Bangalore, June 11, 2024: Blockchain for Impact (BFI) and UNICEF have joined hands to support the Government of India achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through strengthening health systems and focus on community-based primary health care. In this partnership, USD 2.1 million will be reprogrammed to align with two transformative projects.
This will contribute to the realization of the rights to life and health of all children, especially the most disadvantaged. The partnership MoU was signed by Sandeep Nailwal, Founder, of BFI, and Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF Representative to India, in Delhi.
This two-year partnership, using human-centric design principles and grassroots-driven solutions, will focus on supporting pregnant women, newborns, and children, including adolescents, especially the most vulnerable, to have equitable access, and utilize gender-responsive quality health services and adopt healthy behaviors.
This will be done by strengthening the State Health Resource Center in Meghalaya towards building the state's capability to address complex public health challenges, making the health systems more accountable, reliable, and equitable. This systematic, evidence-based process of investing in human-centered primary health care at the district level, will promote health and well-being through Quality health care services based on people-centered solutions and approaches; Multisectoral policies and plans; and Participation of communities.
Speaking about the partnership, Sandeep Nailwal, Founder, of Blockchain For Impact, said, "BFI, in partnership with UNICEF, is revolutionizing philanthropy by adopting Human-Centered Design (HCD) to tackle complex public health challenges. Instead of traditional solution-centric methods, we focus on problem-centric strategies that address the real needs of communities and service providers. By building on the unique challenges and experiences at the district level, we create health interventions that are not only innovative but also scalable and sustainable. This shift leads to practical, impactful solutions, fostering better health outcomes and building stronger, more resilient communities."
The partnership will also establish a pan-India health and climate resilience fellowship to bolster state and ground partner capacity across seven states in devising local solutions using human-centric design principles. The primary focus of this partnership - ‘The India Health Fellowship Program’ is to provide comprehensive technical support to the public health systems at both state and district levels. Through a holistic approach encompassing human-centered design (HCD) principles and systems thinking, the program aims to empower health departments with the tools and methodologies necessary for effective problem-solving. In addition to capacity building and mentorship, the partnership facilitates exposure visits for stakeholders at various levels. With this strategic collaboration across the seven states of India, the partnership will aim to fortify health systems by addressing critical gaps, fostering accountability, and enhancing resilience.
The USD 2.1 million will be reprogrammed to align with these two transformative projects. This strategic alliance, operating within the India District Full Stack Fund (IDFS) vertical of BFI, signifies a pivotal moment in advancing public health strengthening and collaborative problem-solving.
Blockchain for Impact (BFI) was established during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, with a mission to support those in need. Initially focusing on strengthening the Indian healthcare system through emergency relief efforts, BFI has evolved into a proactive force driving programmatic interventions across the public health spectrum.
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