Policy Updates

On October 10 and 11, 2024, the G7's Health Ministerial Meeting took place in Ancona, Italy. The discussion focused on three overarching priorities: Global Health Architecture and Pandemic Preparedness and Response, healthy and active aging, and the One Health Approach.

The G7 Health Ministers Communiqué, released at the end of the meeting, highlights the G7's commitment to supporting SDG #3 through universal health coverage, primary health care, and sexual and reproductive health. This also includes maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health, strengthening the global health architecture by investing in PPR, promoting regional manufacturing of health products, and equitable access to quality health services.

The communiqué emphasized the health-related impacts of conflicts with a reference to the crises in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, and Sudan. Furthermore, in the communiqué, the G7 Ministries committed to continue to support Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Global Fund, whose replenishment processes will occur in the upcoming months.

The Civil 7 engagement group, a platform through which civil society can engage with the G7, reacted with a communiqué in which they expressed an appreciation for the re-commitment to ending HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria through robust support for the Global Fund in its replenishment next year. This support is crucial to ending the three epidemics as agreed upon in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Finally, the G7 Health Ministers also adopted a policy brief on the opportunities presented by AI for both healthcare providers and patients.

On July 22, 2024, Japan contributed US$2 million to support reproductive health and protection services for over 120,000 vulnerable women and girls in Yemen through UNFPA.

The conflict in Yemen has significantly weakened the healthcare system, with an estimated 5.5 million women of childbearing age, including pregnant and lactating women, facing severe challenges in accessing reproductive health services.

The contribution will help address these needs by providing medicines, medical supplies, and emergency obstetric care at six health facilities. Japan's contribution will also support four safe spaces and two shelters, offering psychosocial support, legal assistance, and livelihood opportunities to women and girls affected by violence and abuse.

On May 14-15, 2024, the C7 summit was held at the UN FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, organized by the Italian Civil Society Coalition that led, coordinated, and moderated the C7 2024 process.

Approximately 400 global representatives took part in the event, as well as international decision-makers, including FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, Italian G7 sherpa Ambassador Elisabetta Belloni, Cardinal, President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Pope’s envoy for the Russian-Ukrainian conflict Matteo Maria Zuppi, and Director of the UN SDG Action Campaign Marina Ponti.

The official C7 communiqué that listed the international civil society recommendation to the G7’s Leaders around seven key issues was released at the event, which included:

• Economic justice and transformation;
• Climate, energy transformation, and environmental justice;
• Global health;
• Principled humanitarian assistance;
• Peace, common security, and nuclear disarmament;
• Human mobility and migration; and
• Food justice and food systems transformation.

On May 14, 2024, Japan signed an agreement with UNICEF to provide US$7 million in grant assistance for the Childhood Infectious Disease Prevention Program.

Afghanistan has one of the highest child mortality rates in the world, much of which is attributable to vaccine-preventable diseases. The funds will be used to support routine immunization efforts and to procure polio vaccines.

On April 23, 2024, the government of Japan announced that it contributed an additional US$10 million to the WFP for food assistance operations in Gaza.

The funding will enable the WFP to distribute wheat flour to over 520,000 internally displaced people in Gaza, both within shelters and outside. Japan’s contribution forms part of its 'Emergency Grant Aid' and brings its total support to WFP operations in Palestine to US$21 million since the start of the conflict in October 2023.

A representative of the Japanese Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs emphasized the importance of this contribution in addressing the urgent food needs of vulnerable groups in Gaza, including women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

On April 4, 2024, Japan and Pakistan formalized additional grant agreements totaling approximately US$10 million for climate and hleath related projects.

Installation of Meteorological Radar in Sukkur City saw funding increase from JPY2 billion (US$13 million) to JPY2.8 billion (US$18 million). The grant Expansion of Maternal and Child Health Facilities in Sindh Province increased from JPY3.4 billion (US$22 million) to JPY4.1 billion (US$27 million). These adjustments reflected the necessity to address rising equipment costs and enhance the impact of these initiatives.

