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Addressing global health challenges requires harmonised and innovative approaches to the development assistance for health

Shi J., Jin Y., Zheng Z. BMJ Global Health (2023) CC

Overall, harmonisation and innovation should be the focus of the future direction of DAH and the creation of a healthy global community. The world needs all hands on deck if it were to move towards achieving the SDGs, addressing global health inequalities and improving the welfare of the global ... more

Shifting official development assistance during COVID-19: earmarking, donor concentration and loans

Woskie L., Wenham C. BMJ Global Health (2024) CC

In contrast to bilateral aid, aid disbursed from multilateral institutions increased significantly at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, at a time when a coherent and effective multilateral response is needed most, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed a shifting landscape of donor agencies that ... more

Africa’s Health Financing in a New Era

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) (2025) CC

Africa’s health sector is facing an unprecedented financing crisis, driven by a sharp decline of 70% in Official Development Assistance (ODA) from 2021 to 2025 and deep-rooted structural vulnerabilities. This collapse is placing immense pressure on Africa’s already fragile health systems as ODA ... is seen as the backbone of critical health programs: pandemic preparedness, maternal and child health services, disease control programs are all at risk, threatening Sustainable Development Goal 3 and Universal Health Coverage. Compounding this is Africa’s spiraling debt, with countries expected to service USD 81 billion by 2025—surpassing anticipated external financing inflows—further eroding fiscal space for health investments. Level of domestic resources is low. TThe Abuja Declaration of 2001, a pivotal commitment made by African Union (AU) member states, aimed to reverse this trend by pledging to allocate at least 15% of national budgets to the health sector. However, more than two decades later, only three countries—Rwanda, Botswana, and Cabo Verde—have consistently met or exceeded this target (WHO, 2023). In contrast, over 30 AU member states remain well below the 10% benchmark, with some allocating as little as 5–7% of their national budgets to health. In addition, only 16 (29%) of African countries currently have updated versions of National Health Development Plan (NHDP) supported by a National Health Financing Plan (NHFP). These two documents play a critical role in driving internal resource mobilisation. At the same time, public health emergencies are surging, rising 41%—from 152 in 2022 to 213 in 2024—exposing severe under-resourcing of health infrastructure and workforce. Recurring outbreaks (Mpox, Ebola, cholera, measles, Marburg…) alongside effects of climate change and humanitarian crises in Eastern DRC, the Sahel, and Sudan, are overwhelming systems stretched by chronic underfunding. The situation is worsened by Africa’s heavy dependency with over 90% of vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics being externally sourced—leaving countries vulnerable to global supply chain shocks. Health worker shortages persist, with only 2.3 professionals per 1,000 people (below the WHO’s recommended 4.45), and fewer than 30% of systems are digitized, undermining disease surveillance and early warning. Without decisive action, Africa CDC projects the continent could reverse two decades of health progress, face 2 to 4 million additional preventable deaths annually, and a heightened risk of a pandemic emerging from within. Furthermore, 39 million more Africans could be pushed into poverty by 2030 due to intertwined health and economic shocks. This is not just a sectoral crisis—it is an existential threat to Africa’s political, social, and economic resilience, and global stability. In response, African leaders, under Africa CDC’s stewardship, are advancing a comprehensive three-pillar strategy centered on domestic resource mobilization, innovative financing, and blended finance. more

The cost of austerity: The toll of IMF conditionalities on access to health in Zambia

Make Way, Wemos (2024) CC

Zambia is facing a severe economic crisis marked by high inflation, increasing poverty and a heavy debt burden that is straining both its fiscal stability and progress in health outcomes. By 2020, the country's external debt reached United States dollars (USD) 12.7 billion, representing 108% of the ... more

Health for All – transforming economies to deliver what matters: Final report of the WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All

World Health Organization (WHO) (2023) CC

The Council was established in late 2020 by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Director-General, WHO) to provide new economic thinking – reassessing how health and wellbeing are valued, produced and distributed across the economy. An all-female group of 10 distinguished economists and area experts, t ... more

Health Financing Progress Matrix assessment, Kenya 2023: summary of findings and recommendations

Kenya Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO) (2024) CC

This comprehensive HPFM report thoroughly explores Kenya’s health financing landscape. It provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of affairs and sheds light on required strategic changes in health financing. The report points out the need to improve public financial management within th ... more

Capacity Building for Malaria: How to Advise Guide

United States Agency for International Development USAID; Human Resources for Health in 2030 HRH2030 (2021) C_CDC

