26 November 2025 — The governing bodies of the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents (GFF) — the Investors Group (IG) and the Trust Fund Committee (TFC) — convened in Dakar, where a key outcome was the endorsement of the GFF’s 2026–2030 strategy, setting the vision for the next five years. The meeting was chaired by Honorable Minister Austin Demby, Minister of Health and Sanitation of Sierra Leone, and Johanneke de Hoogh, Head of Global Health and SRHR at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The meetings opened with a presentation by the Honorable Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Dr. Ibrahima Sy, highlighting Senegal’s commitment to the health of women, children and adolescents, achievements to date and its strategic vision 2025–2029 for an inclusive and resilient health system. Between 2000 and 2020 Senegal witnessed a 60 percent reduction in maternal mortality. The minister highlighted GFF’s partnership with Senegal, which started in 2015 with the development of the investment case, financing reforms and targeted investments to reduce health inequities in vulnerable regions, bringing health care closer to communities and improving the quality of services.

“Thanks to ambitious reforms, strategic investments, and strong political commitment, we’ve made meaningful progress across several areas — from reducing maternal and child mortality, to expanding access to primary health care, to strengthening the resilience of our system in the face of health crises. Yet we know that major challenges remain. […] That’s why our partnership with the GFF is so essential.” — Honorable Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Dr. Ibrahima Sy

Key outcomes and decision points for the Investors Group meeting:

  • The IG endorsed the next GFF strategy 2026–2030. Members welcomed the consultative process in developing the strategy with the guidance of the Strategy Steering Group. They appreciated that the strategy builds on lessons from the past 10 years, and clearly articulates the GFF’s value-add over the next five years. Members also underscored that collective ownership of the strategy will ensure the visibility, resources and momentum required for successful implementation. The final strategy will be published early December.
  • The IG discussed an initial results measurement framework as part of the strategy. While there was broad agreement on the overall approach, the IG called for further refinement on some aspects, including measuring the rights agenda and the health workforce. The GFF Secretariat will share an updated version of the results measurement framework.
  • The secretariat presented its annual stocktaking of the current strategy showing encouraging trends in GFF partner countries, with progress across nearly all key performance indicators, and an 84 percent acceleration in the annual rate of reduction in maternal mortality even amid slowing global progress. At the same time, the data underscored the need for intensified action to address newborn mortality, adolescent pregnancy and stunting.
  • The IG heard about the GFF’s support to countries for data-driven prioritization, with a focus on the experience in Senegal, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. This work helps with timely identification of service disruptions, including at subnational levels and in terms of quality of care.
  • The GFF, Gavi and the Global Fund provided an update on the collaboration among the three partners. IG members appreciated this update and called for continued streamlining of the work of the three global health initiatives (GHIs) to maximize efficiencies while deepening the collaboration.
  • The IG discussed recommendations emerging from the recent Investors Group review. The IG is seen as an effective space for knowledge and learning and as a forum that can serve as a network of influence, especially through the Ministerial Network. Concrete suggestions included greater transparency on the IG’s advisory role to the TFC.
  • The IG heard a lightning talk from Dr. Edem Adzogenu, Co-Chair of AfroChampions and Co-Convenor of the Accra Reset, who outlined the need for countries’ health sovereignty amid shifting global trends, as a prerequisite for long-term equilibrium and achieving development goals.

Prior to the IG, the GFF Ministerial Network convened representatives from Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone (Chair of the Ministerial Network). They emphasized the importance of health sovereignty and the need for strong country ownership. They welcomed the GFF’s support in strengthening data systems and appreciated the Ministerial Network as a community of practice, with a call for more regular convenings for real-time exchange.

Following the IG meeting, the Trust Fund Committee met, chaired by Mamta Murthi, VP for People at the World Bank. In line with the discussion and advice from the IG, key TFC decisions include:  

  • Endorsement of the GFF strategy 2026–2030. The TFC welcomed the consultative approach to strategy development and the advice from the IG to endorse the final version. The GFF Secretariat will follow up with a proposed work and staffing plan to guide operationalization of the strategy, for approval by the TFC.
  • Endorsement of the GFF’s new approach to country eligibility as part of the new strategy.
  • Endorsement of the Sustainable Commodities Access Challenge Program, an acceleration opportunity as part of the new strategy to shift financing for commodities onto domestic budgets and strengthen systems to improve the effectiveness of product distribution. The GFF Secretariat will follow with an operational plan for TFC approval.
  • Approval of the financial report and proposed budget allocation presented by the secretariat.
  • The TFC and the GFF Secretariat discussed approaches to resource mobilization, with a focus on timing and opportunities as a collective effort in the current funding context.