1. Coalition Strategies for Achieving Financial Sustainability
John P. Skibiak, Director,
Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition,
Brussels, Belgium
Share with you our thinking within the Exective Committee, drawing on multiple inputs. These include our deliberations by phone over the past several months; the results of a consultancy; and our discussions on on Wednesday; they include reviews of reports prepared on financing opportunities such as Sandra Rolet’s report on Coalition Financing Mechanisms Phase I: Solutions Options Identification
22-23 May 2008
Brussels, Ninth Coalition Membership Meeting

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
22-23 May 2008
Brussels, Ninth Coalition Membership Meeting

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 Secretariat’s attractiveness to potential donors?
Is there demand for or value in establishing a Coalition-managed fund to finance new strategic opportunities?
Strategies include questions over the sources and types of support: diversity of funding vs. one single donor; membership fees;
22-23 May 2008
Brussels, Ninth Coalition Membership Meeting

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
GAVI, Stop TB and Partnership for MNCH
Clarity of purpose is needed to produce measurable results
22-23 May 2008
Brussels, Ninth Coalition Membership Meeting

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
22-23 May 2008
Brussels, Ninth Coalition Membership Meeting

6. Agreed upon principles
Financing strategy should seek out a “focused” diversity in funding sources
Core support is critical to maintain the Coalition’s 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
Focus, meaning an emphasis on key donors who have a personal stake in te creation and sustained operation of the Coalition and Secretariat
22-23 May 2008
Brussels, Ninth Coalition Membership Meeting

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
Project paper should reflect:
Vision of where we want to be
Size
Timeline 3- 5 years.
22-23 May 2008
Brussels, Ninth Coalition Membership Meeting

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?
22-23 May 2008
Brussels, Ninth Coalition Membership Meeting