26 September 2015: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016-2030) on the sidelines of the UN Summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda. Over US$25 billion in commitments were announced to end preventable death of women, children and adolescents.

The Strategy builds on the 2010 Strategy, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Every Woman Every Child movement, a partnership launched in 2010 to mobilize and intensify actions to address major health challenges facing women and children. The Strategy includes partnerships among over 40 countries and 100 international organizations, UN agencies, the private sector, foundations and civil society.

The Strategy outlines key actions to strengthen policy, improve service delivery and enhance financing. These include: integrated delivery of health services and life-saving interventions; innovative approaches to product development and health services; support for country-led health plans; and improved monitoring and evaluation.

Ban said the Strategy “will help to build resilient and healthy societies.” He highlighted the linkages among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), stressing that progress on health will mean investing in education and ensuring food security and nutrition as well as progress in many other areas of the Goals.

Ban announced the formation of a high-level Advisory Group to guide the Strategy’s implementation, which he said will be based on three pillars: ending preventable deaths and ensuring survival; ensuring every women, child and adolescent thrives; and committing to transformation. He outlined several building blocks for implementation, including the Global Financing Facility and the development of an operational framework to translate the Global Strategy’s aims to national and local levels.

Commitments in support of the Strategy include: US$3.3 billion from the US; $2.6 billion from Canada; $2.5 billion from Sweden; $1.3 billion from Germany; $420 million from Norway; $326 million from the Netherlands; and $300 million from the Republic of Korea. The amount pledged so far includes commitments from the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD 3). [UN Press Release] [WHO Press Release] [UN Secretary-General Statement] [Global Strategy Press Release] [Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health] [Every Woman Every Child Press Release] [IISD RS Coverage of UN Summit]