At the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly, the WHO Civil Society Commission demonstrated how structured engagement can translate diverse civil society perspectives into coordinated priorities that inform global health decision-making. Through four events held during the Health Assembly, more than 300 participants helped advance priorities on sustainable health financing and stronger civil society participation in global health governance.
The Commission, which brings together more than 540 civil society organizations across all WHO regions, provides a unique platform to convene diverse perspectives, build consensus and strengthen dialogue among civil society, WHO and Member States.
Drawing on a year-long consultation process across its network, the Commission brought together nearly 300 civil society voices representing almost 270 organizations to identify four shared priorities. These were presented directly to WHO leadership, Member States and parliamentarians.
“The Commission provides a structured platform, where civil society can develop shared priorities to engage with WHO and its Member States in a coordinated and inclusive manner. WHA79 showed what that looks like when it works,” said Dr Gaudenz Silberschmidt, Director, Partnerships and Financing at WHO.
Driving solutions on health financing
One of the Commission’s key priorities during the Health Assembly was sustainable health financing amid tightening fiscal space and declining development assistance.
At an official side event on domestic health financing, co-hosted with the Republic of South Africa, Save the Children, World Vision and Medicus Mundi, more than 120 participants explored practical approaches for strengthening domestic health financing in an increasingly challenging global funding environment.
In a video message, Professor Mariana Mazzucato, Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value at University College London and Chair of the WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All, challenged participants to rethink economic priorities:
“Health is not a sector that supports the economy. Health is an objective the economy must be designed to deliver.”
Country experience illustrated this shift. When USAID and PEPFAR funding was cut, South Africa moved quickly to reassess domestic options.
“We immediately engaged with our fiscal space and started having earnest conversations with our Ministry of Finance,” said Dr Aquina Thulare, Department of Health, South Africa. Her remarks highlighted the importance of prioritizing investment in primary health care, disease prevention and health promotion to build healthier populations and more sustainable health systems.
The importance of partnership was also underscored.
“Sustainable health financing must be built on three mutually reinforcing elements: strong country leadership, a more coherent and efficient global health financing architecture, and a genuine partnership with communities and civil society,” said Ambassador Patricia McCullagh of Canada.
One tangible outcome was the presentation of four shared civil society priorities to WHO leadership and Member States:
- increased investment in primary health care
- stronger domestic health financing
- institutionalized civil society participation in governance
- greater transparency in health financing data, ahead of the 2027 UN High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage.
These priorities were also presented at the Global Parliamentary Forum, bringing civil society perspectives directly into discussions with legislators.
View the recording of the side event: Domestic Leadership in Health Financing: CSO Dialogue (passcode: yT6ts?n5)
Shaping the future of civil society engagement
The Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly also advanced WHO’s Civil Society Engagement Strategy. At a dedicated side event, participants helped shape priorities for transparency, accountability and meaningful participation.
“Unlike a traditional consultation, participants did not just respond to a draft. They helped build it. Their inputs will feed directly into the strategy’s first draft, expected by September 2026,” said John Coughlan, CSC Steering Committee member and Chair of the WHO–CSO Engagement Strategy Working Group.
View the recording of the side event: Civil Society Shaping the WHO Civil Society Engagement Strategy
Building connections
The Health Assembly also strengthened collaboration across regions and generations. An informal gathering sponsored by the American Psychological Association (APA) brought together nearly 80 CSC and WHO Youth Council members to exchange experiences and explore partnerships, reflecting the Commission’s growing global reach.
Looking ahead
The Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly marked an important step in the Commission’s evolution – from providing a platform for dialogue to helping translate diverse civil society perspectives into coordinated priorities that can inform WHO processes and Member State discussions.
“The Commission has built a strong foundation and is now moving into a phase focused on delivering measurable impact,” said CSC Co-Chair Ravi Ram.
Building on this momentum, the Commission will continue expanding opportunities for meaningful engagement, strengthening collaboration between civil society, WHO and Member States, and positioning civil society as a key partner in shaping global health priorities.
