“In 2021, we continued to face unprecedented challenges – such as the deepening health inequities exposed and worsened by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating impacts of the UK Government’s cuts to ODA.
In light of these challenges, the alliance and collaborations through our network were more active and important than ever before. We saw breakthrough progress in the UK’s prioritisation of health systems strengthening and called for urgent action in the face of the health emergency caused by climate change at COP26. The network also made significant strides to secure our future sustainability, supported as always by our diverse and influential membership.”
– Katie Husselby
AT A GLANCE: 2021
50 dedicated members
3 year grant funding
12 meetings
£70,000 raised
2 new FCDO
1 new report
8 government and parliament inquiries
15 case studies
1 new and improved Healthy Futures website
6 Collaborative Articles
15 events
2 global health campaigns
“A key benefit of membership of AfGH remains the opportunity to collaborate and add our voice to AfGH led positioning and advocacy on key themes.”
– AfGH Member
Our 2021 Timeline
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January 1, 2021
JANUARY
Co-hosted webinar on ‘Resourcing for health in the COVID-19 era’
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February 1, 2021
FEBRUARY
Explored how we can decolonise global health with members
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March 1, 2021
MARCH
Challenged the gender health gap for International Women’s Day
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May 1, 2021
APRIL
Celebrated World Health Day with our film festival
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May 1, 2021
MAY
Led call from 195 organisations for the Prime Minister to reinstate 0.7%
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June 1, 2021
JUNE
Campaigned for our transformative health agenda at the G7 Summit
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July 1, 2021
JULY
Continued the fight for UK Aid and protecting global health funding
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August 1, 2021
AUGUST
Consulted with FCDO on Global Health in the International Development Strategy
- September 1, 2021
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October 1, 2021
OCTOBER
Addressed health, climate and Covid-19 challenges at the C20 Summit and THET Conference
- November 1, 2021
- December 1, 2021
“I greatly appreciate all the effort that goes into the Comms Taskforce and it is wonderful to be a part of a community that aims to improve health outcomes and communicate these important issues to wider audiences.”
– Anna Georgeson, SCI Foundation
HIGHLIGHTS OF 2021
Our UK & Global Health Advocacy
“Our witnesses called for the protection of funding for essential non-covid health services […] Action for Global Health told us that money might be diverted from these services”
– Covid-19 in developing countries: secondary impacts report, International Development Committee
Our Work on Climate Change and Global Health
“Action for Global Health identified the need for policy coherence across health, environment and infrastructure sectors to ensure the resilience of health facilities in the face of climate-related extreme weather events.”
– Saving Resources: Actions that achieve both climate goals and the SDGs report, APPG on UN Global Goals
Collaborating with Our Members
Credit: Plan International
What’s Next for AfGH in 2022?
Strategic Shift to Health Equity
The COVID-19 pandemic and social justice movements such as Black Lives Matter have rightly placed a greater focus on inequity. In February, AfGH will launch our new 2022-2025 strategy, with a rigorous focus on achieving health equity globally.
Redouble our UK Focus
2021 saw significant challenges to the UK’s development sector – ODA cuts, ministerial changes and mixed results at COP26. However, the case for international collaboration is stronger than ever and AfGH has grown its influence, credibility, and relationships with UK decision-makers. In 2022, we will redouble our efforts for UK action on health inequity and climate change.
A Diverse and Engaged Network
In 2022, we will prioritise improving our engagement and support to members, including through a new member portal. We will diversify the voices in our network, seeking meaningful collaborations with people with lived experience of health inequities and civil society organisations based in LMICs.
“The [AfGH Climate change and Health Inequalities] position paper is a great summary of lots of different aspects of climate change and health, we have used it internally in capacity building and externally to help demonstrate positions or points we want to make.”
– AfGH Member
OUR PEOPLE
Secretariat
OUR STEERING COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, FUNDERS AND PARTNERS
“We are very grateful to our members, funders and partners who have helped us grow and mobilise global health civil society over the past year. A special thank you to STOPAIDS for hosting the network and supporting the AfGH team, and to Students for Global Health who partner so closely with us.
We are also particularly grateful to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust’s Health and Climate Network for their continued support of our work.”
