Policy and Global Development

Influencing the global debate on development aid and health

In 2025, we contributed to the global policy debate on development aid and health through close collaboration with the research team led by Davide Rasella. By combining rigorous scientific analysis with policy translation, advocacy and communication, we helped bring concrete estimates of the human cost of development aid reductions to international arenas, raising awareness among policymakers and global health actors about the dire consequences of foreign aid cuts.

Supporting Spain’s growing leadership in global health

Through policy analysis and engagement with public institutions, we helped to define a coherent national strategy for global health in Spain, bringing together the foreign policy, public health and scientific communities. We also advocated for Spain’s leadership in multilateral efforts to advance health equity. Significant milestones were achieved in both aspects during the year, including the approval of Spain’s first “Estrategia Española de Salud Global 2025–2030”, increased financial commitments to initiatives such as Gavi and The Global Fund, and an active participation in international discussions on global health governance and financing

Engaging society on climate and health

In 2025, we partnered with Fundación ”la Caixa” to launch Voces por la Salud: narrativas y acción frente al cambio climático at the Palau Macaya. The initiative brought together researchers, policymakers and civil society to explore the links between climate change and health from a perspective of equity and climate justice. Through eight roundtables and eight participatory workshops, the programme created spaces for dialogue and knowledge exchange on equitable climate adaptation.

Advancing ISGlobal’s predoctoral programme
During 2025, we also strengthened our engagement on humanitarian health challenges. We developed the internal foundations for this line of work while initiating dialogue with external partners, helping to build an initial coalition around an issue of growing global relevance.

Embedding societal impact across our research

Through the creation of our Impact Unit in January 2025, we are strengthening how societal impact is planned, tracked and demonstrated across all research programmes. This includes developing impact stories that document how ISGlobal research has contributed to improved health outcomes and to changes in policy, practice and public debate.