UNDP’s HLPF Main Side Event, Restoring Health, Rebuilding Futures: Innovations for Crisis-Affected Communities

Event Report: 

Restoring Health, Rebuilding Futures: Innovations for Crisis-Affected Communities
UNDP HLPF 2025 Side Event | Monday, 21 July

UNDP’s HLPF Main Side Event, Restoring Health, Rebuilding Futures: Innovations for Crisis-Affected Communities, was held on Monday, July 21st in partnership with WHO, UNFPA, the Kingdom of Norway, the State of Qatar, and the Dominican Republic.

The event explored the challenges and opportunities involved in supporting large-scale health programmes across diverse crisis contexts: including protracted fragility, stabilization, and early recovery. Discussions highlighted how these efforts can save lives while strengthening community resilience, advancing gender equality, and promoting human development.

Anchored in SDG 3, SDG 5, SDG 8, and SDG 17, the event featured a keynote address, a youth dialogue, and a high-level panel discussion. The side event showcased innovative, integrated solutions to address the interconnected challenges of climate and conflict crises. It offered participants concrete ideas and opportunities to inform efforts to build resilient health systems for better health outcomes.

The session convened a full room of over 80 participants, with standing-room-only attendance representing all regions. The discussion provided participants with examples of strategic collaboration between government and partners who have empowered crisis-affected communities, demonstrating how such efforts can advance health equity. The presence of key Member States and civil society stakeholders ensured the event served as a catalyst for continued dialogue, collaboration, and action.

Key Insights and Takeaways

The rising crises of climate and conflict are deeply interwoven, threatening health, security, stability, and development across entire regions. The innovations and resilience emerging from crisis-affected communities are not just responses; they are shaping the future of global health. These contexts must be seen not only as places of need, but as places of possibility, where systems can be rebuilt to be more inclusive and resilient.

Attacks on healthcare workers and facilities, coupled with fragile infrastructure, place enormous strain on already overstretched health systems. Yet these systems are the first and last line of defense for vulnerable and disproportionately affected populations. Supporting health workers with protection, resources, and recognition is essential for crisis response and long-term recovery.

Partnerships are essential and must be grounded in local leadership. Governments, civil society, UN agencies, and communities each have a critical role. Localization must guide how we allocate resources, share decision-making, and structure implementation.

Technological innovation offers significant opportunities to strengthen health systems in crisis settings, but it must be guided by equity. Solutions need to be designed to address the specific needs of women, youth, displaced populations, and other marginalized groups. Communities are not inherently hard to reach; we are just failing to reach them.

Featured Speakers Included:

• Dr. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, Undersecretary, Ministry of Health, Sudan

• Ms. Rwodah Al-Naimi, Investments Department Manager, Qatar Fund for Development

• Dr. Abdullah Alsakran, Executive Director, Strategy and Development Sector, Saudi Fund for Development

• Ms. Meena Syed, Head, UN Policy Section, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway

• Ms. Darislady Reyes, Director, Social Policy Cabinet, Dominican Republic

• Dr. Mesfin Teklu Tessema, Head of Health Unit, International Rescue Committee

• Dr. Maureen Momanyi, Health Specialist, Community-Based Primary Health Care, UNICEF HQ

• Fatima Khan, External Relations Officer, World Health Organization

• Gantha Zara, Medical Student and UN Youth Ambassador, Iraq

• Mukhammeddier Zakhidzhanov, Executive Director, Ulybka and UN Youth Advisory Board, Kyrgyzstan

• Haoliang Xu, Acting Administrator and Under Secretary-General, Associate Administrator, UNDP

Further Engagement

For colleagues who were unable to attend, the full session recording and additional resources are available on the event page.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to our 2025 Summer Fellows, Casey Wells, Arisa Marshall, Pranjali Gupta, and Sian Auer for their outstanding contributions to the planning and execution of this event.

Authors: Casey Wells & John Macauley