Cross-constituency Working Group on WCAH in Crisis and Climate Contexts

Strategic context

The frequency, scale, and complexity of crises – including conflict, displacement, pandemics, and climate-related shocks – are increasing and are disproportionately affecting women, children, and adolescents. Over the last 10 years, the world has stood witness to an unprecedented number of humanitarian and conflict situations. In these environments, women and children face the biggest risks. In 2025, WHO verified 1,350 attacks on health care across 19 countries and territories, further undermining access to essential services in crisis settings.

In 2023, almost two-thirds (64%) of global maternal deaths occurred in 37 countries identified as being in conflict or fragile. In those settings, children are more than three times more likely to die before the age of 5. In 2023, although only 25% of live births took place in fragile and conflict-affected settings, these countries accounted for nearly half of the total under-five deaths and 40 per cent of global stillbirths.

The climate crisis also severely threatens maternal, newborn, and child health and survival, increasing pregnancy complications, preterm birth, stillbirth, and is linked to a multitude of indirect impacts on WCAH, including major disruptions to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).  In parallel, evolving geopolitical tensions, growing right-leaning sentiment, and strengthening anti-rights movements, including for SRHR, have threatened the health and well-being of women around the world. 

As a multi-stakeholder platform, PMNCH is uniquely positioned to convene partners across sectors, including humanitarian, climate, health, and development, to address this challenge and drive coordinated advocacy, policy influence, and accountability for women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health (WCAH) in crisis and climate contexts.

The establishment of a PMNCH Working Group on WCAH in Crisis and Climate Contexts aims to support the delivery of PMNCH’s 2026-2030 strategy and strengthen its leadership at the intersection of WCAH, humanitarian action, and climate resilience.

Scope and objectives

The ad hoc Working Group, established for an initial period of two years, will provide strategic guidance and partnership coordination to strengthen PMNCH’s advocacy, policy influence, and partner mobilization, with the aim of ensuring that WCAH is systematically prioritized and protected across conflict, humanitarian crisis and climate preparedness, response, and recovery.

Through strengthened coordinated advocacy, the Working Group will help position WCAH as a core component of humanitarian and climate action, while advancing evidence-based solutions and contextualized responses. To achieve this, the Working Group will support PMNCH in shaping policy dialogues across crisis, humanitarian, and climate processes, and in elevating WCAH priorities within these agendas. It will mobilize multi-constituency action by supporting coordinated partner advocacy at global, regional, and national levels, and by identifying high-impact policy and financing opportunities to advance WCAH in crisis and climate settings.

The Working Group will also strengthen evidence-based advocacy by promoting the translation of evidence on the impacts of conflict and climate change on WCAH into clear, solution-oriented policy and advocacy messaging, including scaling proven interventions that protect and sustain WCAH services in crisis and climate-affected settings. In parallel, it will elevate country voice and leadership, particularly from crisis-affected and climate-vulnerable countries, while supporting accountability for commitments affecting WCAH in crisis and climate contexts.

The Working Group will provide:

• Strategic guidance on partner engagement and cross-constituency efforts to prioritize WCAH in crises and climate contexts, aligned with the 2026-2030 PMNCH Strategy
• Targeted advocacy inputs aligned to global, regional, and national policy and financing opportunities
• Contributions to PMNCH advocacy priorities, campaigns, and flagship knowledge resources

Leadership (TBC)

Two co-chairs representing PMNCH constituencies with global leadership and expertise on the issues

Membership

Membership will reflect PMNCH’s multi-constituency model and include representation across governments, UN agencies, civil society, professional associations, academia, private sector, donors and youth constituencies.

Members will be selected based on expertise, constituency representation, and ability to contribute to strategic advocacy and partner mobilization.

Operational modalities

Working group will convene under the leadership of co-chairs once every two months.

PMNCH Secretariat will provide support for coordination of the meetings and follow-up action.

To learn more about this working group and how to join, please contact the PMNCH Secretariat focal point, Kadi Toure, at tourek@who.int