Six million children die each year from preventable causes, and children in some areas are 20 times more likely to die than in developed countries. This is unacceptable, and it's why the UBS Optimus Foundation has launched the Health: Going Further portfolio, which breaks new ground in the way we think about financing and delivering large scale, transformational change for the world's most neglected communities.
A matter of urgency
The currently fragmented approach to development funding isn't working. Billions of dollars are spent annually on aid programs, yet it's estimated that an extra USD 1.4 trillion is needed each year to lift 700 million people out of poverty and neglect by 2030 and meet the world's ambitious new development agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals. This makes the case for attracting even greater levels of private capital to augment traditional funding streams more compelling than ever.
But it's not just about income. Outcomes are equally important. Despite the resources poured into development aid, the results are not what we're entitled to expect. A lack of focus on outcomes means it's often unclear if funds are being used effectively. Many donors only have access to a single standalone program. This may fail, and even if it does work the impact is relatively small. And too many promising programs are being overlooked and not financed or taken to scale. There's clearly a need to explore new ways of financing and delivering change that is concerted, significant and lasting. And that's exactly what the Health: Going Further portfolio seeks to do.
“The new Health: Going Further portfolio offers UBS clients and employees the opportunity to support a diverse set of world-renowned partners with best-in-class, result-focused programs that can drive the large-scale global change needed to ensure children thrive," said Sergio P. Ermotti, UBS CEO and Chairman of the UBS Optimus Foundation Board of Directors
Ambition and action
Bundling high-quality, result-focused programs designed to address a specific issue within a portfolio structure has many advantages.
- unique access to a diverse set of world-renowned partners
- tried and tested programs, combined with highly promising new programs
- creation of funding pool to help successful programs grow faster and reach more people
- increased probability of backing successful, transformational change
- cross-pollination of best-practice between programs
- robust, pre-agreed performance standards to ensure programs stay on track
- reduction in the risk associated with supporting a single program
- support a model to build momentum for a new, more effective way to finance and deliver aid
Examples of Health: Going Further portfolio partners
Last Mile Health: In Liberia, Last Mile Health ensures access to quality primary health services for those living in remote communities. Its workers are members of the communities they serve and bring critical health services to the doorsteps of people living in the some of the world's hardest places to reach.
We Care Solar: The Solar Suitcase is low-cost and easy to use and captures the sun's energy during the day to provide a reliable source of electricity at night in health clinics in poor rural areas. This powers lights and medical and communication equipment transforming the chances of survival for mothers and babies.
mCARE: In rural Bangladesh, 90% of births occur at home and the neonatal mortality rate is ten times greater than in many developed countries. mCare uses simple mobile phone-based technology to provide pregnant women with information and link them to a local community health worker and an emergency neonatal care team. It has increased the number of women accessing ante-natal services by 260%.
To find out more about the portfolio and how you can get involved visit Health: Going Further.
