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Democrat Nina Schwalbe, public health leader, takes on DC’s political establishment as she files to run in NY-12 primary.

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Nina grew up in NY-12 and gave birth to her children here. She took care of her parents as they died here. She has marched for our rights on these streets. And she loves the people and neighborhoods that make New York, New York.&nbsp;New York has been home to her family for six generations and Nina believes this moment demands leadership that shows up for New Yorkers.

Nina is a scientist who puts evidence into action.&nbsp;She has decades of experience in leadership roles at some of the world’s most complex institutions where politics, finances, logistics, and human lives intersect. She has managed large teams and large budgets, negotiated among governments,&nbsp;strengthened systems that operate across borders, and created alliances that deliver results.From vaccine access and pandemic preparedness to maternal health, disability inclusion, and human rights, Nina has dedicated her life to ensuring public systems serve people.

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Nina Schwalbe has spent her career leading complex organizations where the stakes are life and death. She has worked here in New York, for the federal government, and around the world to fix broken systems. And she has seen firsthand how decisions made in Washington ripple outward into everyday life in New York and beyond.Nina has a track record of delivering real results for real people. She brings a clear vision to strengthen our democratic institutions and make New York healthier, more affordable, safer, and more prepared for what’s ahead.That’s the leadership Congress needs right now.A healthy democracy demands leaders who have proven themselves beyond politics.

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Scientist. Public health leader. Vaccine champion. Small business owner. Dance mom. Nina has lived and worked all over the world. And New York has always been home. This city has made Nina who she is and she’s never stopped believing Washington can better serve New Yorkers.

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<h3>WHAT IS A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY?</h3>A healthy democracy is one where the government:

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<h2>La demócrata Nina Schwalbe, líder en salud pública, desafía al establishment político de DC al inscribirse para competir en la primaria de NY-12.</h2>Nueva York, 9 de enero de 2026. -- Impulsada por la imprudencia de la administración actual y el fracaso del establishment político para detenerla, la experta en salud y activista neoyorquina Nina Schwalbe ha lanzado su candidatura al escaño congresional vacante NY-12.Nina es una reconocida líder de salud pública, científica especializada en vacunas y defensora que ha enfocado su carrera en arreglar sistemas defectuosos para que las personas puedan vivir vidas mejores, más saludables y más asequibles.Debido al fracaso de esta administración, Estados Unidos está viendo nuevamente brotes de sarampión y tos ferina, enfermedades que se creían erradicadas en EE.UU. gracias a la medicina moderna."Mi familia ha vivido en el distrito 12 durante seis generaciones. Crecí y di a luz a mis dos hijos aquí. Cuidé a mis padres mientras morían aquí. El distrito 12 es mi hogar", dijo Schwalbe.Nina es una negociadora fuerte, capaz y lista "desde el primer día". Ella hace que las cosas sucedan. Ha supervisado instituciones complejas, gestionado grandes equipos y presupuestos, y ha ejecutado programas públicos para mejorar la vida diaria y los medios de subsistencia de las personas. También es propietaria de una pequeña empresa.En sus décadas de trabajo en los sectores público y privado, el enfoque de Nina ha sido arreglar sistemas que no funcionaban: desde la gestión de programas de vacunas multimillonarios para el Gobierno de EE.UU. y las Naciones Unidas hasta el asesoramiento a la Ciudad de Nueva York y gobiernos de todo el mundo sobre su respuesta al COVID-19. Nina ha logrado resultados medibles, fortalecido la rendición de cuentas y salvado vidas.&nbsp;Si es elegida, Nina sería la única demócrata en el Congreso con un doctorado en salud pública."Washington está desmantelando sistemáticamente nuestra democracia, poniendo en riesgo a Nueva York, Estados Unidos y al mundo, y el Congreso no logra detenerlo", dice Schwalbe. "Esta administración está alimentando la desinformación, propaga ciencia falsa y ha recortado incluso los servicios más básicos. La lista es interminable y el ataque implacable: deteniendo programas de vacunación, negando el cambio climático, recortando drásticamente la Ley de Atención Médica Asequible, Medicaid, Medicare, vivienda y educación, generando miedo en las comunidades a través de políticas migratorias ilegales y atacando derechos básicos. En un momento en que cada vez más neoyorquinos luchan con los costos, la situación está yendo de mal en peor".Nina trabajará para restaurar la supervisión y el financiamiento congresional. "Bajo esta administración, el gobierno federal ha cortado de tajo nuestros derechos, destruyendo los mismos sistemas diseñados para protegernos. Merecemos un mejor liderazgo en el Congreso. El Congreso ha abdicado su papel de supervisión para resolver los problemas más graves de nuestra nación y proteger el bienestar de sus ciudadanos, comenzando por ejecutar los programas que ordena", dice Schwalbe. "El ataque contra la salud es un ejemplo flagrante de la negligencia, la ignorancia y la malicia que enfrentamos.&nbsp;Por ejemplo, el trabajo del gobierno federal es decidir qué vacunas están disponibles en nuestras farmacias locales; garantizar que los medicamentos que tomamos sean seguros y eficaces; y detener virus mortales antes de que lleguen a Nueva York.&nbsp;Cuando no cumple con su trabajo, como es el caso ahora, todos somos más vulnerables."Me postulo para el Congreso porque este momento exige un nuevo liderazgo que proteja lo que importa, reconstruya de manera más sólida y se prepare para el mañana. Es bastante simple. Nuestro gobierno no está haciendo su trabajo. Eso tiene que cambiar, comenzando ahora".La campaña Nina for NYC ya ha recaudado más de $200,000 sin dinero de PAC corporativos. Como candidata por primera vez sin una lista de donantes existente, esto representa un comienzo sólido para una carrera competitiva.Obtenga más información sobre Nina Schwalbe en <a href="http://www.ninafornyc.com">www.ninafornyc.com</a>Contacto:&nbsp; Lisa Kovitz. <a href="mailto:lisa@ninafornyc.com">lisa@ninafornyc.com</a> -&nbsp; 917 992 7683<a href="/37a6b2b8-2989-4b2c-b1db-1724a71231e1">Visit Press Release in English</a>

