A new $70 million fund has been launched to safeguard women’s health programs as international aid budgets shrink. The Women’s Health Co-Lab, backed by philanthropists including Melinda French Gates, aims to strengthen services in maternal health, sexual and reproductive rights, and gender-based violence prevention.
The fund is managed by ICONIQ Impact, the philanthropy arm of ICONIQ Capital, in partnership with Co-Impact, a global philanthropic organization. Together, they plan to support 22 organizations across the world, with five based in Africa, over the next three years.
The initiative comes at a time when global aid cuts have forced many women’s health programs to scale back. “Women and girls are often the first to feel the impact of shrinking aid,” said one of the fund’s partners, emphasizing the need for sustainable, locally driven solutions.
In addition to the initial $70 million, the Women’s Health Co-Lab aims to mobilize another $30 million to expand its reach and impact. The fund will prioritize projects that empower women leaders and promote equitable access to health care.
Supporters say the initiative represents a growing trend of collaborative philanthropy designed to fill the gaps left by reduced government funding. By pooling resources and focusing on community-led change, the fund hopes to build long-term resilience in global women’s health systems.
