Mariëlle Bemelmans (Wemos director) and Barbara Fienieg (Wemos global health expert) participated in the 4th Finance for Development Conference (FfD4) in Seville, which came to a close yesterday.
Initially there was no space for civil society organizations in the official programme – with our access, even as observers, fully barred on day 1. Fortunately, this space widened up after pressing demands from our side, supported by a number of government delegations including the Netherlands. On day 4, the closing day, we were even allowed a ‘peaceful mobilization action’ within the FfD4 official premises and presented our joint declaration in the official closing programme (at 31’ minutes). Wemos contributed to and wholeheartedly supports the FfD4 Civil Society Organizations’ Declaration.
“The right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including sexual and reproductive health, is non-negotiable. Quality, inclusive, and publicly funded lifelong education and healthcare must be prioritized as a cornerstone of sustainable development.”
Declaration from the FfD4 Civil Society Forum, 29 June 2025
Even though the conference started with a relatively weak outcome document – the Compromiso de Sevilla – already final, important topics were still discussed. State and non-State actors from nearly every part the world conversed about the next steps toward more inclusive and effective international cooperation: debt resolution, progressive tax, and other areas of economic justice and financing for development to promote human rights, including the right to health.
Along with other CSOs, Barbara participated in frank conversations with EU parliamentarians, institutions, and country delegates, including the full delegation of the Netherlands, urging them to move from protectionist stances to cooperation on equal footing in the UN system. Such cooperation is of crucial importance to tackle the world’s most urgent challenges, like realizing good quality healthcare for everyone.
Mariëlle participated in a workshop on the future of health financing. She expressed caution for private investment or blended financing as the solution to close severe finance gaps if strong regulation is lacking. Public financing remains key to closing the inequality gap.
During the multi-stakeholder roundtable on systemic issues in the international financial architecture, the female vice president of Cuba put it very clearly: “It is time to put people and planet over capital interests”.
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Mariëlle and Barbara
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Meeting with European Commission
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Meeting with European Parliament
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Consultation with Dutch delegation
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On the bus
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Side event
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Important corridor conversations
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Civil society demonstration on day 4
See our asks to European leaders, ahead of the FfD4: to commit to fair and viable solutions to close the financing gap for health and development.
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