Training in health economics to strengthen health systems and policies to control infectious diseases (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Madagascar)

Context

Despite significant progress, the health situation in developing countries is still mediocre, especially in low-income countries.  In particular, these countries face two main constraints: the burden of infectious diseases and a decline in international health financing. This is the context in which the international community adopted the Agenda 2030 in 2015, in particular setting the ambitious Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 3 "Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages".

In this global context, marked by the extent of needs, financing constraints, the challenge of combating infectious diseases, and dysfunctional health systems, it is an urgent matter to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public health policies in low-income countries, especially in Africa.

FERDI, Foundation for Studies and Research on International Development, based in Clermont-Ferrand, has noted the significant training and capacity-building needs in this area. From 2018, it is launching innovative training for African players at its new Institute for Advanced Studies in Sustainable Development.  The selected participants will be public and private players from low- and middle-income French-speaking African countries, in positions of responsibility in health systems (national, regional or district levels). The training will also be open to participants from sectors that are important for health, such as ministries of finance, employment and social affairs, the interior, water and territorial planning.  Among the targeted countries, five are priority countries of Monaco's Official Development Assistance: Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Mali, Niger and Senegal. In particular, FERDI will open up the training to health partners of Monaco's Official Development Assistance

The project will contribute to SDG No. 3, in particular targets 3.3, 3.4 and 3.c (Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States. Guided by a spirit of partnership between researchers and decision-makers, it is also part of SDG No. 17 "Partnerships for the goals".

Project owner

Foundation for Studies and Research on International Development (FERDI).

Overall objective

Help strengthen health systems and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of combating infectious diseases in low-income countries in French-speaking Africa.

Specific objectives

• Train participants to identify areas of intervention to strengthen health systems, in association with improved combating infectious diseases, and formulate recommendations that are technically feasible and socially acceptable
• Train participants to acquire the necessary economic analysis tools to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of combating infectious diseases

Beneficiaries

Direct beneficiaries:
30 African executives

Indirect beneficiaries:
The national systems of the targeted countries and their populations

Anticipated outcomes

• The participants are able to identify areas of intervention to strengthen health systems, in association with improved combating infectious diseases and make recommendations that are technically feasible and socially acceptable
• The participants acquired economic analysis tools to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of combating infectious diseases