Prioritizing Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health in Humanitarian and Conflict-affected Settings

In an era of unprecedented global upheaval, the intersection of conflict, climate change, and displacement has created a “permacrisis” that threatens decades of progress in global health. Today, more than 50% of maternal and child deaths occur in fragile and conflict-affected settings. The climate crisis also severely threatens maternal, newborn, and child health and survival, increasing pregnancy complications, preterm birth, stillbirth, and is linked to a multitude of indirect impacts on WCAH, including major disruptions to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).  In these rapidly evolving and complex humanitarian landscapes, marked by tightening fiscal space and the systematic disruption of essential services, the urgency of prioritizing women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health (WCAH)—including SRHR—has never been greater.   

Despite high-level global commitments, the transition from humanitarian response to sustainable, resilient health systems remains fragmented. Too many promises of “health for all” remain unfulfilled for those living in the shadows of crisis, where the most marginalized continue to bear the heaviest burden. To meet this moment, we must ensure that humanitarian action is not merely a reactive measure, but a rights-based commitment that places the health and dignity of women and youth at the very center of the agenda. True resilience requires a move toward health sovereignty, ensuring that even in crisis, local systems have the agency to define their priorities. This must be underpinned by innovative approaches to domestic resource mobilization, shielding essential WCAH services from the volatility of external aid cycles. 

Meeting the needs of vulnerable populations in humanitarian and climate-affected contexts, requires a shift from top-down, one-size-fits-all interventions to bottom-up, community-led approaches. We must elevate the voices of displaced women, youth-led social movements, and local health workers who navigate the frontlines of crisis. In a world of constrained resources and competing priorities, prioritizing WCAH and SRHR is not an “add-on” or a secondary tier of response; it is the fundamental lever that ensures humanitarian aid is used wisely, transparently, and equitably to save lives where they are most at risk. 

Without a concerted effort to integrate SRHR and WCAH into the core of humanitarian affairs and climate response, inequities in health outcomes will persist, deepening divides in already fragile contexts. However, by uniting political will with professional excellence and financial integrity, we can transform crisis response into a unifying agenda—one that ensures no girl, woman, or child is left behind simply because of the geography of their birth or the volatility of their surroundings. 

Effective implementation in crisis settings depends on our ability to be both equity-sensitive and adaptive. This means not only tracking broad humanitarian indicators but also exposing hidden disparities—identifying gaps in care based on age, gender, disability, and legal status. 

Recent innovations are transforming how we deliver care in these challenging environments. Digital health systems, real-time surveillance tools, and mobile SRHR service delivery platforms are making it possible to reach “unreachable” populations with unprecedented speed. This includes climate-smart health infrastructure, such as solar-powered cold chains for vaccines and early-warning systems that trigger anticipatory health actions before a predicted climate shock hits a fragile zone. Furthermore, the use of data-driven insights allows for more responsive policies, ensuring that essential supplies—from dignity kits to life-saving maternal medicines—reach the right hands at the right time. 

Objectives