Ensuring Meaningful Civil Society Engagement in the ?Health Works? Initiative and the UHC Knowledge Hub
Civil society and community voices are essential to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) that truly leaves no one behind. As global partners prepare for the UHC High-Level Forum 2025 in Tokyo, this is a pivotal moment to ensure that upcoming initiatives reflect the realities, priorities, and leadership of people and communities everywhere.
The upcoming UHC High-Level Forum 2025 in Tokyo will launch two major global initiatives?the UHC Knowledge Hub and the ?Health Works? initiative?that will shape the path to health for all.
We call on civil society organizations, networks, and advocates worldwide to endorse our joint statements and help ensure that community voices remain central to UHC efforts globally and nationally.
Fondo
The World Bank Group, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Government of Japan are jointly organizing the UHC High-Level Forum 2025, to be held on December 5?6, 2025, in Tokyo, Japan.
The Forum will mark the launch of two major initiatives:
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- The UHC Knowledge Hub ? a strategic capacity-building platform established by the World Bank Group and WHO, with support from the Government of Japan.
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- The ?Health Works? initiative ? a global effort to help countries reach 1.5 billion people with quality, affordable health services by 2030, through National Health Compacts outlining reforms and investment priorities.
You can read more about both initiatives in this article.
Civil Society?s Call
In light of these important developments, the Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for UHC2030 (CSEM) and the Japan CSO Network on Global Health (JCSNGH) have developed two joint advocacy statements calling for meaningful participation and engagement of civil society and communities at all levels in these initiatives.
These two statements are complementary and mutually reinforcing, reflecting our shared commitment to inclusive and equitable approaches to advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
1?? Statement on the ?Health Works? Initiative and the UHC Knowledge Hub
2?? Statement on the UHC Knowledge Hub
You can still endorse the statement by completing this form ? Call for Endorsement: CSO?s Statement on the ?Health Works? Initiative, National Health Compacts, and the UHC Knowledge Hub / UHC???????????????????????????????????????????
Disseminate the Statements
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your strong support in endorsing our two civil society statements calling for meaningful participation and engagement of civil society and communities in the UHC Knowledge Hub and ?Health Works? initiatives. With over 130 organizations across 48 countries endorsing these statements, we are presenting a united message ahead of the UHC High-Level Forum on 6 December 2025.
As we move toward the Forum, we kindly request your support in sharing these statements with key government officials in your countries – especially if your country is part of the UHC Knowledge Hub or Health Works initiatives listed below.
This outreach will help reinforce our shared message that civil society and communities must be meaningfully included in decision-making and implementation processes.
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Countries in the UHC Knowledge Hub:
Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Philippines -
Countries in the Health Works / National Health Compacts:
Bangladesh, Cambodia, Côte d?Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Philippines, Saint Lucia, Sierra Leone, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Zambia -
Countries participating in both:
Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Philippines
To facilitate your outreach, we are attaching a short email template you may use to reach out to the Ministry of health; Ministry of Finance, Governments broadly – to send the statements (attached below).
Let?s ensure that the principles of equity, inclusion, and community voice remain at the heart of UHC efforts – now and throughout the implementation of these initiatives.
Thank you very much in advance for your continued support.
One-page summary
You may use our one-page summary for printing, display, or distribution during your events.
