Menu
location_on
Location

Sierra Leone, Uganda

category
Sector

Public Health, Nutrition and Water

monetization_on
Type of Investment

Grant

timeline
Project Stage
Test & Transition
schedule
Length of Investment

2020+

link

Investment Overview

A $1.05 million grant to support BRAC Sierra Leone and BRAC Uganda’s efforts to fight Covid-19. BRAC Sierra Leone’s focus is on emergency response work, in the form of behavioural change messaging reinforced by in-person support from community health workers. BRAC Uganda’s work focuses on strengthening the health system.

psychology_alt

The Development Challenge

Even though at the end of 2020 there were relatively few cases and deaths attributed to Covid-19 in Africa (2.5 million and 57,000 respectively), the rate of spread and possibility of future waves has public health officials concerned. At the same time, there has been a growing awareness of the expected negative economic repercussions for many developing countries, particularly for the poorest and most vulnerable sections of their societies.

lightbulb

The Innovation

This investment relates to emergency Covid-19 response work in Sierra Leone and Uganda, as well as long-term health systems strengthening in Uganda achieved through improvisation and technology adoption. The improvisation relates to BRAC refocusing existing staff and volunteers from general and health community support to collaborate with the Government of Sierra Leone and the Government of Uganda in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. The health systems strengthening involves BRAC working with the Government of Uganda to demonstrate the use of digital platforms for behavioural change messaging, remote training of CHWs, and data collection by CHWs.

account_balance

Our Investment

A $1.05 million grant.

help

Why we invested

BRAC has a longstanding history of successful community health work in Sierra Leone and Uganda. BRAC Uganda is a key partner of the Ministry of Health and was specifically requested to help in responding to the Covid-19 crisis. BRAC Sierra Leone operated throughout the 2014-2016 Ebola crisis, when most other NGOs ceased operations.




In addition to the urgent need to stem the spread of Covid-19 in Sierra Leone and Uganda, GIF believes that if the Government of Uganda, working with BRAC and other partners such as Living Goods, can adopt their tools for data collection and integration into the existing health system network, it will not only save lives during this pandemic but on an ongoing basis.

calculate

BRAC in numbers

$1.05 million

GIF grant

2.5 million

Covid-19 cases in Africa by the end of 2020