Financing for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health in a Time of Austerity

The Global Leaders Network for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (GLN) will convene a high-level dialogue on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly to sustain political momentum for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (WCAH) at a time of unprecedented pressure on global health financing.

The meeting will bring together Heads of State and Government, development and health financing institutions, multilateral organisations, global health partners and civil society to examine how countries can protect and sustain investment in women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health amid declining external assistance, growing debt pressures and narrowing fiscal space.

The dialogue will focus on practical, country-led solutions, including stronger domestic resource mobilisation, more efficient and accountable public expenditure, and innovative financing mechanisms such as blended finance, debt-for-health swaps and pooled procurement. It will also consider how international partners can better align their support with national priorities and plans.

The meeting will seek to translate political commitment into concrete action and mobilise stronger global solidarity behind sustainable, equitable and accountable financing for women, children and adolescents.