Right now, the federal government is destroying the very systems that keep people safe. Our rights and the guardrails that make democracy work are on the line. We won't ever change the way that Washington works if we're unwilling to change the types of people we send to represent us in Washington. This moment demands new leadership.

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Nina is a relentless doer who turns bold ideas into real-world results. She’s led at the highest levels of public service, from leading health for UNICEF to advising New York City and governments around the world during the COVID crisis.

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<h2>Career Highlights</h2><ul><li>Appointed by the Biden-Harris administration to design and launch a $7B USAID emergency initiative, delivering hundreds of millions of&nbsp;vaccines globally</li><li>Negotiated radical price reduction of the cervical cancer vaccine so it could be widely available in low-income countries</li><li>Led the implementation of an initiative developed by Nobel Prize–winning economists that prevented more than 700,000 childhood deaths and drove policies enabling tens of millions of children to access new, life-saving vaccines</li><li>Designed a World Bank program leveraging public and private finance to&nbsp;deliver a 700% return on investment for women’s and children’s health</li></ul><h2>Acting locally for New York</h2><ul><li>During the COVID-19 pandemic, advised the New York City Mayor’s office and schools throughout the city on keeping schools open and fought for equity-focused vaccine policies</li><li>Community volunteer, grassroots canvasser, active member of local Democratic club, and lifelong Democrat</li><li>Dance mom, YMCA swim team mom, West Side Little League mom, parents committee member, and condominium board chair</li></ul><h2>Standing up for equality and equal rights</h2><ul><li>Secured recognition of same-sex couples working for the United Nations in Geneva, advancing equality in international institutions</li><li>Directed programs and designed policies expanding equitable access to HIV and tuberculosis treatment, harm reduction, LGBTQ+ services, palliative care, elder care, mental health services, disability rights, and the use of AI in low-resource settings&nbsp;</li><li>Led policy efforts to accelerate the development of faster, life-saving cures for tuberculosis, the leading infectious killer of adults worldwide</li></ul><h2>Advancing&nbsp;evidence and accountability in government</h2><ul><li>Championed the development of a newly adopted global treaty to shape more equitable and effective global pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response</li><li>Introduced real time and independent accountability metrics in US governments and in programs around the world</li><li>Shaped the public policy debate, writing for major outlets including the Washington Post, Financial Times, the Atlantic, Foreign Policy, Stat News, and the Lancet, and frequently interviewed as a global expert by NPR, the BBC, the New York Times, the Financial Times, Bloomberg News, Reuters, Al Jazeera, and the Economist</li></ul>

