Sustaining health systems in sub-Saharan Africa
Public–private partnerships in a new era of reduced donor funding
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11491341 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Rowan Haffner (0009-0008-2270-649X, Duke University), Faraan O Rahim (0000-0003-1305-0720, Harvard Medical School , 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115), Lara Kendall (Duke University), Sarah Ali (0000-0002-6149-0467, University of Pittsburgh), Sarah Danielle Ali (University of Pittsburgh), Rohith Karthik (Cornell University), Ketan Tamirisa (0009-0000-1388-0324, Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis , 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110), Mahmood Abdelkader (0000-0002-5518-8122, University of Pittsburgh), Abebe Bekele (0000-0003-0018-9096, University of Global Health Equity, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 542-545 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-05 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Health Policy and Planning (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0268-1080 • E-ISSN: 1460-2237 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1093/heapol/czag008 |
| PMID | 41640056 |
| OpenAlex | W7128052705 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 15 |
Recent reductions in US global health funding have disrupted essential programs in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the region’s vulnerability to external financing shocks. The suspension of the United States Agency for International Development initiatives has affected disease control, maternal care, and health system operations across 47 countries, raising urgent questions about how to sustain progress without reliable donor support. This commentary examines the potential of public–private partnerships (PPPs)—structured collaborations in which governments and private actors share financing, risk, and managerial responsibility—to strengthen domestic capacity. Drawing on examples from Senegal, Nigeria, and Kenya, we explore how service-, concession-, financing-, and technology-focused PPPs can mobilize additional resources, expand access, and improve service delivery. We also address key challenges, including governance risks, fiscal constraints, and shifting global power dynamics. While not a substitute for aid, well-designed PPPs aligned with national priorities can support more resilient, equitable, and self-reliant health systems in sub-Saharan Africa
Corporate governance · Global health · Health services · Healthcare system · Private sector · Service (business) · Vulnerability (computing) · Global Maternal and Child Health · Innovation and Socioeconomic Development · Public-Private Partnership Projects · Health Policy
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |