Since the programme started in 2016, it has supported 15 countries in Africa and Asia in strengthening their leadership skills for implementing Universal Health Coverage (UHC), with India the most recent country to join. Together, these countries have rolled out more than 35 practical initiatives for advancing UHC, known as ‘collective action initiatives’ (CAIs). Impressed by L4UHC’s ability to facilitate tangible results, several other countries have expressed an interest in joining the programme, including Indonesia, Morocco, Nigeria and Tanzania. 

To meet the rising demand for its services, L4UHC will be introducing two ‘back office’ changes that will enable it to provide participants with even more effective support, tailored to their individual needs: 

A more flexible, efficient and jointly governed funding vehicle:

Currently, L4UHC receives funding from multiple, separately managed sources, with different funding cycles. This situation, which is a legacy of how the programme was originally established, makes it difficult to plan and respond rapidly. To resolve this issue, L4UHC has commissioned a tax and legal consultancy to explore options for establishing a new institutional structure for the programme, including a single funding vehicle for receiving and managing funds from different sources and a single procurement function. This will be overseen by a joint governance group, involving all L4UHC partners. In essence, a more focused, streamlined operation.

As multi-stakeholder collaboration is central to L4UHC’s ethos and success, the new institutional structure will not be aligned with or controlled by a single bi- or multi-lateral organisation, but directed by its joint governance group. All partners are currently being consulted on the options. The Terms of Reference for this proposed reform can be accessed here.

Bespoke content for participating countries:

One of L4UHC’s core strengths is that it brings together proven methodologies from its partners for developing capacity at both an individual and coalition level, with a focus on delivering tangible results in a short period of time. Inevitably, different countries have different needs, requiring customised content. This is why we work with a range of content providers, including GIZ, ILO, USAID, the World Bank and the World Health Organization. To strengthen its contribution to L4UHC, the World Bank will use its Governance and Institutions Umbrella Trust Fund for accepting and using funds for content development and in-country activities. Moreover, it will move responsibility for delivering its content for L4UHC to its Coalitions for Reforms (C4R) Global Program, where its expertise in leadership is located. The trust fund will provide the level of accountability that investors need to fund L4UHC’s leadership work, which should attract the additional resources to meet rising demand for the programme. The Coalitions for Reforms Global Program, in turn, will be able to draw on its inhouse expertise in leadership to develop customised content, working closely with participating countries.

If you would like to find out more about this new arrangement, including opportunities to contribute, contact: