Unit | Systems Performance and Monitoring
Well-functioning health systems and programmes are fundamental for providing effective, proper and sustainable health care to populations in low and middle income countries. Performance assessment and monitoring provides an important basis for analysing the outcome and impact of different programmes and projects on health systems, and more generally, on public health. Through improving the performance quality and functioning of health services and programmes we contribute to the development of accessible, equitable and efficient health systems.
Development of Sustainable Health Systems
We carry out research and project implementation, supporting the development of sustainable health systems to alleviate poverty and reduce health deficiencies. This involves rethinking solutions for pharmaceutical, as well as financial management, performance assessment, and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
Expertise and Services
Our key mandate is the Local Fund Agent (LFA) with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria created in 2002 to significantly increase resources to fight the three of the world's most devastating diseases (HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria), and to direct those resources to areas of greatest need. As a partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities, the Global Fund represents an innovative approach to international health financing. The Global Fund does not have a country-level presence outside of its offices in Switzerland. Instead, it hires LFAs to oversee, verify and report on grant performance. LFAs are selected through a competitive bidding process and play an important role in verifying the performance of Global Fund funded programmes. They act as advisory body and can be seen as the “eyes and ears on the ground” of the Global Fund.
The LFA is contracted to independently oversee program performance and the accountable use of funds and works closely in particular with the relevant Fund Portfolio Manager from the Global Fund, to provide the following services: work performed before the Global Fund signs a grant agreement with the Principal Recipient. This includes assessing the Principal Recipient's capacity to implement the grant, reviewing proposed budgets and work plans and otherwise assisting the Global Fund in grant negotiations; work performed during program implementation. The LFA's review of a grant as it approaches Phase 2 (years three to five of the grant's lifespan) is crucial in assisting the Global Fund to make its decision on whether to continue funding beyond the first two years; work performed with respect to grant closure. When a grant ends, the LFA is involved in assisting the Global Fund with closure of the grant; and ad hoc assignments undertaken at the request of the Global Fund, such as investigations relating to the suspected misuse of funds.
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Odile Pham-Tan
MD, MPH, MBA
Head of Unit
+41612848324
odile.phamtan@swisstph.ch
Our Areas of Expertise
Project Locations
Projects
Latest Publications
Michel J, Kawonga M, Muchengeti M, Tanner M. South Africa: exploring and understanding how and why universal health coverage policy implementation gaps come about. In: Powell M,Agartan T.I,Béland D, eds. Research handbook on health care policy, 440-460. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd., 2024
Michel J, Pham-Tan O, Tanner M. Kindness leadership needed now more than ever, in global health and beyond?. J Glob Health. 2024;14:03013. DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.03013
Yared S et al. A community based seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Somali Region, eastern Ethiopia. Immun Inflamm Dis. 2024;12:e1148. DOI: 10.1002/iid3.1148
Camacho S et al. Can participatory processes lead to changes in the configuration of local mental health networks? a social network analysis. Front Public Health. 2023;11:1282662. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1282662
Jongo S.A et al. Safety and immunogenicity of radiation-attenuated PfSPZ vaccine in equatoguinean infants, children, and adults. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2023;109(1):138-146. DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0773