Rethinking global partnerships for women’s health

Participants stressed the need to safeguard sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as a core pillar of women’s health. This requires maintaining access to contraception and essential services, particularly within fragile and conflict-affected settings. Highlighting Sweden’s long-standing diplomatic commitment to SRHR, attendees noted that this provides a foundation for building broader alliances and keep women’s health high on the global political agenda. 

At the same time, lasting progress extends beyond access to services. It is shaped by broader social and structural systems. Attendees highlighted the necessity of reliable supply chains, consistent access to essential medicines, adequate health infrastructure, and community-driven action against gender-based violence. Stronger research and evidence are needed to identify critical gaps and shape long-term policy investments. 

A reoccurring theme was to align global efforts with shift towards more equitable and country-led international cooperation reflected in the Accra Reset. Participants urged international partners to step back from top-down approaches and instead support nations in setting their own health priorities and deciding where capital is needed most. 

While attendees valued creating shared spaces for government, academia, business, and civil society, they stressed that bringing people into the same room is only a starting point. Effective partnerships must actively incubate ideas, share technical expertise, and grant civil society a meaningful seat at the table to shape both priorities and solutions.