A series in the journal Global Health Action offers an independent assessment of the first seven years of the Global Financing Facility’s (GFF). Spearheaded by researchers from Countdown’s health policy and systems data & analysis center, authors reviewed 54 GFF-related plans and projects across 28 countries and conducted in-depth studies in Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Uganda with 74 key informants.

Access the series – “Global Financing Facility for Women, Children, and Adolescents: Examining national priorities, processes, and investments”

The GFF Global Financing Facility for Women, Children, and Adolescents (GFF) was launched in 2015, in response to the need for stronger health systems and sustainable financing to address the millions of preventable maternal and child deaths occurring each year. It is hosted by the World Bank.

Key findings from the series include:

• • The GFF elevated the health and rights of  women, children, and adolescents in policies and programs. It brought new attention and resources to national plans, ensuring alignment and visibility of RMNCAH policies. For example, the investment cases in Burkina Faso and Mozambique brought together fragmented RMNCAH policies into one document.
  • $14.5 billion was mobilized for women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health through 30 GFF-linked World Bank project between 2015-2022. GFF grants comprised 4% of this total, as most funding came from governments and low-interest World Bank loans. Many country stakeholders did not understand the GFF approach or that their grants are tied to World Bank loans.
  • Country ownership was uneven. The GFF emphasized country-led processes and plans informed by evidence, but power and politics played a big role in shaping the documents.
  • Learning and adaptation improved during the seven years studied. The GFF was constantly changing, responding to gaps identified and adjusting, as needed. The GFF also invested in stronger data platforms and evaluations.
  • With donor funding shrinking, the GFF is more vital than ever. Now is the time to accelerate efforts to strengthen country leadership and enable  inclusive platforms that address power imbalances, secure fair long-term financing, and ensure independent accountability.

Download a policy brief with key findings from the supplement.

Details about the series

The Global Health Action series includes an editorial, three commentaries, eight academic articles, and one rapid communication. It includes both multi-country analysis and in-depth analyses of GFF investments in Burkina Faso, Uganda, and Mozambique. Members of the health policy and systems data & analysis center edited the series, along with Dr. Peter Waiswa from Makerere University and the Countdown country collaboration in Uganda and Dr. Joy Lawn from London School for Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.  The GFF is a key partner in Countdown’s annual meetings.

Editorial:

• Behind the billions: policies, politics and power of the Global Financing Facility for women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health

Commentaries:

• Delivering on the promise of better health for women, children and adolescents
• Navigating power, participation, and priorities: critical reflections for Global Financing Facility new strategy
• Advancing the Lusaka Agenda: the Global Financing Facility’s missed opportunities for catalysing sustainable health investment

Original research articles:

• Unwrapping the Global Financing Facility: understanding implications for women’s children’s and adolescent’s health through layered policy analysis
• How does community health feature in Global Financing Facility planning documents to support reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition (RMNAH-N)? insights from six francophone West African countries
• Global Financing Facility investments for vulnerable populations: content analysis regarding maternal and newborn health and stillbirths in 11 African countries, 2015 to 2019
• Any better? A follow-up content analysis of adolescent sexual and reproductive health inclusion in Global Financing Facility country planning documents
• Sailing global health initiative ships into stormy seas: navigating the introduction of the Global Financing Facility in Mozambique
• Form and functioning: contextualising the start of the Global Financing Facility policy processes in Burkina Faso
• Who is at the table and who has the power? Case study analysis of decision-making processes for the Global Financing Facility in Tanzania

Rapid communication:

• Examining priorities and investments made through the Global Financing Facility for maternal and newborn health: a sub-analysis on quality

Review article:

• Policy analysis of the Global Financing Facility in Uganda