Co- convened by the Governments of Somalia, South Africa, India, Sweden and Canada with Africa CDC, the Global Leaders Network, EWENE, CSA CHTF, Gavi, PATH, UNFPA, UNICEF, International Confederation of Midwives, Save the Children, World Vision International, Seed Global Health, MSI Reproductive Choices, WHO-HRP, Fondation Botnar, SheDecides, and PMNCH this event provided an opportunity to explore some of the most pressing challenges and priorities shaping women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health today, from financing and health sovereignty to adolescent well-being, rights and equity. The discussions brought together diverse perspectives, evidence and experiences to help advance dialogue and action in a rapidly changing global health landscape.
This high-level dialogue which was attended by the INERELA+ Executive Director focused on accelerating action for adolescent health and well-being in a rapidly changing global context. Despite progress, partners brought the urgent message that with four years left to deliver on agenda 2030, the 1.3 billion adolescents who make up one in six of the world’s population cannot be left behind, yet nearly one million die annually from mostly preventable causes. Mental health conditions account for 16% of the global disease burden among 10 to 19-year-olds. Violence, and gaps in sexual and reproductive health and rights continue to undermine their future.
Adolescent health remains chronically underfunded and deprioritised in national budgets and policy agendas. New WHO and UN inter-agency data confirm that women, children and adolescents bear the brunt of every emergency:
- In 2023, an estimated 160,000 women died from preventable maternal causes in fragile and conflict-affected settings – six in ten of all maternal deaths globally – despite these countries accounting for only one in ten live births.
- The maternal mortality ratio in conflict-affected countries is 504 per 100,000 live births, against 368 in fragile settings and 99 in stable countries.
- A 15-year-old girl in a conflict-affected country has a 1-in-51 lifetime risk of dying from a maternal cause, versus 1-in-593 in a stable country.
- In 2024, the UN verified a record 41,370 grave violations against children in armed conflict – a 25% rise – with sexual violence against children up 35% and attacks on schools up 44%.
It has been two years since Member States, led by Somalia and co-sponsored by 51 countries, adopted Resolution WHA77.5 “Accelerating progress towards reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality“. The political mandate is in place; delivery is not. 60 countries are off-track on under-five mortality and 66 on neonatal mortality.
Reforms must name WCAH and SRHR explicitly, protect their financing, guarantee representation of women, youth and Global South civil society, and preserve normative capacity in the institutions that deliver for them.
- Amid US$89 billion in African debt repayments in 2025 – exceeding health spending in 30+ countries – Member States pointed to a decisive pivot towards health sovereignty and domestic resource mobilization, anchored in Africa’s Health Security and Sovereignty Agenda, the Lusaka Agenda, and the Accra Reset:
- Nigeria’s Basic Health Care Provision Fund is shielding primary care as external aid retracts.
- Kenya has pledged to double public health spending to 5% of GDP over five years.
- Morocco is extending mandatory health insurance to 22 million more people.
- Somalia in April 2026 launched its Community Health Strategy 2025–2029, centering primary health care and the community health workforce.
- Africa CDC’s first African Pooled Procurement Mechanism tender achieved price reductions of 30–90% on 10 priority reproductive, maternal and newborn health products across 10 AU Member States.