As global leaders convene in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 under the theme A Spirit of Dialogue, the need for inclusive, cross-sector engagement on the defining challenges of our time has never been clearer.

As a Bayer Sustainability Council Member and a WEF Champion of the Global Alliance for Women’s Health, I am grateful to Bayer for the invitation to engage with the roundtable Empowering Health: How Innovative Finance Drives Consumer Health and Self-Care Adoption, convened in partnership with Goals House, although I was unable to be there in person this year. The roundtable rightly centred on how innovative financing instruments, including blended finance, catalytic capital and health value bonds, can unlock scale for self-care solutions while safeguarding equity, sustainability and accountability.

Through the work of The Wellbeing Foundation Africa, we have consistently observed that self-care is a fundamental driver of effective primary healthcare, supporting prevention, early action and continuity of care, particularly for women and communities facing the greatest barriers to access. When individuals are empowered to manage their health, health systems are better positioned to allocate resources strategically, improve outcomes and respond effectively to emerging pressures.

These conversations reflect the WEF’s 2026 emphasis on investing in people, advancing responsible innovation and strengthening cooperation across divides. Advancing self-care at scale will require deliberate collaboration across public, private and philanthropic sectors, ensuring that innovation delivers measurable, lasting benefit for those who need it most.

 

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