The International Finance Facility for Immunisation: stakeholders' perspectives

Area of Science:

• Global Health Financing
• Development Economics
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• The International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) was established to accelerate funding for immunisation programs.
• Understanding stakeholder perspectives is crucial for assessing the effectiveness of innovative financing mechanisms.
• The global financial climate and the maturity of recipient organizations influence donor commitments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess stakeholder comprehension and views on IFFIm.
• To identify determinants of IFFIm funding levels.
• To explore potential future applications of IFFIm's model.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 33 stakeholders from 25 organizations between July and September 2015.
• A total of 22.5 hours of interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a framework method.
• The study focused on individuals identified as stakeholders in IFFIm.

Main Results:

• Stakeholder understanding of IFFIm's financing and outcomes was inconsistent, with a demand for more information.
• The 2008 financial crisis impacted donor country policies, affecting IFFIm's new commitments.
• Donors increasingly prefer direct contributions to Gavi, viewing it as a mature organization, while the pharmaceutical industry valued IFFIm for funding stability.

Conclusions:

• The value of pledging funds via IFFIm requires re-evaluation.
• Bond financing mechanisms show potential for global health issues like emergency preparedness and outcome-based interventions.
• Future applications must be rigorously assessed for effectiveness using quantifiable outcome indicators.