LGT Venture Philanthropy Foundation (LGT VP) is pleased to announce our renewed partnership with Financing Alliance for Health (FAH), an African-led non-profit that addresses systemic financing challenges to scaling primary and community health programs across Sub-Saharan Africa. LGT VP’s non-programmatic grant will focus on institutional strengthening and sustainability planning to support FAH’s strategic mission to mobilize at least USD 1 billion for community and primary healthcare systems in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Funding remains one of the most significant obstacles to scaling and sustaining health services for the most vulnerable communities. The annual funding shortfall for community healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa amounts to USD 5.4 billion, while including primary healthcare widens the gap to USD 28.2 billion. This significant deficit hinders efforts to achieve universal health coverage and impedes the region’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Founded in 2016 and led by Dr. Angela Gichaga, FAH collaborates with stakeholders to ensure more efficient utilization of existing resources and to unlock new funding sources. Since joining our portfolio in 2020, FAH has evolved from a promising start-up into a significant influencer in Africa’s healthcare landscape. FAH has been instrumental in creating and launching Africa Frontline First (AFF), a pan-African initiative to professionalize 200’000 Community Healthcare Workers by 2030.
LGT VP’s healthcare strategy is centered around providing universal access to quality healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa and India. Achieving this goal requires working with intermediaries such as FAH to create an enabling environment for healthcare operators to innovate and scale low-cost, high quality healthcare interventions. Nava Anvari, Investment Manager and Africa Lead at LGT Venture Philanthropy, says: “FAH has demonstrated its ability to operate at a pan-African scale, working alongside key stakeholders such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to create flagship financing solutions. With the 2030 SDG deadline fast approaching, we believe FAH’s work is even more critical to support African governments in achieving universal health coverage.”
Dr Angela Gichaga, CEO and Founder of FAH adds: “Our shared steadfast commitment to advancing health systems transformation at scale through driving meaningful change from community level to policy making and financing continues to deepen our partnership. You have and continue to walk with us from strength to strength. Innovation of sustainable solutions, in collaboration with the ecosystem, will continue to be our superpower. Asante and onwards!”
Financing Alliance for Health (FAH) is an Africa-based, African-led and Africa-focused entity that convenes governments,funders, philanthropy, private-sector and communities to address systemic financing challenges to scaling community health systems for delivery of integrated primary healthcare services through country, regional and global partnerships. The organization is dedicated to addressing the USD 4.4 billion funding gap facing community health systems across Sub-Saharan Africa. FAH primarily serves governments in Sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to mobilize resources for community health systems. To date, FAH has worked with 22 governments across 16 countries, donors, private sector, and local communities to develop innovative financing solutions that can sustain national health programs in the long-term, accelerating progress towards universal health coverage. FAH has successfully mobilized USD 32.5m in domestic resources and USD 500m through ecosystem contribution for health systems, upskilled over 4’200 community health leaders in health financing and supported the recognition of over 450’000 community healthcare workers by African governments. For more information, please visit https://financingalliance.org/.
LGT Venture Philanthropy (LGT VP) is an independent charitable foundation established in 2007 with teams in Switzerland, Sub-Saharan Africa, and India. The Foundation strives to improve the quality of life of people facing disadvantages, contribute to healthy ecosystems, and build resilient, inclusive, and prosperous communities. LGT VP focuses on strengthening the capabilities of locally rooted organizations that deliver effective, scalable solutions across health, education, and the environment, contributing directly to the SDGs. For more information, please visit www.lgtvp.com.
Read the full press release here.