In 2021, designated as the Year of Health and Care Workers by the World Health Assembly, the Government of France, World Health Organization and Women in Global Health partnered on the Gender Equal Health and Care Workforce Initiative (GEHCWI). This Initiative aims to increase visibility, dialogue, and commitment to action on gender equity in the health and care workforce alongside the UN Women Generation Equality Campaign to accelerate gender equality and mark the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The Initiative inspires the announcement of commitments towards action in the health and care sectors. Gender equity in the health and care sector builds a strong foundation for health systems, universal health coverage (UHC) and global health security.

The Initiative aims to drive action in the health and care sector under four pillars:

1. Increasing the proportion of women in health and care leadership roles;
2. Recognizing the value of unpaid health and care work and the importance of equal pay in the health and social care sectors;
3. Protecting women in health and care against sexual harassment and violence at work;
4. Ensuring safe and decent working conditions for all health workers, everywhere.