18 November, 2024 — The governing bodies of the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents (GFF) — its Investors Group (IG) and Trust Fund Committee (TFC) — met last week in Abuja, Nigeria to guide the future direction of the next strategy, informed by the initial findings of the GFF’s independent evaluation.

The meetings began with a presentation by Honorable Coordinating Minister Health and Social Welfare for Nigeria, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, highlighting Nigeria’s achievements and its ambition to reduce maternal mortality. The GFF, in collaboration with the World Bank, was recognized as a critical enabler in supporting Nigeria's vision to reduce maternal mortality, with partners aligning financing and technical assistance. This set the stage for two days of discussions focused on the delivery of the current strategy and planning for the post-2025 strategic cycle.

Appointments: 

  • The IG meeting inaugurated the appointments of Honorable Minister Khumbize Chiponda, Minister of Health for Malawi, as the new Co-Chair of the Investors Group; and of H.E. Austin Demby, Minister of Health for Sierra Leone, in his new role as Chair of the Ministerial Network. 

Key outcomes and decision points for the Investors Group meeting are as follows:

  • The stocktaking session of the current strategy confirmed that the GFF is making progress across nearly all key performance indicators (KPIs) with greater progress on country leadership (investment case process and country platform) and on results (results framework, coverage and equity analysis), and recognized the need to accelerate efforts on gender equity.

  • The IG provided guidance on the initial findings from the GFF’s independent evaluation; the role of the IG and how to maximize its impact; and the process for the development of the next GFF strategy 2026–2030. IG members expressed strong support for effectively using the findings from the evaluation to guide the development of the next GFF strategy and welcomed the opportunity for active engagement in this process. They also signaled strong interest in efforts to make better use of the IG and strengthen its advisory role to the TFC. A working group will be formed to explore options. 

  • Alignment: IG members recognized the need to shift away from “business as usual” in how global health initiatives (GHIs), but also all partners work to create opportunities for real alignment in countries. The GFF will need to focus on its unique role in fostering alignment for the RMNCAH-N agenda, with the goal to achieve operationalization with countries in the lead.

  • Civil society and youth engagement: Co-chairs of the Civil Society and Youth Task Force presented recommendations for the next phase of engagement; IG members expressed strong support for the agenda and encouraged GFF to ensure alignment of efforts and to identify complementary ways of working with other partners. 

  • Health systems strengthening (HSS) for RMNCAH-N: IG members welcomed the GFF’s initial HSS framework for RMNCAH-N. The IG stressed the importance of clarifying how the framework can be used; the Secretariat will further develop the framework ensuring close coordination with related initiatives in partner agencies and strengthening aspects on gender and SRHR.

  • Endorsement of the GFF’s approach to private sector engagement: The Private Sector Working Group presented its proposed future approach for this work, with deliberations focusing on the need to de-risk investments at the country level and the need for adequate regulation, while also looking closely at equity considerations to safeguard access to services for the most vulnerable.

Prior to the IG meeting, a ministerial network meeting was convened with ministers and high-level representatives from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Central African Republic, Senegal and Tanzania, which focused on strengthening the country voices across the GFF global process and policy agendas. As a way forward the chair of the ministerial network will sit on the TFC alongside other donors and the IG co-chair. 

The Trust Fund Committee met after the IG meeting. Following the discussion and guidance from the IG, key decisions include:  

  • Took note of the scenarios considered by the GFF Secretariat when proposing the prioritized allocations from the Deliver the Future campaign.

  • Approved an allocation for civil society and youth engagement in the amount of US$18 million. The funding envelope will be used to: (1) provide grants for coalition strengthening, civil society and youth advocacy and accountability in countries; (2) support the coordination of global civil society and youth constituencies; and (3) ensure GFF program support. Quarterly progress will be tracked, and a thorough stocktaking of this portfolio will be included as part of the next strategy development process. This is an initial approval with a follow up with the TFC on further details about the modalities for financing and priority actions. 

  • Welcomed proposed changes to the Liaison Officer role, including a broader scope of work as well as more structured learning agendas and performance management systems.

  • Requested the GFF Secretariat to provide further operational options for reprogramming a first round grant when there is a challenge in implementation. 

  • Due to time constraints, the TFC discussion on the process for GFF strategy development could not take place. A dedicated meeting with TFC Principals is scheduled on this topic for early December.

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