The UHC2030 governance structure aims to ensure effective coordination, to bring mutual value to partners without adding unnecessary complexity or bureaucratic burden. Representation and inclusivity are essential for our legitimacy, with broad multi-stakeholder engagement in activities and decision-making processes. 

The main governance structures for UHC2030 are: 

  1. Steering Committee
  2. Reference Group
  3. UHC Movement Political Advisory Panel
  4. Technical working groups
  5. Civil Society Engagement Mechanism
  6. Related Initiatives
  7. Core Team (Secretariat)

1. Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is the decision making body for UHC2030, and as such, is responsible for setting overall strategic directions and oversight. The Steering Committee’s role and responsibilities reflect the mandate of UHC2030, including mobilising political support for the aims, objectives and activities of the partnership. Representatives are expected to lead by example by adherence to the commitments of the Global Compact at global and country levels. 

The Steering Committee has a maximum of 20 members who represent the different constituencies in UHC2030, to facilitate communication and interaction of members. Ad hoc observers can be selected by invitation. 

Representation and inclusivity are essential for the partnership’s legitimacy, with broad multi-stakeholder engagement in the activities and decision-making processes.

20 members

  • 9 country seats across low-, middle- and high-income countries
  • 3 seats for multilateral organisations 
  • 2 seats for the World Bank and WHO 
  • 1 seat for a philanthropic foundation
  • 3 seats for civil society for global, national and grassroots organisations
  • 1-2 seats for the private sector 

Steering committee meetings

Sixth SC meeting: December 2019

Fifth SC meeting: June 2019 

Fourth SC meeting: December 2018

Third SC meeting: June 2018

Second SC meeting: December 2017

First SC meeting: June 2017

2. Reference group

The UHC2030 Reference Group has a technical and operational focus, and acts as a sounding board to share updates on workplan implementation and to identify potential opportunities for further collaboration. A broad membership includes senior technical representatives from any interested signatory and related initiatives. Signatories are invited to nominate a representative if they would like to engage. Quarterly teleconference meetings take place. 

Roles and responsibilities include to:  

  • Provide a regular forum for information exchange and discussion of progress
  • Serve as a forum for identifying potential priority issues for further collaboration, to be considered by the Steering Committee 
  • Assist the Core Team on the technical preparation of the UHC2030 Forum. 

3. UHC Movement Political Advisory Panel

The UHC Movement Political Advisory Panel provides guidance to the UHC2030 Steering Committee to strengthen political support for universal health coverage (UHC). Members are: 

Mr. Elhadj As Sy, Chair of the Board, Kofi Annan Foundation

Ms. Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of the United Cities and Local Governments

Ms. Gabriela Cuevas Barron, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Board Member of The Elders

Prof. Keizo Takemi, Member of the House of Councillors, Japan

Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly

Dr. Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Former European Commissioner

Read more about the advisory panel

4. Technical working groups

The Steering Committee can establish technical groups, bringing together technical experts, to collectively delivery on a priority of work identified in the UHC2030 work plan. These multi-stakeholder groups are activity oriented and will exist only as long as it takes to complete the specific task they have been given.

5. Civil Society Engagement Mechanism (CSEM)

The CSEM is the civil society arm of the UHC2030 movement and is a critical contributor to UHC2030. It pays systematic attention to the needs of the most marginalised and vulnerable populations so that no one is left behind. 

The CSEM seeks to strengthen an inclusive and broad movement on UHC, influence policy design and implementation, strengthen citizen-led and social accountability mechanisms, and promote coordination and harmonisation between CSO platforms and networks working on health related issues. 

The CSEM has the following structure: 

  1. Three CSO representatives to the UHC2030 Steering Committee from global, national and grassroots organisations. 
  2. A global CSO advisory group, linking global and local inputs and providing technical guidance. 
  3. A secretariat, hosted by a CSO with two full-time employees to implement the workplan and ensure coordination and communication across the structures. 
  4. National groups, with focal points from existing CSO health platforms.
  5. Regional focal points, to support national groups and promote exchange across countries.

6. Engagement with related networks, partnerships and alliances

UHC2030 is the global platform for health systems coordination and brings together existing partnerships, alliances and networks referred to as ‘related initiatives’ that focus on strengthening comprehensive or specific areas of health systems.

UHC2030 also engages with related initiatives that focus on specific diseases or population groups as appropriate to facilitate a more integrated approach to strengthening accountability and advocating for equitable and sustainable progress towards UHC. 

Engagement in UHC2030 is voluntary and open to any related initiative that seeks to collaborate towards achieving the aim and objectives of the partnership. 

At the strategic level, the UHC 2030 Steering Committee provides an opportunity for related initiatives to raise common priority issues for collective consideration by senior representatives.

At the operational level, representatives from related initiatives are welcome, and encouraged, to join UHC2030 technical working groups as relevant to their area of focus.

The list below reflects the related initiatives whose mandates may be most proximate to the aim and objectives of UHC2030, many of whom have been active in the partnership’s evolution to date. 

Health systems specific initiatives

Other related initiatives

  • Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA)
  • Non Communicable Diseases Global Coordination Mechanism (NCD-GCM) 
  • Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) 

This is not an exhaustive list. Collaboration could also include relevant regional partnerships, alliances and networks such as the ASEAN+3  UHC Network, Harmonisation for Health in Africa, and the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.

7. Core Team – Secretariat

The UHC2030 Core Team is co-hosted by the World Health Organization and the World Bank, who each appoint one co-lead. Each co-lead is supported by a small team as needed, and all serve as the joint secretariat for the partnership. 

The Core Team manages the daily operations of UHC2030 in line with the agreed workplan and budget, under the oversight and guidance of the Steering Committee. 

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