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<h2>Democrat Nina Schwalbe, public health leader, takes on DC’s political establishment as she files to run in NY-12 primary.</h2>New York, January 9, 2026. -- Driven by the recklessness of the current administration and the failure of the political establishment to stop it, New York health expert and activist Nina Schwalbe has declared herself as a candidate for the open Congressional seat in NY-12.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nina is a renowned public health leader, vaccine scientist and advocate who has focused her career on fixing broken systems so people can live better, healthier and more affordable lives.&nbsp;Because of this administration’s failure, America is once again seeing outbreaks of measles and whooping cough, long thought to be vanquished in the US by modern medicine.“My family has lived in district 12 for six generations. I grew up and gave birth to my two sons here. I cared for my parents as they died here. District 12 is my home,” said Schwalbe.Nina is a strong negotiator, with “Day One” competence, who gets things done. She has overseen complex institutions, managed large teams and budgets, and delivered public programs to improve people’s daily lives and livelihoods. She is also a small business owner.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In her decades of work across public and private sectors, Nina’s focus has been fixing broken systems. From managing multi-billion-dollar vaccine programs for the US Government and the United Nations to advising New York City and governments around the world on their COVID-19 response, Nina has achieved measurable results, strengthened accountability, and saved lives. If elected, Nina would be the only Democrat in Congress with a PhD in public health.“Washington is systematically dismantling our democracy, putting New York, America, and the world at risk and Congress is failing to stop it.” says Schwalbe. “This administration is fueling disinformation, propagates false science, and has cut even the most basic services. The list is endless and the attack relentless - stopping vaccine programs, denying climate change, slashing the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, Medicare, housing and education, bringing fear to communities through unlawful immigration policies, and attacking basic rights. At a time when more and more New Yorkers are struggling with costs, the situation is going from bad to worse.”Nina will work to restore congressional oversight and funding. “Under this administration, the federal government has taken an ax to our rights - destroying the very systems designed to protect us. We deserve better leadership in Congress.&nbsp; Congress has abdicated its oversight role to solve our nation’s most serious problems and protect the well-being of its citizens starting by carrying out the programs it mandates,” says Schwalbe.&nbsp; “The attack against health is a blatant example of the neglect, ignorance, and malice we face. As an example, the federal government’s job is to decide what vaccines are available at our local pharmacies; guarantee the medicines we take are safe and effective; and stop deadly viruses before they reach New York. When it fails to do its job, as is the case now, we are all more vulnerable.&nbsp;“I am running for Congress because this moment demands new leadership that protects what matters, rebuilds stronger, and prepares for tomorrow. It's pretty straightforward. Our government is not doing its job. That needs to change, starting now.”&nbsp;The Nina for NYC campaign has already raised over $200,000 with no corporate PAC money.&nbsp; As a first-time candidate without an existing donor list, this represents a strong start for a competitive race.&nbsp;Learn more about Nina Schwalbe and <a href="http://www.ninafornyc.com">www.ninafornyc.com</a>&nbsp;Contact:&nbsp; Lisa Kovitz. <a href="mailto:lisa@ninafornyc.com">lisa@ninafornyc.com</a>&nbsp; (917) 992-7683<a href="/861548c5-41c2-473e-b167-8c90d2bc170a">Ir al comunicado de prensa en Español</a>

Health. Housing. Transit. Safety. Nina understands how systems connect and why fixing them now matters for our democracy. A healthy democracy depends on healthy people. Right now, they’re both in crisis. We must protect what matters, rebuild the systems that have been dismantled, and prepare for the future we want.

Democrat Nina Schwalbe is a sixth-generation New Yorker and public health leader who has spent her life working hard to fix broken systems.The federal government has taken an ax to our rights, destroying the systems designed to protect us. The attacks are a blatant example of the malice, neglect, and ignorance we face.&nbsp;Nina is determined to make New York healthier, more affordable, and more prepared for what’s to come.

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Democrat Nina Schwalbe, public health leader, takes on DC’s political establishment as she files to run in NY-12 primary.

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La demócrata Nina Schwalbe, líder en salud pública, desafía al establishment político de DC al inscribirse para competir en la primaria de NY-12.

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Trump announces withdrawal from 66 global organisationsSeveral health-related organisations are targeted by the USA’s announcement, although the details of how withdrawal will work in practice are unclear.On Jan 7, 2026, US President Donald Trump issued a presidential memorandum announcing the country’s withdrawal from 66 “organizations, conventions, and treaties [that] are contrary to the interests of the United States”. These include 31 UN and 35 non-UN organisations, several related to global health.Reponses reflected a range of opinions, from the idea that the memo is actually of little consequence to regret and despair. Nina Schwalbe, CEO of Spark Street Advisors and Senior Scholar at Georgetown’s Center for Global Health Policy and Politics, called it “a huge blow”.

The Lancet

Countries Agree on Treaty Aimed at Preventing Global Health CrisesThe World Health Organization finally reached a compromise on a pandemic treaty after three years of talks. The United States withdrew from negotiations after President Trump took office.

What’s In — and What’s Missing — in the New U.S. Strategy for Global Health"The private sector is all over this document. There's a lot of lip service to more efficient, etc. But really, this is about outsourcing to the private sector."

NPR Morning Edition

Top TweetNY-12 congressional candidate Nina Schwalbe cross-country skied to West Side Rag's candidate profile this morning.<a href="https://x.com/GusSaltonstall/status/2025963290732408850/photo/1">https://x.com/GusSaltonstall/status/2025963290732408850/photo/1</a>

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Pandemic preparednessThe World Health Organization has doubled down on the May 2026 deadline for an annex on the pandemic agreement. On Tuesday, we reported&nbsp;negotiators were starting to think about deferring some of the more detailed work until after the WHO’s assembly in May, when a deal is due.Equity is key: It would be a mistake for negotiators to seek “consensus for the sake of consensus,” said Nina Schwalbe, senior scholar at Georgetown University’s Center for Global Health Policy and Politics. The purpose of the PABS text was to address inequities, she said. “If obligatory benefit sharing is not achieved what is the point of the Annex?”

