In celebration of International Women’s Day 2026, Galien Africa, in collaboration with REMAPSEN hosted a landmark webinar emphasizing the crucial role of women in global health leadership and the impact of innovative financing models on strengthening health systems across Africa.
The event, themed “Women’s Leadership in Global Health: Strategic Influence on Public Policy, Social Justice, and Innovative Financing Models in a Resource-Limited Context,” brought together policymakers, health experts, and development leaders to share insights and strategies for promoting gender equity while enhancing healthcare delivery.
Speakers highlighted the importance of leveraging national resources through taxation strategies and reinvestment mechanisms, as well as addressing the debt overburden on fiscal policies.
They noted that debt cancellations could free resources for critical reinvestments in healthcare infrastructure. Innovative approaches such as matching funds, successfully implemented with UNFPA in the Sahel region, were cited as practical models for maximizing impact in resource-limited contexts.
The webinar also focused on gender mainstreaming in financing models, ensuring that funds directly support women-led initiatives and the transformative work women are doing in healthcare.
Participants explored how women leaders can strategically influence public policy, advance equity, and implement sustainable solutions, even in contexts with limited resources and persistent reliance on external financing.
Key participants included the Chairperson of Galien Africa, Professor Awa Marie Coll Seck, and the moderator, Mrs. Viviane Inano, founder and director of the Leading Light Initiative.
Speakers featured Dr. Sennen Hounton, Regional Director UNFPA/WCARO; Mrs. Caty Falk Sow, Director of Policy, Government Relations, and Partnerships for Africa at the Gates Foundation; Professor Fatou Samba Nduaye, President of the Association of Women Physicians of Senegal; Dr. Raymonde Goudou Coffie, Minister and Governor of Ivory Coast; and Dr. N’Da Koban Michael Yao, WHO Representative in Senegal.
The webinar reaffirmed the commitment of relevant stakeholders to empowering women leaders and driving systemic change in healthcare systems, emphasizing that innovative financial strategies, robust policies, and gender-sensitive approaches are key to achieving long-term impact across the continent.