The Global Leaders Network (GLN) has announced the launch of a new high-level webinar series titled “Domestic Resource Mobilisation in Action”, a timely initiative aimed at addressing the critical funding shortfalls threatening the health of women, children, and adolescents worldwide.
The inaugural session, scheduled for Friday, 5 September 2025, will convene world leaders, policy experts, and health advocates to explore how countries can strengthen domestic financing systems in the face of shrinking international donor support.
Recent projections warn of a 40% decline in Official Development Assistance (ODA) for health, raising fears of a reversal in hard-won progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
GLN says the virtual platform will serve as both a dialogue hub and a call to action, urging governments to boost health budget allocations, safeguard national resources, and adopt innovative models for sustainable financing.
“This is a moment that requires bold political leadership,” the organizers noted, warning that vulnerable populations, especially women, children, and adolescents (WCA), are at greatest risk if decisive action is not taken.
The opening session will feature a distinguished lineup of speakers including: Dr. Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health, South Africa; Dr. Mekdes Daba, Minister of Health, Ethiopia; Rajat Khosla, Executive Director, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH); Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan, Senior Universal Health Coverage Specialist, Asian Development Bank; Dr. Tina Chisenga, Ag. Director of Programmes, ECSA-HC; Dr. Ogochukwu Chukwujekwu, Team Lead, Health Financing & Governance, WHO AFRO; and Dr. Landry Tsague, Director of Primary Health Care, Africa CDC. The discussion will be moderated by global health expert Dr. Ebere Okereke.
The session will run from 13:00 – 15:00 (South Africa Standard Time), streamed live with video presentations, key data visuals, and an interactive Q&A segment. Participation is open virtually, though advance registration is mandatory for media.
The Global Leaders Network was established in 2023 as the first Global South-led global health diplomacy initiative. Its mission is to help countries reduce maternal, neonatal, and adolescent mortality rates by a third by 2030, directly supporting SDG targets.
The new webinar series is being convened in partnership with PMNCH and South Africa’s National School of Government (NSG).
For PMNCH, which unites nearly 1,500 partner organizations across governments, NGOs, the private sector, youth groups, and UN agencies, the series reflects a broader commitment to unifying voices and actions around health equity.
Meanwhile, the NSG is leveraging its mandate to strengthen public sector capacity in driving sustainable solutions, ensuring the agenda translates into tangible impact on service delivery.
As the countdown to the 2030 SDG deadline continues, the GLN and its partners hope this initiative will not only highlight the urgency of protecting health budgets but also inspire a new wave of collaboration to secure the future of women, children, and adolescents across the globe.
