Message from Rajat Khosla, PMNCH Executive Director - March 2025

Dear PMNCH Partners, 

As we close the first quarter of 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on the shifting landscape of foreign assistance and development aid and what it means for our shared mission. The past few months have brought significant changes, with funding reallocations and program closures that will have lasting impacts on the health and well-being of women, children, and adolescents (WCA). Many organizations have had to reprioritize their efforts, adapting to ensure they can continue advocating for, and delivering essential services despite these challenges. 

At the same time, we have seen the continued rise of restrictive policies and conservative advocacy that threaten to stall progress, limiting our ability to develop the progressive policies that we know are necessary to save lives. These pressures remind us of the fragile nature of the gains we have made and the urgency of our work. 

Yet, in the face of these challenges, our collective resolve has only strengthened. Across our network, we have witnessed an inspiring recommitment to our cause. Partners have stepped up, demonstrating an unwavering willingness to collaborate, innovate, and advocate to ensure that no progress is lost. This was evident in the strong statements made on International Women’s Day, including by PMNCH, calling for bold action to protect gender equality and WCAH. The outcome document adopted at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) reaffirmed these commitments, reinforcing the need for continued advocacy and action. 

PMNCH remains at the forefront of this effort, driving advocacy and mobilizing partners to rethink the future of WCAH. Our work in recent months has included: 

- Coordinating advocacy on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) ahead of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) 

- Organizing policy dialogues on critical issues such as climate change and WCAH 

- Recording A Touchpoint podcast episode to interrogate the impact of racism on WCAH for International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD) 

As we continue to navigate this evolving space, we must also consider how to increase efficiencies in our work. Partnership will be key to this, ensuring that our collective efforts have the greatest impact.  The PMNCH consultations to inform our 2026-2030 strategy have shown this and a draft is being developed and will ensure it reflects the needs and priorities of our partners. 

Additionally, to better equip PMNCH members to communicate the urgency of WCAH effectively, we will launch on World Health Day (WHD) next week. Join this webinar to learn more about how to use this resource. 

Now, more than ever, we must remain steadfast and united in our efforts. The challenges are real, but so is our collective commitment. By working together, we can ensure that the rights, health, and well-being of women, children, and adolescents remain at the center of global action.