CDC Foundation

Building Sustainable Public-Private Partnerships: Implementing Partners’ Perspectives
Wednesday, December 5 - 7:30 - 8:45 AM

Session Overview

Since 2009, the CDC Foundation has managed a Cooperative Agreement that assists the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) designated countries in scaling up public-private partnerships. In this role, the CDC Foundation strives to create value by leveraging multi-sector investments in Kenya and Tanzania that support mHealth initiatives prioritized by each country’s Ministry of Health.  Under CDC Foundation management, the mHealth platform in both countries has evolved from a single service provider model to a multi-partner, diverse system, utilizing local and international implementers. 

The programs currently operate an integrated disease surveillance system and a large-scale SMS blood donor outreach program. Additionally, the platforms have recently expanded into early infant diagnosis of HIV, mobile commodity tracking of medical supplies, and a healthy mother, healthy baby SMS messaging campaign. At this stage, the goal of creating country-owned and operated partnerships with significant contributions from the public, private and philanthropic sectors are being realized. 

However, the current economic climate and its impact on the trajectory of these projects cannot be ignored. Available resources cannot keep pace if the projects’ scope of work continues to expand. To generate ideas on how to meet this challenge, the CDC Foundation has convened representatives from the primary implementing partners in Kenya and Tanzania, including Ministries of Health, CDC in-country offices and CDC Foundation local project managers to discuss sustainability of the mHealth projects in an environment of limited resources.  

Session Objectives