The imperative of prioritizing the health of women, children, and adolescents is a global concern, and it has drawn the attention of multinational businesses. This article delves into the pivotal role played by the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children, and Adolescents in stimulating investment in this critical sector, particularly through collaborations with the private sector.
Global advancements in reducing preventable deaths among pregnant women, mothers, and infants have stagnated for nearly eight years, as per the World Health Organization (WHO). It is high time to recognize that investing in the health of women, children, and adolescents is not solely a moral and human rights obligation; it is a vital investment in the future of communities and global economies.
Harsh Realities
The health statistics concerning women, children, and adolescents, particularly those residing in low-income countries, present a grim picture. Each year, over 4.5 million mothers and infants succumb to preventable conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth, with a woman dying in childbirth approximately every two minutes. Although sexual and reproductive healthcare is fundamental to the right to attain the highest possible standard of health, a staggering 270 million women and girls in the reproductive age bracket (15-49 years) lack access to contraception. Additionally, only 57% of them make informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraception use, and reproductive healthcare. This dearth of autonomy among women and girls is particularly worrisome, given the persistently high rates of forced and child marriages, gender-based violence, and teenage pregnancies. Moreover, these issues are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, economic hardships, conflicts, and climate change.
Children, too, face substantial health risks, primarily stemming from limited access to vaccinations and malnutrition, which accounts for nearly 50% of deaths among children under 5 years of age. This year, an estimated 148 million children under five are affected by stunting, affecting a staggering 22.3% of this age group.
The overwhelming majority of this human suffering can be prevented by improving access to healthcare, contraception, vaccination, and nutrition. The repercussions of inaction are severe, affecting not only women, children, and adolescents but also society and the broader economy. Women constitute nearly 40% of the global workforce, often shouldering the majority of unpaid care work that families and communities rely on. Furthermore, proper nutrition and early childhood health are pivotal for cognitive and physical development and are essential for building human capital and future earning potential.
Investments in the health of women, children, and adolescents are investments in prosperity. Such investments hold the potential to enhance productivity, reduce absenteeism and healthcare costs, and unleash human innovation and potential.
Despite these compelling reasons for action, over 60 countries are falling behind in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals’ targets for reducing maternal, newborn, and stillborn mortality by 2030. The existing funding gap stands at an estimated $33 billion annually on a global scale.
The Global Financing Facility
Recognizing the urgent need for action, in 2015, the World Bank, health leaders, the United Nations, and civil society organizations united to establish the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children, and Adolescents (GFF).
The GFF’s unique, country-led financing model has been instrumental in expediting investments in healthcare and driving progress in health and empowerment for women, children, and adolescents in 36 low- and middle-income countries, which collectively account for two-thirds of global maternal, newborn, and child deaths. Since its inception, governments and other donors, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Susan T. Buffett Foundation, MSD for Mothers, and Laerdal Global Health, have committed $2 billion to the GFF Trust Fund.
These funds have been effectively utilized to unlock an additional $30.2 billion through connections with World Bank IDA and IBRD financing. Furthermore, the GFF collaborates with domestic governments and external donors to mobilize and align both government spending and development aid with national priorities, thereby strengthening healthcare systems and expanding access. The GFF also harnesses the capabilities of the private sector to provide services and raise private finance.
The GFF’s coordination approach aims to reduce redundancy and inefficiencies while prioritizing the most impactful interventions that deliver concrete results. As a result of the GFF’s catalytic investments and technical assistance:
– 96 million women have received four or more antenatal care visits.
– 103 million women have safely delivered their babies.
– 111 million newborns have benefited from early initiation of breastfeeding.
– Over 500 million women have gained access to modern family planning.
– 187 million unintended pregnancies have been prevented.
The Private Sector’s Role
Companies are assuming an increasingly pivotal role in strengthening healthcare systems and expanding access to care, and the Global Financing Facility is capitalizing on the synergies between the private and public sectors.
One example is the “Innovation-to-Scale” competition, led by the GFF, Laerdal Global Health, and the Government of Norway. Out of 320 global entries, five projects received grants of up to $5 million each, focusing on areas such as safe childbirth, neonatal care, and digital health. The Safer Births Bundle of Care (SBBC) was awarded a $4.5 million grant, enabling the training of 1200 health workers across 30 district hospitals in high-risk regions of Tanzania. Due to its success, the GFF has granted an additional $8.5 million to expand the program to over 100 hospitals, potentially saving 25,000 lives annually.
Additionally, the GFF has established a supply chain partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, MSD for Mothers, and the United Parcel Service (UPS) Foundation. This partnership leverages private sector expertise in supply chains to develop innovative solutions for logistical challenges that hinder access to healthcare. In Mozambique, logistics experts from Merck and UPS collaborated with Mozambique’s Central Medicine Authority (CMA), Africa Resource Centre, VillageReach, and Project Last Mile to ensure the consistent delivery of essential medicines to women and children in remote areas.
Charting the Path Forward
All businesses can play a pivotal role in improving healthcare access for women, children, and adolescents, whether through expertise in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, logistics, education, or digital innovation. Companies can support women within their organizations and value chains in accessing healthcare and health-related information. Furthermore, the private sector can utilize its advocacy voice to call for governments to prioritize this critical issue.
Over the coming months, Business Fights Poverty is collaborating with the GFF and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in support of the GFF’s #DeliverTheFuture campaign. This campaign seeks to raise an additional $800 million this year, catalyzing $20.5 billion in investments and reaching 250 million women, children, and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries with life-saving care by 2030.
Our partnership will explore the role of the private sector in assisting governments in delivering healthier futures for women, children, and adolescents.
