Advocacy Update: Top Things to Know This Week
USAID launches the Community Health Delivery Partnership
On October 17, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the Community Health Delivery Partnership (CHDP) at the World Health Summit, which aims to accelerate the implementation of national priorities for primary health care at the community level. CHDP is a country-led strategy that will support efforts to integrate community health workers into country health plans, improve access to equitable primary health care at the community level, and align global support and resources with community health strategies.
FY24 SFOPS bill passes House with steeper cuts
On September 28, the House of Representatives passed their fiscal year (FY) 2024 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs (SFOPS) bill (H.4665) by a vote of 216-212. The bill provides $51.5 billion to SFOPS programs, resulting in a topline that is $17.4 billion, or 25%, below the President’s Budget Request and $8.2 billion, or 14%, below the FY23 enacted level. Many harmful amendments, such as one that would’ve reduced USAID funding by 50%, failed. Please see GHC’s advocacy update from July 24 for more information on global health programs in the bill.
INB releases negotiating draft of the new pandemic accord
The Intergovernmental Negotiating Body has publicly released the proposal for negotiating text of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. The text will be discussed by Member States at the 7th meeting of the INB to take place from November 6-10.
White House releases $100+ billion supplemental funding for foreign policy issues
On October 20, President Biden requested supplemental funding for foreign policy issues that advance U.S. national security and support U.S. allies and partners. In addition to funding for security assistance, President Biden also requested funding to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance to those impacted by the war in Israel and Gaza. President Biden has also released a domestically-focused supplemental funding request that includes $1 billion to respond to global emergency food needs.
COP28 Presidency Calls on Governments to Endorse the COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health
On October 17, the COP28 Presidency launched the ‘COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health’ as part of its commitment to make health a central element of the climate agenda. The declaration covers a range of areas, including cross-sector collaboration on climate and health, reducing emissions within the health sector, and increasing the amount and proportion of financing devoted to climate and health.
UN HLM political declarations adopted
The United Nations General Assembly has formally adopted by consensus the Political Declarations of the High-Level Meeting for PPPR, TB, and UHC. Despite their formal adoption, Member States expressed multiple points of contention across all three health processes. GHC has analyzed the political declarations individually and holistically, and has outlined opportunities for collective action moving forward.
Global Fund releases Advocacy Roadmap
The Global Fund has released its Advocacy Roadmap 2023-2025, which outlines concrete steps to sustain the advocacy ecosystem in support of the delivery of the core and contributive objectives set out in the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) Strategy for 2023-2028, Fighting Pandemics and Building a Healthier and More Equitable World.
The objectives of this advocacy roadmap include strengthening the leadership, engagement, and funding of communities and civil society within the Global Fund’s advocacy ecosystem; mobilizing increased financial and political support for HIV, TB and malaria responses; and leveraging the Global Fund’s diplomatic voice to protect and promote gender equality, human rights and equity, and challenge harmful and discriminatory laws, policies and practices.
Advocacy Resource
KFF releases report on progress toward global malaria targets in PMI countries
On October 10, KFF released an interactive dashboard that tracks progress on global malaria targets in 30 U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative countries. The dashboard pulls together the latest available country data to assess where countries stand in their progress toward achieving global malaria targets. KFF plans to update the dashboard annually when new data is released.