On 22 May 2025, Uniting Streams and KCGH organised the second edition of the Global Health Geek Out at Oproer Biercafé in Utrecht. With 25 attendees, we discussed the impact of recent international cuts - in particular the budget reductions at USAID - on the future of global health.
The evening provided space to reflect together on what these funding shifts mean for health programmes worldwide. It considered the concrete impact in low- and middle-income countries, where cuts are already being felt in maternal care, HIV treatment, nutrition programmes and infectious disease prevention, among others. At the same time, it looked more broadly at the impact of donor priorities on global agendas, partnerships and power relations within global health.
The programme started with a brief interpretation of the current state of affairs, followed by a debate round on the state of global health. A spotlight talk zoomed in on tuberculosis and the impact of global funding cuts on vaccine development and access to care.
During three panel discussions, the speakers explored different perspectives:
- Rosana Lescrauwaet (Cordaid, chair Dutch Global Health Alliance) reflected on policy advocacy and the role of civil society organisations in securing equitable and sustainable health systems.
- Putri Widi Saraswati (co-founder RAISE Global Health) brought in an intersectional feminist and decolonial perspective, stressing that health is inextricably linked to political choices.
- Shaun Palmer (IAVI, PhD candidate Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) discussed innovative financing models and global coalitions around vaccine development, with a specific focus on tuberculosis.
In addition to the future of the field, self-care, alliance (allyship) and career development for young professionals in a changing funding landscape.
Afterwards, participants stayed to chat over informal drinks. The small-scale setting made for an open and personal conversation, where there was room for questions, concerns and ideas on how young professionals can position themselves in a global health field that is visibly changing.
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