International Policy and Aid Financing
International Policy and Aid FinancingMedicines are integral of any healthcare system, and limited access to medicines undermines health systems’ objectives of equity, efficiency and health development. In African countries, where it is estimated that 50–60% of the populace lack ‘‘access’’ to essential medicines, health problems associated with limited drug benefits are more damaging. The main barriers to essential medicines… Read more
The concept of ‘nudging’ was first explained in Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth and Happiness, a book by Thaler and Sunstein. Nudge theory is based on a libertarian paternalist approach. Libertarian paternalism contends that people should be free to do what they choose; but that it is legitimate for people’s behaviour to be influenced… Read more
This report examines the evidence on the success of health funding through unearmarked sector budget support and disease specific and programme funding. It considers the following areas: Budget support and sector wide approaches (SWAps) Sector budget support in practice, ODI and Mokoro Disease specific programmes Papers on different funding modalities for health Aid effectiveness Williamson… Read more
Information on pro-poor health policies does not fit neatly into mutually exclusive categories and many of the themes overlap. For example, universal coverage interventions such as abolishing user fees were often discussed as pro-poor targeting. Universal targeting can appear to be targeting the poor but it may be that the less poor are paying for… Read more
This summary is an input to a larger piece of work by the Climate and Environment Division, in preparation of a cross-Whitehall International Climate Fund Board meeting in February 2011. Rather than being exhaustive, it intends to provide a brief overview of the available evidence to date. The contents include: An introduction to climate change… Read more
This study illustrates the inter-linkages between different market-shaping actors and interventions and the tensions between sometimes conflicting market impact goals. These interdependencies need to be considered when donors seek to measure GHI impact on value-for-money in the health technology space. Price sometimes dominates these discussions, but price needs to be seen in relation to the… Read more
mHealth refers to medical and public health practice supported by mobile devices. Mobile phones and internet technology are being used in developing countries for health projects with some success. The bulk of the literature is on phones being used for workers to communicate with patients and for reporting and surveillance, rather than for communication between… Read more
This note is intended to assist country offices in preparing the health components of their funding proposals. The 5 step process involves: 1) Identifying need and setting the context. 2) Defining the offer: what interventions are you proposing? a. Is there a health sector plan that can be used as a basis for support? b. … Read more
This review is a DFID annual review of two projects that have been combined: the DFID-funded Programme for Reviving Routine Immunisation in Northern Nigeria (PRRINN) project and the Norwegian-funded Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health (MNCH) project. Particular successes include: the basket fund in Zamfara state demonstrating that funds can be transparently managed there the appreciation… Read more
“Managing for results” is a key component of the Paris Principles of Aid Effectiveness. The lack of a results focus is seen as a major reason why past aid efforts have yielded disappointing results. Key messages from the review include: It is important first to take a step back and ask “are we targeting the… Read more
IHSD REPORT: This paper provides a discussion of sector wide investment approaches in the health sector, outlining the potential and challenges for improving governmental ownership and accountability for external funds. Discusses experiences in Ghana, Zambia and Bangladesh.