What we will do?
The Global Action Plan: A new approach to strengthening collaboration in global health
Engage with countries better to identify priorities and plan and implement together. Implementation will be driven primarily by the agencies commitment to engage with countries and provide support in a more coordinated way, recognizing that country governments play the driving role in setting priorities, developing implementation plans and delivering on the health-related SDG targets. In addition to governments, the agencies will promote engagement with communities, civil society, the private sector and other development partners.
Accelerate progress in countries through joint actions under seven programmatic themes, as well as on gender equality and the delivery of global public goods. The Plan proposes specific actions at country and global/regional levels under seven linked and mutually reinforcing accelerator themes. Support provided by the agencies will be based on country priorities and bring together those agencies that can add the most value in the areas identified. The agencies will consistently promote gender equality and attention to the needs of marginalized and vulnerable people.
The 7 Accelerators Themes
The Global Action Plan identifies specific actions that will be taken by the agencies at country and global/regional levels under seven accelerator themes, which represent common challenges for many countries and where the agencies’ mandates, expertise and resources offer solutions. The seven accelerators are:
Primary health care
Effective and sustainable primary health care is a cornerstone for achieving the health-related SDG targets and progress on the other accelerator themes. It provides a platform for accessible, affordable, equitable, integrated, quality primary care and public health services for all, near where people live and work, linked to higher levels of care. It supports multisectoral action on health and engages people and communities in their own health and well-being.
Sustainable financing for health
Sustainable financing enables countries to reduce unmet need for services and financial hardship arising from out-of-pocket payments by establishing and progressively strengthening systems to mobilize adequate resources for health and to spend them better to deliver more health for the money. For low-income countries where development assistance is significant, it also involves improving the effectiveness of external funding support.
Community and civil society engagement
Ensuring that communities and civil society receive the support that they need to be meaningfully engaged enables them to bring their lived experience, perspectives and expertise to knowledge generation, policy-making and health responses that are rights-based, accountable and ensure that no one is left behind.
Determinants of health
Addressing the determinants of health is vital to creating an enabling environment for health and well-being for all and ensuring that no one is left behind, including through rights-based and gender responsive approaches, leveraging investments and action in sectors beyond health and maximizing gains across the SDGs.
Innovative programming in fragile and vulnerable settings and for disease outbreak responses
Ensuring that health and humanitarian services are available in fragile and vulnerable settings and responding effectively to disease outbreaks require multisectoral coordination, long-term planning and financing, information sharing and strengthening of health system governance and workforce capacity. Action across the accelerator themes is needed to strengthen health services in these settings.
Research and Development, Innovation and Access
Research and innovation are critical to improving the quality and efficiency of health products and services, while sustainable and equitable access ensures better availability of healthcare interventions to those who need them most.
Data and digital health
Quality and comprehensive data are key to understanding health needs, designing programmes and policies, guiding investment and public health decisions and measuring progress. Digital technologies can transform the way health data are collected and used and contribute to more equitable, rights-based health policies and primary health care services.
Align in support of countries by harmonizing operational and financial strategies, policies and approaches. The agencies will better align and harmonize their operational and financial strategies, policies and approaches to increase their collective efficiency and effectiveness and reduce the administrative burden on countries.
Account, by reviewing progress and learning together to enhance shared accountability. Continuous learning within and among the agencies are key to the Global Action Plan’s success. The agencies will regularly convene to review progress, share lessons and respond to implementation challenges and jointly report on results.
What will success look like?
The principal measure of success under the Global Action Plan is the achievement of the health-related SDG targets. By 2023, the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Plan will have brought about the three major changes:
- Better coordination among the agencies in their global, regional and in-country support to countries
- A reduced burden on countries because of better aligned operational and financial policies and approaches; and
- A purpose-driven collaboration that is integrated into the agencies’ organizational cultures, encompassing leadership at global, regional and country levels.