March 8, 2021 – A new report from Global Health 50/50, released on the occasion of International Women’s Day, names the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents (GFF) among one of the most high-scoring organizations in global health working to advance gender equality. The report, “Gender equality: Flying blind in a time of crisis” also finds that while throughout many organizations there is increasing commitment to gender equality, more action is still needed, particularly around ensuring COVID-19 response and recovery efforts are gender-sensitive.

Ongoing monitoring finds that as the world continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, access to many essential health services for women, children and adolescents has been severely disrupted, particularly in the poorest nations with the most fragile health systems.

Since the start of the pandemic, the GFF has acted quickly to support partner countries to use data to drive policy decisions and targeted strategies during their response to protect and promote essential health services. Together with key partners, the GFF is promoting solutions to address global supply chain constraints, including supporting countries to identify alternative sources for quality family planning products. It has also made financing available to the frontlines and supported countries with public communications and campaigns to counteract misinformation as well as expand demand-side financing to improve equitable access to services.

“The GFF is honored to be included among partners who actively promote gender equality and humbled to support country leaders who are driving recovery efforts that consider the particular needs of women and girls. As part of our new strategy, we are doubling down on efforts to promote gender, voice, equity and sexual and reproductive health which are all critical in order to change the trajectory for millions of women, girls and adolescents,” said Muhammad Pate, GFF Director and Global Director for Health, Nutrition, Population at the World Bank.

Since its inception in 2015, the GFF has been committed to advancing equity, voice, and gender equality in its 36 partner countries. Through catalytic financing and technical assistance, the GFF supports action to help close gender gaps and create equitable health systems that are responsive to the needs of women, children, and adolescents. The GFF is also actively engaged in the Generation Equality Forum, and a co-leader of the Bodily Autonomy and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Action Coalition.

“On behalf of Global Health 50/50, we would like to congratulate the Global Financing Facility for their strong performance in the 2021 Gender and Health Index. By taking deliberate and transparent actions the Global Financing Facility keeps the pressure on themselves and others in the sector to continue pushing for change, and provides much needed hope that we can achieve gender equality in our quest for health, dignity and social justice for all,’ said Kent Buse and Sarah Hawkes, Co-Directors, Global Health 50/50.

Going forward, the new GFF roadmap for advancing gender equality will  further strengthen global efforts and support a systematized country-led process that addresses gender inequality. The roadmap also aims to make explicit how the GFF will double down and deepen its engagement to support governments to close gender gaps.

Related links:

Global Health 50/50 2021 Report, Gender equality: Flying blind in a time of crisis
Full findings available via Gender and Health Index 
This is Gender - photo contest
GFF Roadmap for Advancing Gender Equality