Resource Mobilization Strategy WHO Africa

This Resource Mobilization Strategy has been developed with cognizance of the tremendous health challenges that face countries in the African Region, and with acknowledgement of the necessary role that the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for Africa plays in assisting its Member States in overcoming them. The strategy aims to mobilize the funds required to support the Regional Office’s activities in fulfilling WHO’s mandate.

The African Region is WHO’s second-largest region in terms of countries served (46). The challenges of the continent are numerous. The continent bears 66% of the global burden of HIV/AIDS and 60% of the global burden of malaria. The prevalence of TB is 492 cases per 100,000 of the population, average maternal mortality ratio is 1,000 per 100,000 live births, and under-five mortality is about 157 per 1,000 live births. Adding low life expectancy at birth to the already high incidence of road accidents, cardiovascular diseases, and anemia to the already significant burdens represented by malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS, the continent carries one of the highest burdens of disease in the world. WHO’s Member States in the African Region are generally challenged with slow economic growth rates and high levels of poverty; more than 39% of the population lives on less than US$1 a day1. A considerable number of the countries risk not achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)2 targets.

This document considers current trends in donor funding and health priorities and assesses internal structures and challenges on the basis of which a strategy has been developed. The strategy consists of seven major approaches that address a variety of challenges impacting effective resource mobilization. The seven approaches are: (1) Improve communication and information flow; (2) Institute processes, systems and tools; 3) Introduce incentives and empowerment; (4) Enhance skills and capacity; (5) Pursue donor interaction; (6) Strengthen interpersonal relations and (7) Produce results and monitor impact. It is anticipated that the execution of these strategic approaches and activities will generate adequate resources for the Regional Office to carry out all activities planned for 2009 and facilitate resource mobilization efforts through 2013.

The WHO African Region plays a critical role on the continent with respect to the establishment of health policies, technical guidelines, and norms and standards. It provides technical policy advice, contributes to sustainable capacity building, strengthens management capacity, and provides health leadership by coordinating efforts at regional and national levels.

The rapidly escalating and sustained complexity of the challenges on the continent have generated an increased level of demand for the technical expertise and support provided by WHO. Resource mobilization efforts for country responses as well as the resource requirements for the Regional Office’s planned activities are of crucial importance to effectively respond to the health challenges in the African region. However, a significant funding shortfall in all areas of the WHO African Region’s work threatens to jeopardize its ongoing support to Member States and reverse the modest gains already achieved.

Utilizing detailed information about current donors and funding patterns, this document aims to provide a strategy on how the WHO African Region can mobilize resources for activities planned to support its Member States. The document, furthermore, seeks to improve processes for funds flow, provide information about distribution of funds and highlight the importance of improving capacity to deliver and absorb funding at country level, paying attention to under-funded health priorities. This document should be read in conjunction with the Partnerships Strategy Document.

More material can be downloaded in the Download category, by name: WHO Africa Resource Mobilization Strategy 2009-2013.