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Why is the US pulling out of 31 U.N. groups? And what's the impact?President Trump's <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/01/withdrawing-the-united-states-from-international-organizations-conventions-and-treaties-that-are-contrary-to-the-interests-of-the-united-states/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">executive order</a> to withdraw the United States from 66 international organizations, agencies and commissions is reverberating across the globe. Many people who work in the international arena are parsing the order and working to understand the implications and impact.

Exclusive: Health Activist Nina Schwalbe Enters Race to Replace Congressman Nadler Health expert and community activist Nina Schwalbe is the latest candidate to toss her hat into the crowded race to succeed Jerry Nadler in Congress. She says the attacks on the public healthcare system by the Trump administration is a motivating factor. “The destruction of the public health system is dangerous now and it will get worse,” she warned in an exclusive interview with Straus News.

Our Town. The local paper for the Upper East Side

Democrat Nina Schwalbe, Public Health Leader, Takes on DC's Political Establishment as She Files to Run in NY-12 PrimaryDriven by the recklessness of the current administration and the failure of the political establishment to stop it, New York health expert and activist Nina Schwalbe has declared herself as a candidate for the open Congressional seat in NY-12.

Yahoo! Finance - Business Wire

Exclusive: Health Activist Nina Schwalbe Enters Race to Replace Congressman Nadler “My family has lived in District 12 for six generations. I grew up and gave birth to my two sons here. I cared for my parents as they died here. District 12 is my home,” said Schwalbe.

The Spirit - The local paper for the Upper West Side

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My best friend is running for CongressMy best friend is running for Congress in New York City. These things happen.I’ve known her more than 40 years and we’ve been close all that time. She has lived all over the world, while I’ve mostly been hunkered down in Washington DC. But our paths overlapped physically and professionally. Now, I’m following her–figuratively–on this newest adventure.

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Democrat Nina Schwalbe, Public Health Leader, Takes on DC's Political Establishment as She Files to Run in NY-12 PrimaryNina is a renowned public health leader, vaccine scientist and advocate who has focused her career on fixing broken systems so people can live better, healthier and more affordable lives.

Morning Star - Business Wire

Morning Digest: Louisville's Democratic mayor faces a rematch with progressive challenger"The destruction of the public health system is dangerous now and it will get worse,” Schwalbe <a href="https://www.ourtownny.com/news/exclusive-health-activist-nina-schwalbe-enters-race-to-replace-congressman-nadler-YG5448212">told Straus News</a>. “I’m a lifelong New Yorker, and I think there is space for people who have experience outside elected office.”

The Down Ballot

WHO members reach deal on how the world would tackle future pandemics

WHO members reach deal on how the world would tackle future pandemics"This is a historic moment and a show, that with or without the U.S., countries are committed to working together and to the power of multilateralism," Nina Schwalbe, the founder of global health think tank Spark Street Advisors, told Reuters.

Reuters

WHO formally adopts pandemic agreement after three years of negotiation

WHO formally adopts pandemic agreement after three years of negotiationNina Schwalbe, the founder of global health think tank Spark Street Advisors, described the treaty as “a landmark agreement… that will make countries better prepared for the next pandemic”.

The Telegraph

State ForwardThe World Health Organization&nbsp;has welcomed a pointed move&nbsp;by California, New York, and Illinois to join its Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, or GOARN — even as the U.S. government in Washington, D.C., steps back from the U.N. health agency. Dr. Ben Young, an infectious disease specialist, sees a broader shift underway, with states pooling resources and, as he put it, “recreating some of the architecture of the CDC” at a regional level. But Nina Schwalbe, senior scholar at Georgetown University’s Center for Global Health Policy and Politics and a candidate for New York's 12th Congressional District, warns that this isn’t a substitute for national leadership. “There is no viable workaround to a functioning CDC partnering with the rest of the world through WHO,” she says.

Devex Wire

Nine Democrats Take the Stage - and the Fight to Succeed Nadler Begins The two-hour forum — jointly hosted by Broadway Democrats, Hell’s Kitchen Democrats and Columbia University College Democrats — drew a crowd that packed the venue, plus another 400 viewers on Zoom. Attendees heard from Micah Bergdale, Alex Bores, George Conway, Laura Dunn, Jami Floyd, Micah Lasher, Jack Schlossberg, Nina Schwalbe and Matthew Shurka, all vying to succeed Nadler in a district that has not seen a competitive open race in decades.Near the end of the evening, Schwalbe — a public health professional who helped lead the Biden Administration’s global vaccine effort — said she wished public health had received more attention. “Every time I sit in our subway system in New York I think, ‘We’re screwed.’ We’re not ready for the next pandemic.” If elected, she added, “I will be the only Democrat in Congress with a PhD in public health.”

