The Women’s Health and Economic Empowerment Network (WHEN) and the Elimination Partnership in the Indo-Pacific for Cervical Cancer (EPICC), launched a $50 million Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) for NCDs and women’s cancers. This financial vehicle will operate with the overarching purpose of supporting the implementation of Indo-Pacific health systems. In partnership with Indonesia’s Ministry of Health, the TAF will initially be focused on deployment of programs for NCDs in Indonesia, specifically for the elimination of cervical cancer and work through NCD working groups to deploy sustainable financing solutions for healthcare.
Leaders pledged their support for the WHEN–EPICC Technical Assistance Facility—signaling unified momentum to translate commitments into sustained impact.
The Government of Indonesia opened the reception, marking its continued commitment towards sustainable health systems transformation and cervical cancer elimination. “Cervical cancer elimination is global health achievement that is well within reach. By combining political will, global collaboration, and sustainable financing, Indonesia is looking towards a future free from cervical cancer,” opened His Excellency, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Health Minister of Indonesia. His Excellency observed that, “Indonesia is a country that is well poised on this path, and by joining forces with technical and financing experts, we can accelerate transformation to ensure that no woman is left behind.”
Building on Australia’s commitment to the regional EPICC initiative, Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Penny Wong said: “Australia is proud to support global efforts to eliminate cervical cancer, by bringing together science, policy, and partnership in pursuit of a shared goal. We are pleased to share our expertise through the Elimination Partnership in the Indo-Pacific for Cervical Cancer, a vital initiative that brings us closer to making cervical cancer elimination a reality across our region.
Australia looks forward to continuing to work with Indonesia and other countries across Southeast Asia and the Pacific, to ensure that every woman—regardless of where she lives—has access to life-saving HPV vaccination, screening, and treatment.”
In its capacity as the world’s centre for cooperation in the nuclear field, including fields such as nuclear medicine and radiotherapy, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressed its technical support for country-led efforts to expand access to cervical-cancer treatment. “The
IAEA has, for decades, been working to support the global NCD response including through programs such as Rays of Hope. We look forward to engage with WHEN, the Government of Indonesia, Australia, and EPICC on efforts towards sustainable financing programs for women’s cancers, to ensure that innovative technologies are accessible to all,” stated Najat Mokhtar, Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications at the IAEA.
“Hundreds of thousands of women die every year, needlessly, from cervical cancer. Every cervical cancer death could be prevented through a combination of vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), screening and increasing access to treatment,” said Professor Karen Canfell AC from the University of Sydney, who leads the EPICC consortium funded by the Australian Government and the philanthropic Minderoo Foundation.“ EPICC is working to fast- track the WHO elimination strategy and this new facility will enable EPICC, in partnership with WHEN, to support Indonesia’s visionary efforts to eliminate cervical cancer. “
The WHEN–EPICC Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) will support large-scale, sustainable solutions and will be central to future efforts to eliminate cervical cancer in Indonesia and the wider Indo-Pacific.
“As both an investor and philanthropist, I believe women’s health is one of the most powerful entry points for building stronger societies,” said Sari Miller. “By backing sustainable financing solutions like this facility, we can ensure that resources flow where they are needed most—transforming not only health outcomes, but also livelihoods and economic opportunity for women and their communities.”
“At WHEN, we believe sustainable financing is the foundation of lasting progress in the fight against cervical cancer—ensuring vaccination, screening, and treatment expand in line with national priorities and endure over time,” echoed Joanne Manrique President of The Center for Global Health and Development (CGHD) and Co-Chair of the WHEN. “We are honored to work with EPICC, the Indonesian Ministry of Health, and partners to advance this agenda and are committed to deploy practical financing and technical solutions in Indonesia that can be scaled across the Indo-Pacific region.”
Hayley Panetta, Executive Director of Impact Missions at Minderoo Foundation, stated “we’re committed to supporting transformational initiatives and helping them scale for lasting impact. Our long-standing partnership with the EPICC program has always aimed at ensuring its sustainable implementation – so that the elimination of cervical cancer becomes a reality for women and girls in our region. The WHEN-EPICC collaboration is a powerful example of how sustainability can be achieved through practical, strategic action.”
“Through our combined efforts we can make major progress tackling stroke and cardiovascular disease in Indonesia and the region,” said Dr. Kee Park, Director of Policy and Advocacy for Program in Global Surgery at Harvard Medical School. “We are delighted to see the energy and enthusiasm which partners are bringing to the table,” said Dr. Ted Trimble, who co-chairs the Women’s Health and Empowerment Network with Joanne Manrique and Dr. Kee Park.
We invite partners to join this country-led effort, translating this week’s dialogue into coordinated, sustained action that delivers measurable results for women and communities across the region. Through targeted action today, our combined investments in women’s health will save millions of lives in future – lives of mothers, sisters and daughters.
WHEN (Women’s Health & Economic Empowerment Network)
Taylor Bourne, Director of Programs
tbourne@cghd.org | +1 (202) 467-8370
EPICC (Elimination Partnership in the Indo-Pacific for Cervical Cancer)
Karen Canfell, EPICC Lead
karen.canfell@sydney.edu.au | +61 404 517786
