Global Health Funds and Humanitarian Programming

Abstract

There is a lack of reporting on the connection between Humanitarian Country Team Health Clusters and the three funds (the Global Fund, the Gavi Alliance, and the Global Financing Facility (GFF)), both generally and for the three countries of focus (Mozambique, Uganda, and Nigeria). The Global Fund is noted to partner with the Global Health Cluster but details were not identified within the scope of this report. Global Fund A Global Fund board meeting report and a review of Fund investments in challenging operating environments notes partnering and joining with the Global Health Clusters but does not give detail of specific countries. The Global Fund does not include Mozambique or Uganda in their list of challenging operating environments. There are reports of emergency funding being allocated for refugees in Uganda, and for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Mozambique. Countries are encouraged to include refugees in their funding requests to the Global Fund. Some Global Fund supported operations for HIV treatment in Mozambique have been interrupted as people receiving treatment fled from violence. Partners in provinces where the displaced are arriving are implementing emergency plans to maintain continuity of care. A Global Fund initiative for removing human-rights barriers to health treatment does not list refugees or IDPs as vulnerable groups for HIV programming. The same initiative in Uganda did specifically support distribution of nets to help prevent malaria. A 2017 audit report on Global Fund grant management in high-risk environments found inadequate early warning mechanisms to identify risk levels of grants. Gavi Alliance Gavi Alliance policy documentation states that a flexible and tailored approach is taken to achieve equity in fragile or emergency situations and for the needs of displaced populations. Requests for flexible support are based on specific needs which must be justified. The policy puts a strong emphasis on ensuring the inclusion of displaced populations. It encourages governments to provide immunisations independent of residency and legal status. They provide extra support where justified for displaced people. Very little information on Gavi activity in the countries of focus for this report was found. Global Financing Facility The GFF 2021-2025 strategy reports offering support in complex humanitarian settings but detail is not included. An earlier report describes GFF support in Nigeria where the Facility were able to finance a targeted project in a short timeframe. Distinction is made between this type of support and emergency support which is not part of the design of the GFF and is unable to quickly release lifesaving funds in emergency situations. The short timeframe funding was provided to support the Nigerian State Health Investment Project where violence had disrupted health services and where health indicators were poor. Mobile health teams were contracted out to hard-to-reach areas. Outreach included psychosocial support.