Programme to Foster Innovation, Learning and Evidence in HIV and Health Programmes of German Development Cooperation (PROFILE)

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Programme to Foster Innovation, Learning and Evidence in HIV and health programmes of German Development Cooperation (PROFILE)ContextFor the health sector, the transition from the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) means a stronger orientation towards horizontally connected and comprehensive approaches. Ensuring healthy lives and promoting wellbeing for all at all ages (SDG 3) is the health sector’s overarching goal. One target under this goal is to end the epidemics of infectious diseases, including AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and hepatitis C. While a stronger alignement of relevant aid activities with national strategies and a stronger focus on efficient health systems has been initiated, not all international stakeholders are taking this shift sufficiently into account.Germany already incorporates the focus on strengthening health systems in multilateral development cooperation, especially in the dialogue with United Nations organisations and international health funds. In order to achieve the target of ending epidemics of infectious diseases in a way that strengthens health systems, global funds must be used more efficiently, strategically and sustainably in the future and key stakeholders must work in a more coordinated manner. The basis for this is a clearer position on the design of activities, division of labour and interaction in the global health architecture, which is becoming increasingly significant for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.ObjectiveThe goal of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to end epidemics of infectious diseases is implemented in a manner that strengthens health systems.ApproachPROFILE supports the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), specifically focusing on the overarching topics of strengthening health systems and strengthening the global health architecture. The programme works in three fields of activity, with gender equality as an integral component of the work in each.1. Advisory services with regard to Funds. PROFILE supports BMZ in its participation in the international supervisory bodies of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Vaccine Alliance Gavi. In its advisory services the programme draws on experience gained in bilateral development cooperation; it also compiles up-to-date information on the Global Fund and Gavi for use in bilateral German Development Cooperation. This interaction allows in-depth assessments to be made.2. Political positioning and specialised topics. The programme advises BMZ on issues related to selected infectious diseases and on political positioning in the global health architecture. Experience gained in the response to HIV is included, as are lessons learned in dealing with social determinants of health. A further important task is PROFILE's participation in the World Health Organization’s Health Data Collaborative (HDC) mandated by BMZ. This work centres on support to partner countries for improving data systems in the health sector.3. Knowledge and learning. PROFILE monitors and documents implementation experience from German Development Cooperation and makes it accessible to a wide range of specialists via the BMZ web portal "HealthyDEvelopments" and the publication series "German Health Practice Collection". In this area, the programme works with the company Management for Health (M4H). In addition, PROFILE has supported the launch of the funding programme "Hospital Partnerships - Partners strengthen Health" (PN 2017.2170.3), which promotes hospital partnerships between health-related facilities in Germany and in low- and middle-income countries by providing financial contributions and professional guidance.With the commencement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, a new strategic orientation has been set for international cooperation that emphasises the importance of engaging in multilateral institutions and their international activities. PROFILE will contribute to a more health system-relevant use of global financial resources and a more effective and efficient shaping of programmes to combat infectious diseases. It will also help to direct global efforts in the health sector towards strengthening national health systems.

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