Description

This is the second paper in NCD Alliance's series 'Everybody's Business', a series on bold actions to close the NCD funding gap. 

Although they are largely preventable, NCDs and their related risk factors remain overwhelmingly neglected by development financing. If left unaddressed, NCDs pose a substantial threat to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals Goal 3 (Good Health). Given the significant challenges around NCD financing and demand from UN Member States, the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund to Catalyze Country Action on NCDs and Mental Health, or Health4Life Fund (H4LF) was established by WHO, UNICEF, and UNDP in 2021.

While there are established global policies and guidelines for NCDs and mental health, country level implementation has been slow and uneven. For low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), this fragmentation often results from governments having to rely on limited and siloed global funding to f inance their health services. With this in mind, the H4LF will pool donor funding to provide “catalytic grants” to LMICs.

These grants are intended to mobilize domestic funding, stimulate increased multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral action, and improve policies and regulations around NCD prevention and control.

Expanding the fiscal space for NCDs while overall development financing is decreasing presents a challenge that requires new, innovative models and partnerships. This case study looks to provide an overview of the H4LF, including its purpose, model, and positioning for future impact.

In collaboration with the UN Health4Life Fund (United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund to Catalyze Country Action on NCDs and Mental Health)

Key messages:

• Overall development financing is decreasing. Pooled funding mechanisms like the Health4Life Fund (H4LF) present an innovative opportunity to expand fiscal space for NCDs and mental health.
• The H4LF is country-led, providing a much-needed space for low- and middle-income countries to collaborate, innovate, and drive change in the health and development space.
• NCD financing should encourage whole-of-government and whole-of-society responses thus improving policy coherence