Health Thematic Program

Health is a fundamental human right which requires a global commitment to ensuring that everyone attains the highest possible standard of health, regardless of race, religion, political beliefs, social or economic status.  

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is firmly grounded in the 1948 WHO Constitution. It is one of the targets set by nations within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, reflecting countries’ ability to ensure that all individuals receive the healthcare they need, when and where they need it. UHC aims to overcome inequalities and financial barriers while guaranteeing access to essential health services throughout the entire course of life.  

According to WHO reports, progress towards achieving universal health coverage by 2030 is not advancing at the desired pace. Since 2015, the expansion of health service coverage has stalled. In 2021, at its peak, the COVID-19 pandemic caused further disruption to essential health services in almost every country entailing a setback that largely persisted throughout 2022.

In response, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) launched its Health Program in 2022 to support initiatives aimed at strengthening health systems in AECID’s partner countries in the post-COVID-19 era. Through an annual call for proposals, the program contributes to these efforts by endorsing initiatives that promote Universal Health Coverage and the reinforcement of National Public Health Systems. Its ultimate goal is to enhance the capacity of partner countries to provide equitable, high-quality health services at all levels of care, particularly those that improve access to essential services and contribute to the implementation of National Health Plans and Strategies through their public health institutions. The program also prioritizes the reinforcement of weakened or insufficient health services. 

Each year, initiatives submitted by States and International Organizations benefit from funding through the Health Program. With a focus on poverty reduction and sustainable human development, priority is given to projects that expand access to essential services in disadvantaged and vulnerable communities, such as rural or peripheral areas, or that establish new essential services at the central level where none previously existed. Additionally, specific targets from the 2030 Agenda are prioritized annually to ensure a strategic and coordinated effort towards a healthier and more equitable future.