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review the meeting recording here: https://iu.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/t/1_kmk9vswy?st=35

🧭 Meeting Overview

• Context: The group gathered to address the recent disruption caused by the sudden withdrawal or reduction of U.S. government aid in digital/global health initiatives.

• Tone: Open, honest, and solution-focused dialogue centered on sustainability, national ownership, and collaboration.

• Purpose: To share personal experiences, challenges, and opportunities arising from the funding shift, and to propose actionable steps forward..

🧠 Themes & Insights

🔧 Resilience & Ownership

• Many countries are striving to take charge of digital health systems and not rely entirely on external aid.

• Importance of government leadership, strategic planning, and resource allocation.

🚨 Crisis as Catalyst

• This funding disruption is a wake-up call and an opportunity to shift toward local control and sustainability.

🤝 Collaboration & Learning

• Calls for deeper collaboration across countries and organizations, especially within the Global South.

• Willingness to share tools, strategies, and lessons.

💰 Financial Models

• Recognition of the need to rethink funding models.

• Proposals for diversified financing, including domestic resources and new philanthropic partners.

💬 Proposed Actions

• Compile a collective report capturing these experiences.

• Advocate through regional forums and institutions.

• Push for digital health to be recognized and budgeted at national levels.

• Strengthen internal capacities through training and system simplification.

✅ Emerging Action Items

1. Develop a formal report summarizing the meeting’s findings and proposals.

2. Promote domestic digital health investment and integrate digital health into national budgets.

3. Encourage country ownership by redefining terms of collaboration with implementing partners.

4. Conduct national needs assessments for digital health systems.

5. Share existing tools and frameworks for sustainability evaluation.

6. Support cross-country mentorship and experience sharing (South-South collaboration).