The meteorological radar project is slated to respond to Pakistan’s vulnerability to frequent natural disasters, including floods and landslides. With its geographical features making it prone to such calamities, Pakistan faces significant challenges in disaster management. The project aims to bolster the country’s disaster preparedness by installing a modern meteorological radar system in Sukkur City, located in Sindh Province. This upgrade will enhance Pakistan’s ability to monitor weather patterns accurately, issue timely warnings, and implement effective disaster risk reduction strategies.

The MNCH project is slated to address critical gaps in healthcare infrastructure, particularly in maternal and child health services. Pakistan’s healthcare system, especially in Sindh Province, faces challenges in providing adequate maternal and child care, leading to high maternal and infant mortality rates. The project focuses on establishing a new maternal and child health center and upgrading medical equipment at Liaquat University Hospital in Hyderabad, Sindh Province. By strengthening diagnostic and treatment capabilities, this initiative aims to improve healthcare access and outcomes for mothers and children in Pakistan, contributing to the country’s overall health system resilience and development.

On April 2, 2024, Japan reinstated its financial support for UNRWA, disbursing approximately US$35 million from the FY2023 supplementary budget.

The decision marked a significant step in Japan’s commitment to providing humanitarian assistance while ensuring the appropriate utilization of its funds.

To guarantee the effectiveness and legitimacy of the projects, Japan established a Japan - UNRWA Project Management and Monitoring Mechanism. Additionally, Japan aims to promote gender equality within UNRWA governance reform by encouraging the participation of women in leadership positions.

The funds will be distributed among the following programs:

• Gaza: Provision of relief supplies for women and infants;
• West Bank: Provision of medical services;
• Syria: Assistance for vulnerable groups, provision of medical services and vocational training;
• Lebanon: Provision of medical services; and
• Jordan: Assistance for vulnerable groups, assistance for youth.

On March 6, 2024, Japan and UNFPA signed a grant agreement worth JPY1.1 billion (US$8 million) to improve emergency obstetric and newborn care in Timor-Leste.

This project is slated to enhance maternal and child health by upgrading facilities and training staff at community health centers across the country, addressing critical needs in a nation striving for development since its independence in 2002.

The initiative aims to bolster Timor-Leste's social services and infrastructure, contributing to the well-being of pregnant women, mothers, and newborns, reflecting Japan's commitment to supporting Timor-Leste's ongoing growth and peace consolidation.

On February 27, 2024, the Government of Japan announced an additional US$32 million in emergency grant aid for Gaza in addition to its previous contribution of US$65 million in November 2023.

The emergency grant came as the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorates amid continuous fighting. The funds will be used to strengthen the humanitarian response in the areas of food and health as follows:

• US$10 million for the WFP;
• US$10 million for the WHO;
• US$8.5 million for UNICEF to address WASH, nutrition, and children's protection;
• US$3 million for the IFRC and Red Crescent Societies; and
• US$500,000 for the UNOCHA.

On January 22, 2024, UN Women and the Government of Japan celebrated the success of the Women’s Socio-Economic Resilience Project in Pakistan.

The initiative, supported by a US$2 million contribution from Japan, focused on providing essential relief and protection services to women and girls in flood-affected areas of Pakistan, enhancing their resilience and adaptability to emergencies and disasters.

The UN Women Representative in Pakistan expressed gratitude for Japan’s financial support, pivotal in efforts towards gender equality and women’s empowerment in Pakistan. The funds from the Japanese government were used for delivering essential humanitarian services, including psychosocial support, raising awareness about GBV, assistance for survivors of GBV, help with civic documentation applications, and entrepreneurship development. Relief goods supplied to women included mother kits, baby kits, and inclusion kits, underscoring the commitment to the well-being and empowerment of women and girls in challenging situations.

Pakistani Secretary of the Planning and Development Department of the Government highlighted the significance of Japan’s support during a critical time for the women and girls in the flood-affected areas. The support was crucial in providing essential services and enabling women and girls to assume leadership roles within their communities.

The Consul General of Japan in Karachi reiterated Japan’s commitment to ensuring women’s human rights and combating gender-based violence. In partnership with UN Women, Japan has focused on promoting safety, protection, and nurturing leadership and resilience among flood-affected women and girls. The collaboration is part of a long-standing global partnership between Japan and UN Women, covering various aspects such as gender equality, women’s empowerment, and disability inclusion.