Newsletter September 2024

In Devex: the importance of youth-led policymaking

The youth-led protests in Kenya are an example of how government policies can miss the mark when creating policies that affect young people. To enhance the well-being of youth, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, governments must give young people seats at the table. This is what Elizabeth Warindi, Shila Ukumbini Salim (Kilifi Youth for Sustainable Development) and Julia Hochberger (Wemos) – working together in the Make Way programme – call for in Devex. Read the opinion ➔

Policy note: health sector financing strategy in Mozambique

More than half of Mozambique’s health budget depends on external funding. With two of the largest funders withdrawing by 2030, the country urgently needs to find sufficient funding for its health system. N'weti and Wemos made an in-depth analysis of the country’s budget and offered recommendations to increase and optimize financial resources. Read our new policy note, as part of the ‘Equitable Health Financing for a Strong Health System’ project. Read more ➔

Make Way for Youth podcast episode 4: Life in abundance

A new episode of the Make Way for Youth podcast is out! In episode four, youth panellists speak with Reverend Godfrey Adera, a priest and theologian from Kenya. Together, they explore the role of religion in sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and discuss how religious texts can be interpreted in light of people's lived experiences. You can now find the podcast on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Buzzsprout.

GFF evaluation: assess alignment, coordination and finance

Wemos is actively engaged in the mid-term evaluation of the strategy of the Global Financing Facility (GFF), a key initiative improving health for the most vulnerable women, children and adolescents. This evaluation is crucial to assessing progress and refining future strategies. As part of the civil society and youth constituency, we emphasize two areas for the GFF to evaluate: alignment with country plans and coordination with other global health initiatives, and the impacts of blended finance on health equity. Read more ➔

Opinion article: Netherlands, support the UN Tax Convention

In an opinion article in Dutch national newspaper NRC, Barbara Fienieg (Wemos) and Arnold Merkies (Tax Justice Netherlands) call on the Netherlands to cooperate fully in the creation of the UN Tax Convention. Currently, countries are losing billions of dollars through large-scale international tax evasion. Governments can put this money to good use for public services, such as healthcare. A new convention should counter cross-border tax evasion, but the Netherlands is resisting. Read the opinion (in Dutch) ➔

Wemos tips & picks

In a groundbreaking series, ‘Ten Days in a Mad-House’, journalist Nellie Bly exposed the horrifying conditions at the Women’s Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell’s Island (USA) in 1887. Bly went undercover to reveal widespread misdiagnosis, mistreatment and neglect faced by patients. Her investigation sparked public outrage, leading to a USD 1 million increase in the asylum's budget. Her courageous reporting highlights the role of media in shaping public policies and social changes. Read online or download (in public domain).