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Mapping the Literature on Development Assistance in Health: A Bibliometric Analysis

Karwa O., Jain R., Deo S. Observer Research Foundation (2024) CC

This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of the literature on private health aid and official health assistance between 2000 and 2022. It provides an overview of the sites and themes in the literature pertaining to development assistance in health, and collates the significant policy recommendati... more

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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

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The nature and contribution of innovative health financing mechanisms in the World Health Organization African region: A scoping review

Nabyonga-Orem J., Christmals C.D., Addai K.F. et al. Journal of Global Health (2023) CC

Achieving financial risk protection for the whole population requires significant financing for health. Health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are plagued with persistent underfunding, and recent reductions in official development assistance have been registered. To create fiscal ... more

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Evolution and effectiveness of bilateral and multilateral development assistance for health: a mixed-methods review of trends and strategic shifts (1990–2022)

Xie S., Du S., Huang Y., et al. BMJ Global Health (2025) CC

Development assistance for health (DAH) plays a vital role in supporting health programmes in lowand middle-income countries. While DAH has historically focused on infectious diseases and maternal and child health, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis of DAH trends, strategic shifts and the... more

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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

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Global Health Financing in Turbulent Times: A Detailed Analysis of The Global Fund's Resource Mobilization and Recovery Efforts

Kiai G.N. Aidspan (2024) CC

This article provides an in-depth analysis of the Global Fund's strategic initiatives in resource mobilization and recovery amid global economic fluctuations and geopolitical challenges. It highlights the Fund's successful conversion of pledges and innovative financing models that ensure sustainable... more

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Conditioned Domestic “Co-financing” Policies in Global Health

Sparkes S., Yungrattanachai M., Fan V., et al. Center for Global Development (2024) CC

Conditioned domestic financing policy, referring to the domestic financing of health projects, programs, and national responses conditioned by global health funding agencies and recipient country governments, is one mechanism to promote sustainability and country ownership. We aim to understand how ... more

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Political economy analysis for health financing: A ‘how to’ guide

World Health Organization (WHO) (2024) CC

This Guide is part of WHO’s overall programme of work on Political Economy of Health Financing Reform: Analysis and Strategy to Support UHC. The impetus for this work came from demands for more concrete evidence, recognition and integration of political economy issues within health financing, and... more

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The Evolution of the ODA Accounting Rules

Casadevall-Bellés S., Calleja R. Center for Global Development (2024) CC

Frequent efforts to revise the official development assistance (ODA) accounting rules have raised important questions about the integrity and relevance of what currently “counts” as ODA spending. In this note, we outline a brief history of the evolution of the ODA accounting rules to date, highl... more

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Tackling malaria in countries hardest hit by the disease: ministerial conference report, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 6 March 2024

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2024) C_WHO

The Malaria Ministerial Conference, co-hosted by WHO and the Government of Cameroon on 6 March 2024, brought together more than 400 stakeholders, including Ministers of Health and senior representatives from the African countries hardest hit by malaria, global health leaders, scientists, civil socie... more

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Translating Community Research Into Global Policy Reform For National Action

S. Dilmitis; A. Welbourn; F. Anam; et al. ICW Latina; ICW WA; UNAIDS; et al. (2018) C2

Translating Community Research Into Global Policy Reform For National Action: A Checklist For Community Engagement To Implement The WHO Consolidated Guideline On The Sexual And Reproductive Health And Rights Of Women Living With HIV 3rd edition | December 2018

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The Impacts of Dietary Change on Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Land Use, Water Use, and Health: A Systematic Review

Aleksandrowicz L., Green R., Joy E., et al. (2016) CC

PlosOne https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0165797; Food production is a major driver of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water and land use, and dietary risk factors are contributors to non-communicable diseases. Shifts in dietary patterns can therefore potentially provide benefits for both the en... more

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WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care

World Health Organization WHO (2009) C_WHO

First Global Patient Safety Challenge Clean Care is Safer Care The WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care provide health-care workers (HCWs), hospital administrators and health authorities with a thorough review of evidence on hand hygiene in health care and specific recommendations to impro... more

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Practical Pharmacy for Developing Countries No.22

Aarti Patel, Patrick Mubangizi, Christa Cepuch Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN); HAI Africa (2010) CC

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Young Children with Special Needs - Training for early childhood caregivers and teachers

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) & Hilton Foundation (2016) C1

MODULE 5 RESOURCE GUIDE | This guide is part of a series of manuals that focuses on six topics in Early Childhood Development (ECD): different programming approaches, basic concepts, assessments, early childhood environments, children with special needs and child protection, and the health, safety a... more

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Clean Household Energy Solutions Toolkit (CHEST)

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2018) C_WHO

Contains tools and resources for countries to develop clean household energy policies and programmes.

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Health of People, Health of Planet and Our Responsibility

Al Delaimy W., Ramanathan V., Sanchez Sorondo M. et al. (2020) CC

This open access book not only describes the challenges of climate disruption, but also presents solutions. The challenges described include air pollution, climate change, extreme weather, and related health impacts that range from heat stress, vector-borne diseases, food and water insecurity and ch... more

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Consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services

World Health Organization WHO (2020) C_WHO

These consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services (HTS) bring together existing and new guidance on HTS across different settings and populations. The World Health Organization (WHO) first released consolidated guidelines on HTS in 2015, in response to requests from Member States, national pr... more

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Comprehensive mental health action plan 2013–2020
recommended

World Health Organization WHO (2021) C_WHO

This updated Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030 builds upon its predecessor and sets out clear actions for Member States, the WHO Secretariat and international, regional and national partners to promote mental health and well-being for all, to prevent mental health conditions for thos... more

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World Heart Federation Roadmap for Heart Failure

Ferreira, J.P.; Kraus, S.; Mitchell, S. et al. Global Heart (2019) CC

In 2012, all Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed a historical target to reduce premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCD). This commitment was echoed in 2015 by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which included a target to reduce premature morta... more

Comprehensive mental health action plan 2013–2020 recommended

Comprehensive mental health action plan 2013–2020
recommended