July 2019

India Utkrisht Development Impact Bond (DIB)

After the first year of implementation, the Utkrisht Development Impact Bond (DIB) Advisory Board met in Rajasthan to track progress achieved, identify areas for improvement, and reflect on the broader partnership. CII's Amy Lin joined our USAID India Mission, Merck for Mothers, UBS Optimus Foundation, Palladium, PSI, HLFPPT and CMS in the discussions. The DIB structure is already surfacing and sharing insights among service delivery partners, such as how to better engage facility owners, track project data, and ensure critical supplies are available. Of course, many challenges still lie ahead, but the strong commitment of all partners was clear - and will be crucial to overcome hurdles in order to improve the care that mothers and newborns receive.

Supporting Nigeria’s Integrated Pneumonia Strategy and Action Plan

On July 17, the government of Nigeria hosted a stakeholder meeting to validate the integrated pneumonia control strategy and action plan, as part of broader efforts to reduce newborn and child morbidity and mortality. The strategy outlines priorities across the protect, prevent, and treat spectrum, with a sharp focus on an integrated and multi-sectoral approach. Roughly 80 participants attended this validation meeting, including representatives from the government of Nigeria, private sector, implementing partners, professional associations, civil society, and faith-based organizations. The strategy and action plan will be finalized in the coming months.

International Development Innovation Alliance (IDIA) Managing Innovation for Impact Program

CII's Ann Marie Brouillette joined the International Development Innovation Alliance (IDIA) "Managing Innovation for Impact" exchange in Sweden. The event convened representatives from international development donors and implementers -- Sida, UNICEF, DFID, BMGF, WHO-AFRO, Makerere University, and numerous others. The program unpacked and shared ways to address key contemporary challenges that managers in innovation-supporting organizations face in making informed decisions and impactful investments.

Honoring the legacy of innovator, Dr. Marc Mitchell of D-Tree

CII is saddened by the passing of Dr. Marc Mitchell, who was a pioneer in the digital health field and a Saving Lives at Birth Grand Challenge awardee with the company he founded, D-Tree. Marc's career spanned over 40 years and included working as a pediatrician, serving as Assistant Secretary of Health in Papua New Guinea, and lecturing at Harvard and University of California, Berkeley. CII had the pleasure of collaborating with Marc and D-Tree on the scale-up of an integrated mobile-based tool for supporting Community Health Workers (CHWs) to screen and counsel pregnant women using clinical algorithms, facilitate transportation to health facilities using mobile banking and data storage, and administer follow-up care to mothers and their infants with digital tools. We honor his remarkable legacy.

Kelly Connors
Innovation

Neha Lalwani
Market Access

Tony Gallanis
Digital Health