The evolution of Global Health Partnerships

GHPs are starting to change the way they operate by moving from more disease specific funding to demonstrating awareness of wider health system issues. For instance, since November 2007 the GFATM has allowed grants to be used to strengthen public, private or community health systems, but only if in doing so it makes it easier for the country to combat AIDS, tuberculosis or malaria. This is known as a "diagonal" intervention” – i.e. where funding for specific disease specific areas can result in wider health system benefits.

In 2006 GAVI opened up a Health System Strengthening (HSS) funding window. This was for initiatives aimed at enhancing and developing the capacity of health systems that are fundamental for the provision of a range of public health interventions. In particular it aims to address health systems barriers that impede the demand for, and delivery of, immunisation and other child and maternal health services. GAVI has identified priority areas based on assessments of health systems barriers. These are: health workforce mobilisation, distribution and motivation; organisation and management of health services; supply distribution and maintenance systems for drugs, equipment and infrastructure for primary health care.

A report by the Working Group on Global Health Partnerships for the HLF on the health MDGs has set out 17 best practice principles for GHPs at country level, based on the five pillars of the Paris Declaration. Principles include: to respect partner country leadership and help strengthen their capacity to exercise it; to base support on partner countries’ national development and health sector strategies and plans, institutions and procedures; and to shift from project to programme financing. The report recommends that GHPs should collaborate at a global level and with donor and country representatives, to develop and implement collective approaches to cross-cutting challenges, particularly in relation to strengthening health systems.