The Fifteenth Meeting of the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF) Working Group was held virtually on 2 July 2026 to review progress in SEARHEF implementation, discuss operationalization of recent policy reforms, and seek Member State feedback on the draft SEARHEF Resource Mobilization Strategy (2026–2030).
Opening the meeting on behalf of Dr Catharina Cora Boehme, Officer-in-Charge of WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, Dr Nilesh Buddha, Regional Emergency Director, emphasized the importance of strengthening SEARHEF's visibility and resource base to address the increasing frequency and complexity of health emergencies across the Region.
Member States reaffirmed their strong support for SEARHEF, recognizing its proven role in providing rapid and flexible financing for emergency preparedness and response. They endorsed a diversified resource mobilization approach, strengthening partnerships including with development banks, philanthropic organizations and the private sector, while underscoring the importance of compliance with WHO governance frameworks, including the Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA). Participants also supported exploring in-kind contributions, such as lifesaving supplies, operational support and technical expertise, and highlighted South-South cooperation and regional solidarity as key pillars for expanding donor engagement.
The Working Group agreed on the strategies proposed to mobilize resources detailed in the SEARHEF Resource Mobilization Strategy (2026–2030), which will be submitted through the High Level Preperatory meeting to the Seventy-ninth Session of the Regional Committee for WHO South-East Asia in September 2026 as part of the progress report on implementation of SEARHEF.
Fifteenth meeting of the Working Group for Governance of WHO South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF) (photo credit: WHO/SEARO)