EXECUTIVE BRIEF: Charting the path for a successful and sustainable future for WGH
28 July 2025
Dear partners, colleagues and friends,
It is with a mission-driven determination that I have accepted to steer WGH through its period of transition.
I have now taken stock of the strengths and challenges we are facing and started charting a path to a successful future. We want to walk this path with you all, together.
Today, I am bringing you the first of regular updates on where we are and what we plan to be co-creating with you, because we strongly believe that, now more than ever, the world needs a strong and pragmatic WGH.
We have embarked on a five-year strategic plan (2026-2030) development, to steer this ever-growing movement through the last mile toward the Sustainable Development Goals and Universal Health Coverage (UHC), as none of them will be fully achieved without gender equality and equitable access to quality health outcomes through resilient health systems.
This work will be supported by a re-organized, lean and skilful team, strategically guided to bring out the best of their knowledge and experience, in a work environment where cultural competency, diversity and inclusion take centre stage. We are grateful to all team members who have transitioned out, for their immense contribution to WGH.
The membership of the newly established Board is purposefully constituted by Chapter members, to ensure that their needs and insights are fully considered.
Our Movement is now 65 chapters strong, spread around 60 countries. Most of them are in low and income countries, with Africa leading in the number of Chapters. The Chapters are at different stages of development, and we have launched a process of assessing their level of maturity, to tailor our support to them and encourage Chapter to Chapter mentoring, for experience sharing, learning and build a movement that grows together.
A governance and accountability framework is being finalized, to enhance trust and transparency and ensure that we hold each other accountable every step of the way.
Our Women in Leadership Training Programme is in full swing and we have successfully concluded the Ethiopia Supply Chain Landscape Analysis. We look forward to collaborating with the Ethiopian authorities to imbed the recommendations into national policies and strategies.
We aim at strengthening and diversifying our partnerships, consolidating the achievements that we have made thus far, with the help and support of all of you, our partners and stakeholders.
Our focus is on revitalizing the partnerships and the Movement, and deepening our impact at country level, where it matters the most, by empowering the Chapters and ensuring that our advocacy is meaningful to transform the systems that continue to trap women in the pipeline to leadership in global health.
We count on your support as we embark on this journey together toward a gender equal leadership in global health.
With great esteem,
Dr. Magda Robalo
Executive Director a.i WGH
