The 2025 Global Health Cluster (GHC) Partners’ Meeting brought together humanitarian actors for two days of focused discussions on the future of health coordination in humanitarian settings. With the humanitarian landscape shifting rapidly, marked by deepening needs, shrinking funds, and calls for reform, the meeting provided a timely platform to confront critical questions about how we work, who leads, and what comes next.
The opening session unpacked the Humanitarian Reset process, highlighting how the global funding crisis and coordination reforms are prompting a rethink of traditional approaches. This session was followed by a deep dive into area-based coordination, drawing lessons from South Sudan on how localized models can better serve communities.
Day two featured a compelling look at the earthquake response in Myanmar, where local organizations led life-saving efforts in a complex and restricted environment. The meeting concluded with the presentation of the GHC’s external evaluation, prompting honest reflections on what it means to remain fit for purpose in a volatile world.
Throughout the sessions, partners emphasized the importance of local leadership, flexible funding, and more innovative coordination models that reflect the realities on the ground. Across different contexts and discussions, a common message emerged: the future of humanitarian health coordination must be both bold and grounded in reality.