Policy brief on the collaborative strategies of the 3Gs in DR Congo, Mozambique and Rwanda

Photo: Frank van Lierde, Cordaid

Cordaid, Wemos and N’weti have published a policy brief titled ‘Together for stronger health systems’. The brief presents a comparative analysis that examines the coordination and alignment of three major global health initiatives: The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (the Global Fund), the Global Financing Facility (GFF), and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), collectively known as the 3Gs. The study focuses on three countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mozambique and Rwanda. It sheds light on the progress made and provides valuable recommendations for these initiatives and other development partners.

For over two decades, the 3Gs have been addressing health challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While each initiative focuses on a different health issue, their common goal is to improve health outcomes for the most vulnerable populations. The role of Gavi, GFF, and the Global Fund is not limited to addressing current health challenges but also to building resilient health systems that can withstand future crises. In order to strengthen health systems effectively, global health initiatives need to be coordinated with each other and aligned with national priorities.

The Covid-19 pandemic has stressed the critical need for strong partnerships and collaborations to ensure global health security. It has also demonstrated the significance of coordinated responses to outbreaks and underscored the importance of a One Health approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. With initiatives like the WHO’s Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All (GAP), development partners have taken several measures to improve their coordination, and set common targets.

The findings and recommendations in this policy brief focus on six key areas:

1. health financing,
2. human resources for health,
3. health data and information systems,
4. supply chain management,
5. community engagement and inclusion, and
6. gender equity.

The policy brief builds on a study that examined the 3Gs’ global-level strategies on coordination and alignment, and brings together three country case studies that examined the same topic in practice: in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in Mozambique and in Rwanda.