Coalition Strategies for Achieving Financial Sustainability

1
Coalition Strategies for Achieving Financial
Sustainability

• John P. Skibiak, Director,
• Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition,
• Brussels, Belgium

2
Financial Environment

• Core Secretariat costs are covered by a three
  year grant from the Bill Melinda Gates
  Foundation
• Coalition activities, outputs, many Working Group
  workstreams are covered directly by members
• Many workstreams, actual and potential, are
  hindered by the lack of funding

3
Critical Questions

• What can we learn from other health partnerships
  (HPs) in achieving financial sustainability?
• What strategies should be adopted to ensure
  medium- to long-term funding of the Secretariat?
• Are there key Coalition activities that would
  enhance Secretariats attractiveness to potential
  donors?
• Is there demand for or value in establishing a
  Coalition-managed fund to finance new strategic
  opportunities?

4
Learning from others

• All HPs are different, with financial mechanisms
  tailored to their circumstances. Their experience
  cannot be taken as a blueprint for the Coalition
• Mushrooming of HPs is leading to donor fatigue.
• Donors are demanding measurable results, evidence
  of efficiency, and clarity of purpose.
• Donors are demanding evidence of added value.
• Many partnerships have forged strong connections
  with the national governments that are ultimately
  responsible for health services, including RH
  supplies

5
Agreed upon principles

• Keep the Secretariat lean and mean
• Engage developing countries in Coalition
  activities and decisions
• Seek collaboration and exploit synergies with
  other global HP
• Heighten visibility of the Coalition
• Sharpen the focus of the Coalition based on its
  convening and advocacy functions and ensure that
  its Strategic Plan is closely aligned with its
  added value

6
Agreed upon principles

• Financing strategy should seek out a focused
  diversity in funding sources
• Core support is critical to maintain the
  Coalitions strategic focus
• Flexibility is critical to meet donor diversity
• Establish a pool of resources that would
  facilitate the identification and implementation
  of innovative ideas and activities not funded by
  other means

7
Conclusions, next steps

• The timing of our current donor support demands a
  two-pronged approach, one addressing immediate
  financing needs the other looking at broader
  issues that may enhance longer-term
  sustainability
• By end of summer, Secretariat to prepare a
  single, project paper for submission to key
  donors
• Incorporate feedback into proposals that meet
  donor requirements - by year end if not before
• Seek out opportunities for financing of
  workstreams, together with, or separate from
  Secretariat support

8
Working Group input

• Where do funding gaps exist?
• What activities would you undertake if funding
  were available?
• How could Working Group members enhance the
  sustainability of the workstreams in which they
  are involved?