Focus on Results

A sharp focus on results measurement and data use is core to the GFF’s work. The GFF’s data-driven approach enables monitoring of progress in women, children and adolescent health, focusing on health systems, primary health care and health financing reforms. It is a partnership-based approach that builds upon, aligns with, and aims to strengthen existing country data systems, sources, and analytical capacities to use data for decision-making at multiple levels.
Since the GFF was founded, more countries have invested in strengthening their data systems. More have made their data available, including subnational and age and sex-disaggregated data which is helping see beyond aggregate numbers and unmask gaps to understand which health services and population groups are most at risk. Sharper focus on results has also allowed reporting across six core focus areas: pregnancy care visits, facility-based newborn deliveries, breastfeeding initiation, reproductive health and family planning, postnatal care, and childhood vaccinations.
FASTR: A data-approach to help countries adapt their health systems amid crises
The GFF developed a set of tools, the Frequent Assessment and Surveillance Tools for Resilience, known as FASTR to help countries better understand and respond to shocks and service disruptions caused by crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from these tools have already helped countries adapt their health systems to respond to women, children and adolescent needs. in response to resource constraints, 77 percent of facilities across three GFF partner countries provided all care in a single visit and 76 percent of facilities across four countries prioritized high-risk patients. Most facilities in Bangladesh shifted to teleconsultation while Guinea and Guatemala planned for community catch-up activities in 75 percent of facilities.
FASTR TOOLS
Rapid-cycle health facility surveys provide a snapshot of primary health care in terms of shocks, service availability and quality, infrastructure, financing, human resources, medical supplies/ equipment, leadership and coordination, and community engagement
Technical assistance supports timely and routine analysis of health management information systems, provide insights on data quality, service utilization levels, and service coverage trends
High-frequency household surveys provide population insights on health service utilization, foregone care, and patient satisfaction with health services
Rapid qualitative studies provide quick feedback to policymakers on emerging issues and enable learning from successful reforms and adaptations
Capacity building for data use help to develop competencies to request, analyze, and interpret data for policy-relevant decisions