In September 2010, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health, aiming to save 16 million lives in the world’s 49 poorest countries by 2015. The Global Strategy sets out six key areas where action is urgently required to enhance financing, strengthen policy and improve service-delivery:
- Support to country-led health plans, supported by increased, predictable and sustainable investment.
- Integrated delivery of health services and life-saving interventions – so women and their children can access prevention, treatment and care when and where they need them.
- Stronger health systems, with sufficient skilled health workers at their core.
- Innovative approaches to financing, product development and the efficient delivery of health services.
- Promoting human rights, equity and gender empowerment.
- Improved monitoring and evaluation to ensure the accountability of all actors for resources and results.
The Global Strategy put women’s and children’s health at the top of the political agenda. Almost 130 stakeholders from a variety of constituency groups made financial, policy and service-delivery commitments. Commitments addressed areas ranging from human rights, technical guidelines and gender and economic empowerment, to citizen participation, accountability and governance.
Stakeholders reported a wide variety of reasons for engaging with the Global Strategy. They wanted to be part of an unprecedented global movement for women’s and children’s health, and many wanted to make fresh commitments to help fill the gaps in global funding and resources. Others were keen to showcase their existing work, and found that a commitment gave it visibility. And others recognized an opportunity to link with partners who could provide technical and financial support. Finally, they wanted to ensure that their work for women’s and children’s health was prioritized by their own organizations and national leaders.
This report’s objective
The overall objective of this report is to present an introductory analysis of the commitments to inform discussion and action on the following topics:
- Accomplishments of the Global Strategy and the Every Woman, Every Child effort, in terms of the commitments to date;
- Opportunities and challenges in advancing Global Strategy commitments;
- Stakeholders’ perceptions about the added value of the Global Strategy; and
- Next steps to strengthen advocacy, action and accountability, taking forward the recommendations of the Commission on Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s Health.
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