Issue: 3

Date: 17 August 2023

News update on the Future of Global Health Initiatives process

Research report

This month the FGHI process reached a significant milestone with the delivery of the ‘Reimagining the Future of Global Health Initiatives’ study by the Wellcome-commissioned research consortium. The study has been published on the FGHI process website (translations will be added in the coming weeks).

The research consortium, led by the University of Geneva, Queen Margaret University, Stellenbosch University, Aga Khan University, and Cheikh Anta Diop University, began its intensive programme of research in February 2023. Drawing on several data sources, including the perspectives of over 200 experts at global, regional, and country level, the report proposes a vision for how GHIs could be optimised to support countries’ progress towards universal health coverage (UHC).

While this report’s recommendations have not been endorsed by the FGHI Steering Group members or their organisations or governments, the independent findings and recommendations will provide valuable insights for the next phase of the FGHI process, and ensure crucial discussions about the future of the global health ecosystem are grounded in the experience and perspectives of key stakeholders and lessons learned from previous alignment and coordination initiatives. This study will serve as one of several complementary inputs that will be considered by the FGHI Steering Group, and other stakeholders, as they discuss and develop a set of commitments for collective action that will be published in December. Written responses to the report are welcomed by the FGHI Steering Group, to inform its deliberations from now until the end of the year. Responses can be emailed by 8 September 2023 to Secretariat@futureofghis.org

The next stage of the FGHI process

The FGHI Secretariat will convene two webinars in August and September hosted by FGHI Co-Chairs Mercy Mwangangi, former Chief Administrative Secretary, Kenyan Ministry of Health and John-Arne Røttingen, Global Health Ambassador, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs where they will invite research consortium members to present findings and recommendations of the, Reimagining the Future of Global Health Initiatives study. The Co-Chairs will situate this work in the larger FGHI process and hear perspectives from webinar participants. You can register for one of these webinars by signing up via the links below.

The webinars will take place on:

  • Thursday, 24 August: 16:00 – 17:30 CEST (sign up here)
  • Tuesday, 5 September: 9:00-10:30 CEST (sign up here)

The next phase of the FGHI process will involve further deliberation and consultation among Steering Group members and other stakeholders as they work to align around a set of commitments for collective action before the end of the year. The commitments are intended to help GHIs better align, strengthen their support for national priorities, plans, and budgets, and shape a global health financing ecosystem that is fit for purpose through to 2030 and beyond.

FGHI 2023 roadmap

Upcoming events for the FGHI

  • In August and September two webinars will be held for the research consortium to present its findings and recommendations (Thursday, 24 August: 14:00-15:30 CEST and Tuesday, 5 September: 9:00-10:30 CEST respectively). Please sign up to one of the webinars through this link.
  • The African Health Leaders’ Policy Forum will meet during the 73rd Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Botswana, 28 August – 1 September 2023, with the FGHI process high on its agenda.
  • The United Nations Foundation and Amref Health Africa will co-host a high-level roundtable on 19 September, Aligning global health financing and political accountability on the path to UHC, in the margins of the 21 September High-Level Meeting on UHC. FGHI Co-chair Mercy Mwangangi will be a speaker on the UHC HLM Invest and Align panel the afternoon of 21 September.
  • FGHI dialogue, Wilton Park, UK, 4-6 October 2023
  • FGHI dialogue, Lusaka, Zambia, 26 November 2023

About the Future of Global Health Initiatives process 

The FGHI process brings together a group of global health stakeholders – from governments and international and domestic-financing partners to civil society, health organisations, and academics – in a time-bound process of consultation and research throughout 2023, to reflect on how global health initiatives (GHIs) can be optimised to best support national health priorities and countries’ progress towards universal health coverage (UHC). The process aims to provide specific recommendations for GHIs to better align, work with other health funders and strengthen their support for national priorities, plans and budgets, and shape a global health financing ecosystem that is fit for purpose through to 2030 and beyond.

More information

Want to know more?  For more information please contact Secretariat@futureofghis.org.