Resource Library

Technical Exchange on Engaging the Private Sector to Strengthen Health Systems and Achieve HIV/AIDS Goals

Health Systems 20/20 and Strengthening Health Outcomes through the Private Sector (SHOPS) - joined efforts with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Health in Africa Initiative (HiA) to convene a technical exchange for sub-Saharan African countries on facilitating public-private linkages for health systems strengthening. The technical exchange builds on the USAID-funded Network for Africa (N4A) initiative begun under the Private Sector Partnerships-One project (PSP-One) and continued under SHOPS. In 2009 PSP-One and IFC jointly conducted a private health sector assessment in Kenya and continue to coordinate policy reforms in that country. Recently, SHOPS and IFC completed a three day workshop in September 2010, designed for West African policymakers and private sector champions on the role of PPPs in health. The purpose of the technical exchange was to: i) share experiences within the region on building public-private partnerships which will contribute to health systems strengthening and improve overall health and HIV/AIDS outcomes; ii) identify key factors and lessons that contribute to effective private sector engagement and that can be applied to partnerships; iii) develop action plans that country teams can implement upon returning home; and iv) using the N4A platform, encourage communication and networking between the workshop participants. This report summarizes the workshop.