Co-hosts: UHC2030, CSEM for UHC2030, The George Institute for Global Health, Global Health Council, IAPO, Amref, Save the Children, NCD Alliance, Global Mental Health Action Network (United for Global Mental Health)

Date: Wednesday May 21, 12:30 – 14:00 CEST

Venue: 9-11 Rue de Varembé, Geneva, Switzerland (Centre de Conférence de Varembé)

​Registration: https://forms.gle/Rq6kyCP1z1rePBUV7

Background: 

One year ago, Member States endorsed the resolution on social participation for universal health coverage, health and well-being during the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA 77). Led by a Core Group of countries – Brazil, France, Norway, Slovenia, Thailand and Tunisia, the resolution marked a significant milestone in efforts to improve the meaningful participation of people, communities and civil society in health decision-making processes – at all levels and throughout the policy cycle. By supporting Member States to uphold the commitments made within the resolution, and working toward its implementation, we can drive significant progress towards equitable and people-centred health systems to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The resolution builds on previous political commitments, including the 2023 political declaration on UHC, in which world leaders pledged to promote “participatory, inclusive approaches to health governance for UHC, including by exploring modalities for enhancing a meaningful whole-of-society approach and social participation”.

In addition to the priority actions outlined for member states and the WHO, civil society is a key partner in advancing social participation to achieve UHC. Civil society organisations (CSOs) are instrumental in advancing social participation by forming coalitions to promote public awareness, supporting relevant legislation, and advocating for participatory rights. They ensure that social participation policies are incorporated into national health strategies by actively engaging communities, advocating for the inclusion of marginalized groups, and empowering individuals to shape policies affecting their lives. CSOs also facilitate access to information, promote public dialogue, and mobilize grassroots support, ensuring that citizens have the knowledge and tools to participate meaningfully. Through collaboration with policymakers, they ensure that participatory rights are reflected in laws and health strategies, driving more inclusive and equitable health systems.

This multi-stakeholder dialogue will provide a platform to explore opportunities for addressing the challenges of implementing the WHA77 resolution on social participation for UHC, Health and Well-being to accelerate progress toward UHC. The event will focus on discussing strategies, particularly at the national and regional levels, for effectively integrating social participation in health decision-making processes, with the aim to foster a meaningful whole-of-society approach that strengthens and promotes more equitable health systems.

Objectives: 

• Highlight the role of civil society in advocating for, expanding, and supporting participatory mechanisms, and holding governments accountable for their commitments.
• Develop a shared understanding of the WHA77 resolution on social participation for UHC, health and well-being – highlighting the commitments within it, and how civil society can support.
• Strengthen collaboration among diverse stakeholders to develop actionable strategies to drive significant progress toward UHC via pushing for the implementation of the resolution,especially at the national level.  
• Share insights on global initiatives driving social participation – discussing ways to leverage national platforms, networks, and opportunities to support the Resolution’s implementation.
• Present the first version of CSEM’s Civil Society Toolkit for advancing Social Participation – seeking feedback to strengthen its relevance and effectiveness.

Format: 

This 90-minute in-person event will bring together key stakeholders who played an active role in supporting the resolution’s adoption, along with others interested in increasing their engagement. Through an interactive discussion, participants will collaborate on developing actionable strategies for implementation at the country level.

Further reading:

WHA77 Resolution: https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA77/A77_ACONF3-en.pdf 

CSEM UHC2030 landing page on social participation: https://csemonline.net/social-participation/ 

• Handbook: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240027794 
• Technical Paper: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240085923 
• EuroHealth Special Issue: https://eurohealthobservatory.who.int/publications/i/empowering-people-communities-and-civil-society-through-social-participation-(eurohealth)