Akihito Watabe provides technical assistance and guidance to bank-wide operations in health financing for universal health coverage (UHC), including digital health financing, health impact investment, and climate change and health financing. He also fosters partnerships to increase ADB’s strategic engagement and collaboration with key stakeholders and initiatives in global health. Before his tenure at ADB, Akihito held the esteemed position of program manager of the International Health Partnership for UHC 2030 (UHC2030). This multi-stakeholder partnership for UHC, co-hosted by WHO, World Bank and OECD, benefited greatly from his leadership. He spearheaded the partnership's advocacy, accountability, and knowledge management work, including the UN High-level Meeting on UHC, UHC Day and the State of UHC Commitment review. His technical advice to the UHC Movement Political Advisory Panel and his contributions to the organization of WHO’s advanced courses and eLearning programs on Health Financing for UHC have been invaluable. Akihito started his professional career as a medical doctor in Japan and a public health physician in the Republic of Vanuatu. He was also a health diplomat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, to serve former Prime Minister Abe in his flagship initiative on UHC before starting his UN career. Akihito holds a medical license (Social Medicine) and a PhD (Public Health), a joint MSc (Health Policy, Planning, and Financing)) from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the London School of Economics and Political Science, and an Executive Master's in Change from INSEAD.