Developed under the USAID-supported HRH2030 Capacity Building for Malaria (CBM) initiative, this guide offers a comprehensive framework for advising National Malaria Control Programmes (NMCPs) through the use of long-term technical advisors (LTTAs). It sets out key practices for implementing partner ... more

Basic malaria microscopy. Part II: Tutor's Guide

World Health Organization WHO (2020) C_WHO

This second edition of the Basic Malaria Microscopy package is a stand-alone product, providing all that is needed to conduct a complete training course

Risk Communications on Malaria Vaccination: A Guide

World Health Organization WHO (2023) C_WHO

This practical document is available to support programmes and partners to design and implement risk communication strategies to achieve high uptake of malaria vaccination.

Prevention of re-establishment of malaria transmission. Global guidance
recommended

World Health Organization WHO (2025) C_WHO

This global guidance was developed to support malaria-free countries and those that are close to malaria elimination to prevent re-establishment. The document outlines key concepts and principles for preventing re-establishment and provides guidance on strategies, interventions, planning and managem ... more

Manual for Parasitological Surveillance in Prevention of Re-introduction/Re-establishment of Malaria in Sri Lanka

Anti-Malaria Campaign (AMC), Sri Lanka Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka (2019) C2

The Manual for Parasitological Surveillance in Prevention of Reintroduction or Re-establishment of Malaria in Sri Lanka (2019) provides guidelines to health professionals on how to conduct effective malaria surveillance to prevent the reintroduction of the disease in Sri Lanka, which was certified m ... more

Prevention and Care for Child Survivors SOP

Child Protection Area of Responsibility; Gender Based Violence Area of Responsibility; Protection Cluster; UN Children's Fund UNICEF; United Nations Population Fund UNFPA (2025) CC

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES - PREVENTION AND CARE FOR CHILD SURVIVORS

Mass gathering practical guide for simulation exercises and after action reviews

World Health Organization WHO (2025) C_WHO

This guide provides strategic direction for host countries, event organizers, health authorities, and key stakeholders to effectively plan and conduct Simulation Exercises (SimEx) and After Action Reviews (AARs) for mass gathering events. Packed with practical tools, it empowers users to seamlessly ... more

Sustaining priority services for HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections in a changing funding landscape - Operational guidance

World Health Organization WHO (2025) C_WHO

This operational guidance provides a structured approach to support countries in sustaining priority services for HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections in the context of reduced external funding. The guidance is intended for national governments, public health programmes, communit ... more

WASH Cluster Compendium of Solid Waste Management (SWM) in Humanitarian Contexts

UN Children's Fund UNICEF; WASH Cluster (2025) CC

The Compendium of Solid Waste Management in Humanitarian Contexts is a comprehensive, structured and userfriendly manual and planning guide that provides a systematic overview of existing Solid Waste Management (SWM) technologies and approaches appropriate for use in humanitarian contexts.

Community early warning systems: guiding principles

International Federation of Red Cross IFRC (2020) C1

This guide aims to provide an overview of successful practice from the field for the disaster risk reduction/management practitioner interested in EWS. It presents guiding principles that will build a strong foundation for the design or strengthening of EWS at any level. It is not an operational, bu ... more

Routine health information system and health facility data for neglected tropical diseases: Buruli Ulcer

World Health Organization WHO (2025) C_WHO

Buruli ulcer (BU) is a skin-related neglected tropical disease (skin NTD) caused by infection with Mycobacterium ulcerans. BU is the third most common mycobacterial disease after tuberculosis and leprosy in people who are not immunocompromised. The infection manifests in non-ulcerative forms as no ... more

Effective methods of teaching palliative care

African Palliative Care Association APCA (2014) C2

For education to be competency-based and effective, appropriate training methodologies have to be used to support the learner to have the appropriate knowledge and to translate this knowledge into skills and competencies. Such education and training should lead to a change in attitudes, beliefs a ... more

Continental Cholera Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan for Africa 1.0
recommended

Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention CDC (2025) CC

This document outlines the plan for a continental cholera prevention and control with the implementation framework for the Cholera IMST, detailing its governance structure, strategic priorities, and operational modalities

Zoonotic Disease: Prevention and Control Strategy 2025-2029
recommended

Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention CDC (2025) CC

Public health challenges over the past decade have highlighted the importance of approaching health through a holistic lens of human, animal, and environmental sectors, recognizing the need for a collaborative response against shared threats. Zoonotic diseases, transmitted between humans and animals ... more