Support to countries’ equitable and resilient recovery from the pandemic towards the health SDGs: The 2021 SDG3 GAP progress report

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20 May 2021 Statement Geneva

Geneva, 20 May 2021 – WHO and 12 other signatory agencies to the Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All (SDG3 GAP) have released their second progress report, Stronger collaboration for an equitable and resilient recovery towards the health-related SDGs. This report presents progress achieved, especially at country level, where SDG3 GAP is being implemented in 37 countries, with its long-term, forward-looking SDG focus and as a platform to support countries’ equitable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also identifies challenges encountered over the last year, acknowledging the important roles that countries, agencies’ boards and donors play in setting the right incentives for effective collaboration among SDG3 GAP agencies.

“The GAP partners have shown their unwavering commitment to countries during the pandemic,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Collaboration is now more relevant than ever. The GAP provides the platform to improve collaboration in the multilateral system to support countries to recover from the pandemic and drive progress towards the health-related SDGs, with a focus on equity and enabled by stronger primary health care.”The report highlights ways in the which SDG3 GAP agencies are integrating work at country level, reducing fragmentation through joint work in support of national priorities and plans, creating synergies and increasing alignment within the broader health ecosystem – for example, incorporating parts of the Every Woman, Every Child agenda and working jointly with the Health Data Collaborative (HDC) in countries. Many countries are prioritizing primary health care (PHC) and sustainable financing as well as data for improving equity to understand people’s lives and to know where investments need to be made to reach the most left behind.

At a recent “PHC for UHC Mission to Pakistan”, SDG3 GAP agencies renewed their commitment to better align their support for the roll-out of a universal health coverage (UHC) benefit package. Dr Faisal Sultan, Minister of Health, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, expressed his appreciation of the mission’s work, noting that “implementation of the UHC benefit package will facilitate the strengthening of PHC services and securing sustainable financing will further support us to achieve UHC, ensuring no one is left behind.”

Looking ahead, the agencies will support additional countries under the SDG3 GAP approach. The agencies are committed to reviewing progress and have recently developed a monitoring framework to enable continued learning and enhance shared accountability.