As traditional development aid declines sharply—with cuts exceeding 70% from major donors between 2021 and 2025—African and Asian countries are navigating an unprecedented transition that demands new approaches to achieving universal health coverage. This article examines how South-South collaboration and catalytic investment mechanisms are emerging as critical strategies for sustaining health system progress in the post-aid era. Drawing on global experiences, including from the Joint Learning Network for Universal Health Coverage (JLN) and its Joint Learning Fund (JLF), we share how countries are leveraging peer-to-peer learning to mobilize domestic resources, and innovative financing to build resilient, country-owned health systems that limit the dependence on unpredictable flows of external assistance.

The journey toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is rarely linear—it’s a shared path shaped by collaboration, resilience, and mutual learning. With the virtual launch of the Country Core Group (CCG) Community of Practice (CoP), the Joint Learning Network for Universal Health Coverage (JLN) introduced a dynamic new platform to unite countries in their collective pursuit of health for all.Global health leaders from across the JLN came together for the launch, driven by a common goal: to transform shared learning into stronger, more equitable health systems. The CCG CoP is not just a new initiative but the beginning of a vibrant movement, where we are attempting to redefine how we learn, collaborate, and take action for universal health coverage.”