W42ST

A WSR Conversation With Candidate Nina Schwalbe in the Race to Represent the UWS in CongressWSR: Hi Nina, let’s start here. This is your first time running for political office, why was this the right moment and right race to do so?Schwalbe: There’s no time to waste in changing what’s happening in Washington D.C. I’m a public health expert and advocate, and on Day 1, this current administration destroyed public health, both at home and abroad. Nobody in Congress was standing up for it. We don’t have any congressional expertise in public health, so, I thought I could sit around and complain, or I could run.I’ve run a large federal program. The COVID-19 Biden Administration program, which was a $7 billion program that <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/22/politics/500-million-pfizer-doses-covid-vaccines-foreign-nations" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">distributed 500 million vaccines</a> around the world. It was a program where we worked closely with Congress, the White House, and the National Security Council. My whole life I’ve worked with the government, so I’ve got a good sense on how it works.Along with the public health expertise, I’ve spent a lot of my career working in foreign policy and overseas, so those are two fields that I thought we were failing at, and I thought I could lend some elbow grease.

West Side Rag

Countries reach ‘historic’ agreement to tackle future pandemics, WHO says

Countries reach ‘historic’ agreement to tackle future pandemics, WHO says“This is a historic moment and a show, that with or without the US, countries are committed to working together and to the power of multilateralism,” Nina Schwalbe the founder of global health think tank Spark Street Advisors, told Reuters.

