MEI releases compendium of innovative financing mechanisms and explores application to malaria elimination financing

The Malaria Elimination Initiative (MEI) has produced a compendium of innovative financing mechanisms and instruments used in health and development. The report also explores the possible application of selected mechanisms and instruments to malaria elimination financing.

Donor funding for malaria has stagnated in recent years; between 2009 and 2013, donor support for malaria fell by an average of four percent annually. For malaria-eliminating countries, reductions in financing can lead to a downsizing of malaria programs and resurgence of the disease. Faced with this reality, countries are exploring new and innovative ways to mobilize additional resources for malaria.

Innovative financing is favorably viewed as a means to meet the short- and immediate-term needs of health and other development sectors. When properly designed and implemented, innovative financing mechanisms and instruments can complement government funding, grants, loans, and other traditional sources of aid.

The compendium features over 20 examples of (a) instruments for resource generation and pooling (e.g., earmarked taxes) and (b) fund deployment mechanisms (e.g., performance-based contracts). MEI’s qualitative assessment found that obligatory charges, private voluntary contributions, and international and regional funds present the most opportunities for mobilizing additional resources for malaria elimination.

For further information about this work, please contact Rima Shretta.