Country Perspectives: Eliminating Neglected Diseases in Climate-Resilient Health Systems

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect over 1.6 billion people globally, with climate change threatening progress toward their elimination. Evidence increasingly highlights NTDs' climate sensitivity, underscoring the importance of investing in NTD elimination within low-emission, climateresilient health systems. Such investments have a multiplier effect, advancing economic, educational, environmental, health, and prosperity outcomes. While attention to climate impacts on health and neglected disease has rapidly increased since COP28, country leaders have been taking action on climate adaptation, mitigation, and resilient health systems over the last decade or so. The END Fund, working alongside partners, have been collaborating with and consulting country leaders to understand the challenges communities are facing, strategies making progress, barriers to overcome, and opportunities for funders to support their efforts. This brief highlights case studies of countries facing the challenges of the dual burdens of the impacts of climate change and NTDs and the actions they are taking to build climate-resilient health systems. Consultations with contributors to this brief and desk research were conducted to inform each of the case studies featuring countries across Africa and the Western Pacific Islands. Throughout consultations leaders outlined actionable recommendations for donors to build on ongoing partner efforts to support country-led, climate-resilient health systems by elevating the leadership of those in countries and communities at the frontlines of the climate response. It emphasizes two critical areas for donor advocacy: Accelerate Investment in High-Impact Areas: Allocate resources to regions most vulnerable to the dual burden of climate change and NTDs, with a focus on diseases and areas nearest to elimination. Strengthen Health System Climate-Resilience Through Multisectoral Partnerships: Expand investments in health system infrastructure and workforce training while fostering multisectoral partnerships that link health, environment, agriculture, and other sectors. Investments in these areas also contribute to a wide range of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG17 (Partnerships). Integrating NTD elimination into climate-resilient systems addresses root causes of poverty and disease, enhances food security, reduces school absenteeism, and fosters inclusive development. This approach also aligns with climate action goals by building adaptive capacity and reducing health risks exacerbated by climate change. Multisectoral collaboration across health, agriculture, and education strengthens these systems, driving sustainable progress not only toward global SDGs but also regional frameworks such as the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the Paris Agreement, and the Common African Position on Climate Change. Global frameworks like the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives also provide a pathway to securing financing and effective implementation, laying the foundation for long-term development that benefits both people and the planet.