<h3>Power on display in Davos, but does dialogue wield any of it?</h3><h3>What to expect at this week's World Economic Forum in Davos. Plus, one health leader announces her bid for U.S. Congress, while another criticizes the state of Nigeria’s health system.</h3>By Helen Murphy // 19 January 2026 A quick peek at the week ahead for Pro members.The World Economic Forum kicks off its annual Swiss chalet shindig in Davos tomorrow — although “shindig” may not be the right word to describe the intense concentration of wealth and power that will be on display. It comes at a moment when the world is talking past itself. Wars grind on, trust is thin, institutions are wobbling, and technology is moving faster than politics can absorb. The question hanging over the Alps isn’t whether dialogue is nice to have — it’s whether it still has power.That question gets sharper with U.S. President Donald Trump back in the room (so long as the agenda remains not “woke”). Trump's presence comes exactly a year after he shocked the world — including the Davos set — by halting all U.S. foreign assistance, triggering the downfall of the U.S. Agency for International Development (an anniversary we’ll be reflecting on all this week).financing the futureThis is a preview of the Pro InsiderThis newsletter, exclusively for Devex Pro members, gives you a head start every week with a look at what's coming up in the world of global development and news and tidbits from inside the industry.In the year since, the U.S. president has eliminated most aid programs, stepped away from multilateral commitments, and treated cooperation among traditional allies as optional. Davos has always been built around the idea that talking — and listening — matters. Trump’s record challenges that premise head-on.This isn’t abstract anymore. The fallout from shrinking aid and weakened cooperation is already showing up, from fragile health systems to climate-vulnerable countries losing support. When major players step back, the gaps don’t stay theoretical — they get filled by instability.There will be plenty of talk this year about innovation, especially artificial intelligence — one of several big themes organizers say demands renewed dialogue. The promise is huge. But so are the worries: jobs changing faster than people can adapt, gains piling up in only a handful of places, and fewer shared tools to manage the disruption.The same unease runs through climate conversations. Everyone agrees that prosperity can’t come at the planet’s expense. The problem is turning that consensus into action when coordination is getting harder, and politics is looking inward.All of this will play out in rooms packed with power. By the numbers, Davos will bring together 400 political leaders, including nearly 65 heads of state and six of the Group of Seven leaders, alongside around 850 CEOs and chairs, and roughly 100 unicorn founders and tech pioneers. In total, close to 3,000 participants from more than 130 countries are expected under the banner of “A Spirit of Dialogue,” with 200-plus sessions livestreamed to the public. And despite the Trump administration’s skeptical view of multilateralism, the U.S. delegation alone is rumored to have booked 100 rooms.But Davos 2026 isn’t really about panels or pledges. It’s about whether global leaders still believe in cooperation enough to defend it — especially when walking away is politically easier.If Davos falls flat this year, it won’t be because of a lack of attendance or ambition. It will be because consensus proved easier to agree on than to act on.My colleague Elissa Miolene will be there all week, so if you are in Davos, reach out to her at <a href="mailto:elissa.miolene@devex.com">elissa.miolene@devex.com</a>. She also has a curtain-raiser publishing tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled.Also in today’s edition: One health leader goes on the U.S. campaign trail while another goes after Nigeria’s medical hypocrisy, agriculture gets the AI treatment, and messy career transitions.Bits and piecesExtradition limbo. Ghana’s former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been detained in the U.S. over immigration issues, his lawyers say, even as Ghana continues to seek his extradition on corruption allegations. His legal team insists the case is politically motivated and says Ofori-Atta — described as “law-abiding” — is applying to change his immigration status so he can stay in the U.S. “past the period of validity of [his] visa,” expecting the matter to be resolved “expeditiously.”Ofori-Atta, who left Ghana last year for medical reasons, faces dozens of charges tied to his time in office. His lawyer has said he is “committed to fully complying with the laws of Ghana and ... answering for anything he did when he was finance minister,” as the case plays out under Ghana’s new, corruption-focused government.From health to House. Nina Schwalbe, a long-time global public health leader, is running for Congress in New York’s 12th Congressional District, pitching herself as a candidate with real-world experience at a moment she says demands new leadership. Schwalbe argues on LinkedIn that federal systems meant to keep people safe — and the guardrails of democracy itself — are under threat, and says her career fixing broken health systems has prepared her to make New York healthier, more affordable, and better prepared for what’s ahead.Ag meets AI. Gladys Morales Guevara, global head of innovation at the International Fund for Agricultural Development, or IFAD, said a $2 million Global Environment Facility grant is a go, alongside cofinancing from IFAD, the European Space Agency, the Inter-American Development Bank, CIMMYT, and others. A central pillar of the program is IFAD’s AgroWeb3.0, a blockchain-based digital public good designed to support inclusive AI and measurable development impact. Morales Guevara also flagged the European Innovation Summit, taking place May 8-9 in Rome, as the next opportunity to advance collaboration on AI, innovation, and inclusive growth.Deadly neglect. Dr. Emmanuel Agogo, a global health leader, issued a stark warning on his LinkedIn page about the state of Nigeria’s health system, arguing that it’s no longer just broken but “fatal.” He points to the death of Nnamdi, the son of Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, as a devastating reminder that neither status nor talent offers protection in a system lacking basic patient safety.Agogo contrasts these failures with political leaders who routinely seek care abroad while underinvesting at home, accelerating brain drain, neglecting infrastructure, and normalizing unsafe emergency care. His message is blunt: “Life is cheap in this neighborhood” because leaders are not made to pay a price for failure — and until that changes, the tragedies will continue.Macron’s moment. In a speech to France’s ambassadors, President Emmanuel Macron made a pointed case for reinvesting political capital in the United Nations, arguing that the moment demands leadership — especially when its largest shareholder, the United States, no longer believes in it and China is both engaged and unsettling to others.Framed more broadly, Macron warned against European diplomacy becoming mere commentary on global affairs. Instead, he signaled plans to use the G7 as a bridge to the BRICS via India to push for a renewed vision of global governance — hinting at a more political reset beyond technocratic U.N. reform. With France’s 2027 elections looming, it may be Macron’s last real window to shape that agenda.Scaling Africa’s health voice. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has inked a new partnership with Informa Markets to level up its flagship public health convenings — starting with the International Conference on Public Health in Africa, or CPHIA. The MoU brings together Africa CDC’s scientific leadership and Informa’s global events muscle at a moment when coordinated health leadership across the continent is more urgent than ever.