Transnational lifelines: the role of diaspora capital on health system resilience in fragile and shock-prone settings

Fragile and conflict-affected states face severe health system challenges that diminish the capacity of the health system to respond and adapt in crisis to ensure delivery of essential health services. Diaspora play a significant role in supporting healthcare and health systems globally. However, their contributions to resilience of health systems, particularly in fragile and shock prone settings, remain underexplored. This presentation highlights important resource flows through which diaspora capital —human, social, and financial — contribute to health system resilience capabilities in fragile and shock prone settings. As climate threats, epidemics, and conflicts increasingly strain health systems particularly in fragile settings, leveraging diaspora capabilities through adaptive policy is critical for progress towards universal health coverage and health security.

This presentation was given by Professor Sophie Witter at the International Health Economics Association Congress (IHEA) conference in July 2025.

Further information

More on this study – The role of the diaspora in supporting health system resilience in fragile and shock-prone settings