Health Diplomacy Alliance

Day: May 21, 2026

  • Launch of the Joint Task Force on the ICJ Advisory Opinion

    Launch of the Joint Task Force on the ICJ Advisory Opinion

    We are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the East, Central, and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), marking an important step toward strengthening collaboration in health diplomacy, regional health governance, and capacity development across Africa and beyond.

    The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation between the two organizations in areas of shared interest, recognizing the growing importance of diplomacy, partnership building, and cross-sector collaboration in addressing today’s complex health challenges.

    Through this collaboration, HDA and ECSA-HC aim to promote dialogue and knowledge exchange on health diplomacy and global health while supporting initiatives that strengthen leadership, institutional capacity, and regional cooperation.

    The partnership will also create opportunities for joint activities, including policy engagement, research, training, technical exchanges, and the convening of stakeholders from across government, academia, civil society, and international organizations.

    The agreement also underscores the importance of regional organizations in shaping global health discussions and ensuring that diverse perspectives contribute to international decision-making processes. By combining HDA’s expertise in health diplomacy with ECSA-HC’s extensive regional network and experience, both organizations are well positioned to advance practical solutions that respond to evolving health priorities.

  • Women at the Heart of Health Diplomacy. Heal, Lead, Seal

    Women at the Heart of Health Diplomacy. Heal, Lead, Seal

    Speakers and Facilitators:

    Dr. Jacqueline Kitulu – President, World Medical Association
    Emma Rawson-Te Patu – President, World Federation of Public Health Associations; Expert Member, United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
    Dr. Valeria Gigante – Lead, R&D and Innovation for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), World Health Organization
    Dr. Caline Mattar – Professor of Medicine and Public Health; Infectious Diseases Specialist 
    Abigail Corrao – Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University; Co-Founder, Global Health Governance as Public Service
    Dr. Paula Reges – Advisor, Global Health, Pasteur Network
    Arantxa Cedillo – Founder, Arctype®; Senior Strategic Communications Advisor, Health Diplomacy Alliance        
    Haadiya Ahmed – Global Health Governance Fellow, Health Diplomacy Alliance

    Ms. Katherine Urbáez, Executive Director of the Health Diplomacy Alliance  

    Main Discussion

    On May 21, 2026, the Health Diplomacy Alliance convened the session Women at the Heart of Health Diplomacy. Heal, Lead, Seal as part of Health Diplomacy House on the sidelines of the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva. The discussion brought together women leaders, diplomats, researchers, advocates, and public health professionals for an open and intergenerational exchange on leadership, representation, and influence in global health diplomacy. Framed around the realities of decision-making from community settings to multilateral negotiations, the session explored the persistent gaps that continue to limit women’s participation and authority in health governance. Through personal reflections and professional experiences, speakers highlighted the value of diverse perspectives in strengthening diplomacy and advancing more equitable health outcomes across regions and institutions. 

    The conversation underscored that women continue to face structural, institutional, and cultural barriers that restrict their ability to shape high-level health decisions. Participants reflected on moments where women’s voices were absent from negotiation tables and the consequences this had for policy, implementation, and communities. Attention was given to the experiences of young women entering the field, alongside the lessons and resilience of senior women who have spent decades navigating complex political and diplomatic environments. Speakers emphasized that meaningful progress requires more than symbolic representation. It demands systems that value lived experience, intersectional identities, and different forms of leadership. The discussion also highlighted the importance of mentorship, coalition building, sponsorship, and male allyship as practical approaches to creating more inclusive and responsive institutions. 

     

    The session concluded with a strong call to move from commitments on inclusion to tangible shifts in power. Participants encouraged governments, international organizations, academic institutions, funders, and civil society to invest in leadership pathways for women, strengthen gender responsive negotiation processes, and create spaces where women can contribute fully without needing to justify their presence. There was broad agreement that the future of health diplomacy depends on embracing diverse leadership and fostering collaboration across generations, sectors, and regions. More than a conversation, the session reinforced that women are already shaping global health diplomacy through expertise, innovation, and partnership. Their leadership is not an aspiration for the future but an essential force for building stronger negotiations, more equitable policies, and healthier societies worldwide. 

    Organizer

    Main Organizer

    Health Diplomacy Alliance

    Other Organizers

    World Medical Association (WMA)