“This partnership reinforces Africa CDC’s commitment to strengthening continental ownership of public health priorities,” said Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya, calling CPHIA “a critical forum for African experts and leaders to set the continent’s health security agenda.” InInforma Markets President for Middle East, India, Türkiye &amp; Africa Peter Hall said the goal is clear: “Together, we will ensure CPHIA 2026 delivers lasting value for Africa’s public health ecosystem.” The fifth edition of CPHIA will take place in Addis Ababa in 2026, with thousands of delegates expected to attend.Poverty backslide. A sobering snapshot from the World Bank: 1 in 4 developing countries is poorer today than it was before COVID-19 hit in 2019. Many low-income countries — particularly in sub-Saharan Africa — have yet to recover from years of shocks, conflict, and weak growth, even as parts of the global economy prove more resilient.The bank says global growth has “downshifted” since the pandemic and is now “insufficient to reduce extreme poverty and create jobs where they’re needed most.” Chief Economist Indermit Gill was blunt about the causes, warning: “These trends cannot be explained by misfortune alone. In far too many developing countries, they reflect avoidable policy mistakes.”bold ideas pivotalThe messy middle. After leaving the Gates Foundation, Sonia Vera shared on LinkedIn a candid account of what comes after a high-profile role — what she calls the “messy middle.” Vera writes about the shock of losing institutional prestige, the anxiety of life without a paycheck (even with careful planning), and the disorientation that comes with losing the teams, systems, and structure that once made everything run smoothly.She is writing a book and building a business, but her takeaway cuts through the glossy “I quit my big job and found my soul” narratives: “The path from success to soul isn’t a straight line,” she wrote on her post. It’s uncomfortable, uncertain, and full of doubt — and that, she argued, is exactly what makes it worth examining.Moving onElias Manuel Abou-Charaf has started a new role as senior country manager for middle-income countries at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.The National Endowment for Democracy named Eddy Acevedo as vice president for policy and government relations. Most recently, he served as chief of staff and senior adviser to the president and CEO of the Wilson Center, Mark Green, after senior roles on Capitol Hill and at USAID.ActionAid UK has named Hannah Bond and Taahra Ghazi as its permanent co-CEOs, with the duo taking up their roles in January 2026 as the organization enters its next phase of feminist leadership and transformation. The appointments come as ActionAid doubles down on shifting power to women, girls, and grassroots movements, and scaling partnerships that drive systems change led by those most affected by injustice.“We recognise the pivotal moment at which we step into these roles and the responsibility entrusted to us,” Bond and Ghazi said, pointing to what they describe as an “unprecedented crisis for women’s rights” globally. Faraz Tasnim, interim chair of ActionAid UK, said the board is confident the pair bring “the experience and vision needed to lead ActionAid UK with integrity, accountability and strong governance” — and to turn feminist, movement-led leadership into meaningful change.ILX has appointed Kirstine Damkjaer as chief investment officer, adding her to its management board and investment committee when she joins in March. Damkjaer brings experience from UNOPS, EKF Denmark, the International Finance Corporation, and the World Bank Pension Fund, with a track record in scaling sustainable finance and mobilizing private capital.Aleksander Dardeli, president and CEO of IREX, a global development and education organization, has joined the board of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. Dardeli said the coalition’s bipartisan work is important as the U.S.’s global role is debated, praising its ability to bridge political divides and build consensus around diplomacy, development, and defense.Vitessa Del Prete has started a new role as chief of overseas grants and programs, and undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs at the U.S. State Department.Aniqa Islam Marshall has started a new role as senior manager of immunization financing and sustainability at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.Jay Knott is taking a new position as president and CEO at the American Association of Blacks in Energy. Formerly head of the Metropolitan Group, he’s a member of the board of Results for Development and the board of directors for the Society of International Development’s D.C. chapter.Vanina Laurent-Ledru has taken on a new dual role as chief public health and government affairs officer at bioMérieux, a multinational biotechnology company, alongside her responsibilities at Institut Mérieux. Laurent-Ledru said the role reflects a push to put public health at the center of decision-making, strengthen a unified global external affairs approach, and engage more deeply on critical health challenges.shaping future governmentsThe Gates Foundation has named Sri Mulyani Indrawati to its governing board, adding one of Indonesia’s longest-serving and first female minister of finance — and the former managing director and chief operating officer of the World Bank — at a pivotal moment for the foundation.“Sri Mulyani brings deep experience in shaping equitable economic outcomes — expertise that is essential to achieving the foundation’s long-term goals,” said Mark Suzman, Gates Foundation CEO and governing board member. Indrawati said she is “honored” to join the board as it moves into a 20-year spend-down focused on maternal and child survival, infectious disease, and poverty reduction.The foundation also announced a new Africa and India Offices Division, led by Ankur Vora as president, and appointed Hari Menon as president of global growth and opportunity — signaling a sharper focus on country-led strategy as Gates works toward its planned 2045 sunset.After six years, Vincent Petit has moved into a new position as senior participation adviser at the UNICEF headquarters in Nairobi. Petit previously served as UNICEF’s global lead for social and behavior change, or SBC, working across multiple strategic plans, country programs, major emergencies, and the COVID-19 response. Petit also shared that Massimiliano Sani has taken on the lead of UNICEF’s SBC — which champions an approach focused on influencing behaviors, social norms, and community practices to improve outcomes for children and families.Beth Roberts — formerly of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the Millennium Challenge Corporation — has joined the global public policy team at General Motors.Joe Sanders has started a new role as executive director of the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska, taking the helm of the institute’s work on water, agriculture, and global food security.Alice Ruhweza, president of AGRA, announced the appointment of Carl Manlan as chief of partnerships and business development.Global eye care NGO Orbis International named Kathleen Sherwin as president and CEO. She brings more than 25 years of experience across health equity, gender equality, and sustainable development. Sherwin, most recently chief strategy and engagement officer at Plan International, says the mission is clear: “Eye health must be understood not as a standalone issue, but as a fundamental driver of equity, education, economic stability, and health system readiness.”Christine Sow has started a new role as CEO of Heluna Health, calling it a chance to bring decades of global health and development experience closer to home. Sow spent five years at the helm of Humentum, where she navigated COVID-19, expanded key partnerships, launched major initiatives, and set its 2025–2027 strategy.

