Local Resource Mobilization: Building on Strengths and Potential in Asia

Shivani Garg from Jhpiego India stressed the importance of collaboration and networking. With the Udaan Collaborative initiative, which seeks to unify healthcare providers with youth via social media, getting private-sector funding support as well as engagement from healthcare providers was challenging. While they were able to obtain seed funding from USAID India to pilot the initiative, create the architecture for their website, and onboard close to 10,000 healthcare providers, they are lobbying for corporate social responsibility investments and other partnership opportunities in order to create a sustainable business model with various revenue streams. These revenue streams include outreach to young individuals through YouTube, Instagram, and other social media. 

Tash from The YP Foundation in India noted that corporate social responsibility is legally mandated for private-sector companies in India, and they are expected to generate public good. She added that this was something that FP/RH colleagues should consider in their fundraising plans.

When asked how one could replicate the Philippines’ success in leveraging universal health coverage (UHC) in fundraising, Vergil de Claro from RTI International in the Philippines stated the need to connect the “asks” of FP/RH communities to broader development goals and priorities. To ensure buy-in at both the local and national government level, organizations need to be able to show how their specific programs can fulfill the objectives of broader national priorities.

“Map out available domestic resources … just complying with the broader development goals and national priorities, there may be funding resources you can tap into.” – Vergil de Claro, Policy and Health System Senior Advisor, RTI International, Philippines

According to Sourav Neogi from Jhpiego India, meaningful engagement makes all the difference in engaging the private sector. He stated that by aligning objectives with private organizations, private organizations are more inclined to react positively. He shared the example of how his organization engaged with for-profit tea organizations in Assam, India. One of their main priorities was to ensure a healthy workforce with reduced health-related absenteeism to boost productivity. He noted that a key criteria that was important to the tea authorities included reducing maternal mortality and unwanted pregnancies in these communities, which enabled them to lobby for a bigger basket of contraceptive choices for the community, including long-acting reversible contraceptives. Instead of advocating for family planning approaches that may not resonate with the private sector, the pitch or narrative was refined to help the tea industry meet their needs. 

Tash, from The YP Foundation in India shared how they were able to raise funds quickly in an unexpected crisis situation. The sudden demolition of homes in a community in Delhi left many young girls homeless. They applied for urgent funds from their traditional donors but also took to social media campaigning from which they were able to raise close to 2 lakh rupees (US$2,400)  to meet their needs.  

“Fundraising should not rely on one source alone … diversify your funding sources or, at least, identify ways to add to your funding needs in times of emergency.” – Tash, Resource Mobilization Coordinator, The YP Foundation, India