Weak health systems perpetuate poverty and widen inequalities. i4D's Health Systems Strengthening pillar goes beyond disease-specific interventions to strengthen the governance, financing, workforce, digital information systems and community engagement that determine whether health improvements are sustained — with a focus on One Health, digital health, infectious disease response, and reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH).
Our Strategic Goal
To strengthen resilient, equitable and responsive health systems that improve population health, promote universal health coverage, enhance health security and accelerate sustainable development.
Strategic Objectives
- Strengthen the governance, financing and institutional capacity of national and sub-national health systems.
- Improve disease prevention, surveillance and emergency preparedness.
- Expand equitable access to quality primary healthcare, with a focus on maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health.
- Advance digital health and health information systems.
- Strengthen clinical research, regulatory systems and One Health collaboration.
Key Areas of Support
- Leadership, governance and health policy
- Health service delivery
- Public health security and disease surveillance
- Laboratory systems strengthening
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and One Health
- Digital health and health information systems
- Clinical research, ethics and regulatory systems
- Health workforce development
Flagship Programmes
- National Health Systems Strengthening Initiative
- One Health and AMR Programme
- Public Health Emergency Preparedness Programme
- Digital Health Innovation Programme
- Community Health Systems Programme
- Laboratory Systems Excellence Initiative
- Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Programme
The Context in Malawi
- HIV/AIDS adult prevalence of approximately 6.7%, alongside a high burden of malaria and tuberculosis.
- Maternal mortality estimated at 349 per 100,000 live births.
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) emerging as a critical public health threat amid limited surveillance and laboratory capacity.
- Trained more than 5,000 community health workers to strengthen primary healthcare delivery.
“Health is not just the absence of disease but the foundation for sustainable communities. Our work ensures no one is left behind.”
Strategic Partners
Ministries of Health and National Public Health Institutes, universities and research institutions, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNAIDS, Africa CDC, professional associations, civil society organisations, private healthcare providers and communities.