Power on display in Davos, but does dialogue wield any of it? What to expect at this week's World Economic Forum in Davos. Plus, one health leader announces her bid for U.S. Congress, while another criticizes the state of Nigeria's health systemFrom health to House. Nina Schwalbe, a long-time global public health leader, is running for Congress in New York’s 12th Congressional District, pitching herself as a candidate with real-world experience at a moment she says demands new leadership.<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nina-schwalbe_hi-all-today-i-am-launching-my-campaign-activity-7415401761890619392-5bAE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Schwalbe argues on LinkedIn</a> that federal systems meant to keep people safe — and the guardrails of democracy itself — are under threat, and says her career fixing broken health systems has prepared her to make New York healthier, more affordable, and better prepared for what’s ahead.

Devex Pro Insider

The Race at the Center of Everything Although the less well-known candidates (those outside of the Lasher, Bores, Schlossberg trio) will be hard pressed to accumulate a critical mass of attention between now and June 23rd, their presence on the stage was a testament to the depth of the 12th Congressional District’s talent.Dr. Nina Schwalbe, particularly to those unfamiliar with her campaign, stole the show on multiple answers, offering interesting and nuanced perspectives on public health (a top reporter at a very influential outlet pointedly told me afterwards that Schwalbe was “impressive”).

The Narrative Wars

NYC public school hosts Mamdani's political pick, flouting policyNY-12 NODS: The influential Democratic clubs of New York’s 12th District will help determine the outcome of the packed primary to succeed retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler. Several clubs are set to cohost a candidates' forum next week.The primary is expected to be one of the most expensive in the state.

Politico

ANTI-ICE IN NY-12Several of the Democrats running to succeed Nadler showed at a Wednesday candidates forum that they’re on the same page when it comes to the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics: They want ICE abolished.“We’ve got to abolish ICE. We can’t reform it, we’ve got to abolish it,” said Nina Schwalbe, a public health researcher.

Politico - New York Playbook

Who's Running to Replace Jerry Nadler? 10 People and Counting.How many people does it take to fill Representative Jerrold Nadler’s shoes? Technically one, but the number of Democrats fighting to succeed him, now that he has announced that he will not seek re-election, is far higher.

The New York Times

World Health Organization Urges Trump to Reconsider Exit

World Health Organization Urges Trump to Reconsider ExitPresident makes second attempt to leave UN health agency. Experts say decision could undermine health security worldwide.

Bloomberg

We need to fix a fragmented, profit-driven system that leaves most New Yorkers without access to essential, affordable care. Action ItemsExpand Affordable Care Act coverageReduce drug pricesBuild toward universal coverage

Health Care Access, Affordability, and Univer

Exclusive: Health Activist Nina Schwalbe Enters Race to Replace Congressman Nadler "Washington is systematically dismantling our democracy, putting New York, America, and the world at risk, and Congress is failing to stop it,” says Schwalbe. “This administration is fueling disinformation, propagates false science, and has cut even the most basic services."

Chelsea News

Are Donald Trump and US politics bringing global health to its knees?

Are Donald Trump and US politics bringing global health to its knees?"Until recently, the USA provided about 30% of global health funding. It was dominant in supplying HIV/AIDS medication and funded a major part of medical research. Much of this has now stopped with Donald Trump restricting gender affirming care, withdrawing from the WHO and holding funds from USAID - and the list goes on."

ABC Radio National (Australia) — Big Ideas

Global health in crisis: a conversation with Nina Schwalbe

Global health in crisis: a conversation with Nina Schwalbe "The US provides 40% of international development assistance globally and about 30% in health. … The payment system has frozen, and the people who would need to turn it back on no longer work there. … There was a lot of pushback from activists that you can't stop HIV treatment midstream. … We don't have the CDC in the discussion anymore. They're not even in the room. … It's not if, it's when we have the next pandemic, and it may be here already. … These people have spent their whole life trying to make the world a better place, and in one email, they were fired."

Devpolicy Talks

Nina Schwalbe, public health scientist and vaccine superstar, is running for Congress. If she wins, she will be the only Democratic member of Congress with a PhD in public health. “I’m Nina Schwalbe, and I’m running for Congress, and I’m everything Donald Trump warned you about,” she said. When she heard Jerry Nadler’s seat in her district, New York’s 12th, was up for grabs—she’s a sixth generation New Yorker, born and bred—Nina made a decision that not many with her background and credentials would make: she would run for Congress.As of now, there are currently ten candidates vying for Nadler’s spot, so the issue for my friend in the short term is clear: get her name and experience out there so people know who she is and what she stands for.

LadyParts by Deborah Copaken

What a debt ceiling breach could mean for health care

What a debt ceiling breach could mean for health careHealth care experts warn that the impact of the U.S. breaching the debt limit could be stark.

Politico

Countries Agree on Treaty Aimed at Preventing Global Health Crises

Countries Agree on Treaty Aimed at Preventing Global Health Crises“It shows that with or without the U.S., the world can pull together for global health, and a recognition that pandemics require global solidarity,” said Nina Schwalbe, a global health consultant who has held leadership roles in U.S. and international organizations and who followed the negotiations closely. “They pushed past their red lines and they got to agreement. That’s no easy feat for 191 states. And there’s a lot in there. It’s maybe not as strong as we wanted on many issues, but there’s lots to build on.”

Nina Schwalbe, Democrat running for Congress in NY-12. Public health leader. Small business owner. Dance mom. Sixth-generation New Yorker.

Nina Schwalbe

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