In 2025, faith-based organizations faced unprecedented challenges—from funding uncertainties and policy shifts to humanitarian crises—while striving to uphold health as a human right. These challenges also sparked innovation, new partnerships, and opportunities for transformative action. For first half of the briefing, global ecumenical partners focused on the major challenges faced in HIV and reproductive health during 2025. Dr Manoj Kurian, director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on Health and Healing, offered an overview of the current challenges, including funding freezes from the US and other countries. While the situation certainly contributed to negative impacts related to HIV and reproductive health, it also offered opportunities for civic and faith-based organizations to strengthen awareness, advocacy, and responsibility on local levels. “It is hoped that the outcomes will be good but in the interim period it is very difficult,” acknowledged Kurian. Jane Ng’ang’a, from the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network based in Kenya, offered an overview of the 23rd International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa-ICASA in Accra, Ghana, from 3–8 December 2025 under the theme "Africa in Action: Catalysing Integrated Sustainable Responses to End AIDS, TB & Malaria." Allan Nyamari, a young advocate member of the WCC HIV & Faith Youth Academy from Nairobi, spoke of the involvement of young people in supporting the Global Fund 8th Replenishment campaign; the moral responsibility to care for vulnerable people, and the challenges and opportunities for young people enabled by the Global Fund projects. “A lot of people—not just young people are more aware of what the Global Fund is now,” he said. “Kudos to the WCC team for the good works, and as young people we are at the centre for the advocacy through our driven, lived experiences.” The second half of the briefing focused on building on the lessons of 2025 during the coming year, and charting a path toward sustainable, community-driven responses that place faith and justice at the centre of global health efforts. Gracia Violeta Ross, WCC programme executive for HIV, Reproductive Health, and Pandemics, offered an overview of about key events, activities, and priority areas for 2026. Participants then discussed ways to foster collaboration and sustain engagement among faith partners and diverse communities to strengthen collective responses. “We need to also look at how we shift in terms of strengthening the health systems,” suggested Ng’ang’a. “Of course there is a lot we have learned and we must bring these discussions to the global platforms” Jonah Ojjala, an advisor to the WCC Young People in the Ecumenical Movement Commission, also acknowledged the need to strengthen local advocacy as well as global ties to offset the challenges of funding cuts. “Even on a national level, we are supposed to take care of our own people before others are doing that,” he said. Samuel Nyoni, a young person living with HIV, said he appreciated how the briefing gave him an idea of what integrating advocacy and resources could look like in 2026. “For me, I think hope should be a demonstrative act,” he concluded. Watch the full webinar | 
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