Sunita Narain emphasized that the role of civil society is in advocating for the prevention agenda – ensuring that antibiotic misuse is prevented, particularly in industrial food systems, before drug-resistant infections threaten the overburdened health systems of LMICs. A civil society Call to Action was shared with leaders ahead of the High-Level Meeting.

The link between climate and AMR is a critical priority for our advocacy for the upcoming G20. Dr. Ethel Maciel (Ministry of Health, Brazil) noted at a side event hosted by the Pandemic Action Network that the G20 declaration that is being developed will focus on linking climate change, a One Health approach, and AMR. WACI Health is an active participant in the C20 discussions on health, including on the sidelines of UNGA. Civil society continues to engage in TB and AMR advocacy to the G20, calling for investments in TB research and development for better diagnostics and shorter treatment regimens as well as for the implementation of local and regional manufacturing that supports equitable access and affordability. 

Recommitting to UHC
At the 5th Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Global Health on September 24, global leaders emphasized the need for financial protection to achieve equitable health access for all. Several ministers shared stories of national progress in increasing domestic resources for health, such as Uganda’s health budget reforms that helped lower out-of-pocket spending and Sierra Leone’s experience with a debt swap program to increase health investments.

The CSEM with WACI Health and other Health ImPACT Coalition partners held a civil society discussion on the Lusaka Agenda on September 24. The Lusaka Agenda, launched in December 2023, presents five key shifts for the evolution of global health initiatives and the long-term strengthening of the global health financing ecosystem. WACI Health’s Fitsum Lakew Alemayahu participated in the presentation about implementing the Agenda and principles of civil society engagement.

UHC2030 and the UN Foundation also hosted a multi-stakeholder roundtable on the Lusaka Agenda along with leadership from the governments of Canada, Japan, Mozambique, and Nigeria. Participants discussed concrete steps for advancing the Agenda, focusing on country implementation, areas of joint work, and cross-sector collaboration. WACI Health participated in the roundtable as part of the Future of Global Health Initiatives consultation group.

Financing Health
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced a new Health Impact Investment Platform in partnership with regional multilateral development banks (MDBs), and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The Platform aims to strengthen primary healthcare and build resilience against pandemic threats. An initial contribution of EUR €10 million was signed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and WHO to support efforts in 15 countries. The countries identified for phase one investment plans include Ethiopia, Senegal, and Zambia. 

At UNGA, the President of Kenya highlighted the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s fund for LMICs, and reinforced the call for USD $120 billion made by African heads of states at the IDA 21 Summit in April 2024. Denmark announced a pledge of USD $491.7 million, a 40 percent increase over the country’s contribution in the last replenishment cycle. WACI Health continues advocacy efforts for a successful IDA replenishment with the ACTION Global Health Partnership and will participate in the World Bank Annual Meetings in October 2024 in order to ensure civil society priorities are elevated in financing discussions.

Reform was a key theme across UNGA79 and side event discussions. It is clear that today’s challenges and opportunities – including climate change, the largest youth population in history, and artificial intelligence – require reforms in global governance institutions and financing structures as well as in the thinking around leadership and decision-making. Other critical conversations we participated in included protecting the right to health for all, championing gender equality, enabling the digital transformation of health, strengthening cross-sectoral local governance, harnessing African leadership including in research and manufacturing, and building sustained inclusion of civil society and communities in governance. Many of these discussions will continue as we look into the last quarter of the year, carrying forward the momentum of UNGA 79 to build a better future for all.

Panel: Domestic Resource Mobilisation for Sustainable Health Systems

On September 6, WACI Health participated in a panel discussion, “A Resolute Pathway to Sustainable Domestic Resource Mobilisation for Health” led by the Health NGOs Network (HENNET). The session was held at the Kenyatta International Conference Center in Nairobi, Kenya under the Medic East Africa and Medlab East Africa Expo and Conference 2024.

Panellists – including Dr. Margaret Lubaale of HENNET, Regina Ombam from the East Africa Community, Dr. Samual Kinyanjui of AHF Kenya, and David Kabera from WACI Health – discussed the need for Domestic Resource Mobilisation (DRM) for health and strategies to improve domestic funding. DRM aims to reduce dependence on external funding and ensure sustainable financing for health services. The session was moderated by Rosemarie Muganda from PATH.

David Kabera (left), Regina Ombam (centre) and Dr. Samual Kinyanjui (right)

David Kabera, Policy and Advocacy Officer at WACI Health, spoke about essential components needed to build resilient health systems, including the critical role of domestic funding for health. He emphasised that it is not enough to increase resources but rather, ensure that strategic investments are made in critical areas like primary health care. He noted that strategies must be tailored to each country’s unique context and that in addition to developing better health policies, ensuring their effective implementation is the pressing charge for the African continent today.

The panel highlighted approaches to ensure the efficient use of available resources, improving budget absorption, and using evidence to ensure strategic upstream investments. Accountability was a recurring theme with panellists noting the role of localised decision-making to promote transparency and ensure health systems are responsive.

A healthcare model that focuses on community welfare and value-based care is needed to reduce inefficiencies and strengthen systems.

The session was attended by healthcare professionals, policymakers, industry experts, and civil society representatives interested in the evolving healthcare landscape in the region. A recording is available here.

.