SHA Partnerships with NGOs and Donors

Introduction

Kenya’s healthcare system, serving a population of 53 million, grapples with persistent challenges including a high burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes (9% prevalence) and hypertension (24%), infectious outbreaks such as cholera (over 2,000 cases in 2025), and inequities in access, with rural areas facing 40% facility coverage compared to 70% in urban centers (KDHS 2022, MoH 2025). The Social Health Authority (SHA), launched on October 1, 2024, under the Social Health Insurance Act of 2023, replaces the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030. By September 2025, SHA has registered 26.7 million Kenyans, disbursed KSh 8 billion to primary care, and covered 4.5 million treatments without out-of-pocket costs. To bridge funding gaps (KSh 4 billion monthly deficit) and enhance service delivery, SHA fosters strategic partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and donors, leveraging their expertise in community outreach, technical support, and resource mobilization. These collaborations, aligned with the Kenya Health Policy 2014–2030 and Digital Health Strategy 2022–2027, amplify SHA’s reach in vulnerable populations. This article explores SHA’s partnerships with NGOs and donors, detailing key collaborations, impacts, challenges, and future prospects, grounded in Kenya’s medical situation, government reports, and recent developments.

The Role of Partnerships in SHA’s UHC Agenda

SHA’s three-fund structure—Primary Health Care Fund (PHCF) for levels 1–4, Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) for levels 4–6, and Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF)—relies on external partnerships to address NHIF’s shortcomings, such as low informal sector uptake (only 900,000 of 16.7 million contributors) and inherited debts of KSh 30.9 billion. NGOs and donors provide complementary funding, technical assistance, and community-level implementation, filling gaps in SHA’s KSh 6.1 billion government allocation (4% of the KSh 168 billion needed annually).

Partnerships align with SHA’s Taifa Care Framework, emphasizing grassroots enrollment (50,000 daily registrations) and subsidies for 1.5 million indigent households. As Health CS Aden Duale noted in April 2025, these alliances ensure “resources reach facilities promptly,” supporting 107,000 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and digital tools like the Practice 360 app. GeoPoll’s February 2025 survey (n=961) reveals 95% awareness of SHA but only 13% optimism for equitable delivery, underscoring the need for NGO-driven equity initiatives.

Key Partnerships with NGOs

SHA collaborates with local and international NGOs to enhance primary care, maternal health, and NCD management, often through PHCF-funded community programs.

Mercy Corps Kenya

Mercy Corps, a leading NGO with offices in Karen, Nairobi, partners with SHA to empower youth and women in ASAL counties like Turkana and Garissa. Their 2025 initiatives, funded by USAID, integrate SHA enrollment with skills training and financial literacy, reaching 200,000 youth. In Kisumu and Migori, Mercy Corps supports CHP-led ANC campaigns, contributing to a 10% reduction in maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in pilot areas (530 per 100,000 live births nationally, UNICEF 2025). This partnership leverages Mercy Corps’ expertise in humanitarian crises, aligning with SHA’s ECCIF for emergency care in flood-prone regions.

International Rescue Committee (IRC)

IRC, based in Nairobi’s Kilimani, collaborates with SHA on refugee health in Dadaab and Kakuma camps, where 40% of residents lack formal coverage. Their 2025 joint program, supported by UNHCR, facilitates SHA registration for 100,000 refugees, integrating biometric verification with IRC’s mobile clinics. This addresses HIV/TB screening (2.1% youth prevalence) and cholera outbreaks (2,000 cases in 2025), with IRC providing nutritional supplements under PHCF. IRC’s focus on conflict-affected areas complements SHA’s subsidies, ensuring non-discriminatory access per Article 27 of the Constitution.

Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS)

As a national NGO, KRCS partners with SHA on disaster response and blood services, operationalizing ECCIF for emergencies. In 2025, their collaboration distributed 500,000 units of blood to SHA-contracted facilities, supporting 12,000 road traffic injury cases annually. KRCS’s community-based surveillance in flood-hit counties like Kwale reduced cholera incidence by 30%, per WHO reports. This partnership, formalized in October 2024, enhances SHA’s Early Warnings for All (EW4All) system, reaching 1 million screenings via CHPs.

Other Notable NGO Collaborations

• AMREF Health Africa: Supports SHA’s digital rollout in rural areas, training 5,000 CHPs on Afya Timiza app usage, focusing on NCD screenings (1 million completed since launch).
• Pathfinder International: Aids maternal health pilots in Nyanza, integrating SHA’s SHIF with family planning, targeting 15% teenage pregnancy rates (KDHS 2022).

These partnerships, often co-funded by NGOs’ grants (e.g., USAID’s KSh 2 billion for youth programs), amplify SHA’s 8,813 contracted facilities (56% national coverage).

Key Partnerships with Donors

Donors provide catalytic funding and technical expertise, bridging SHA’s KSh 4 billion deficit through grants and loans.

USAID and PEPFAR

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), via PEPFAR, allocated KSh 10 billion in 2025 for SHA’s HIV/TB laboratory systems, supporting sustainable diagnostics in 500 facilities. This partnership, announced February 2025, integrates with ECCIF for ART coverage (2.1% youth HIV prevalence), reaching 500,000 beneficiaries. USAID’s focus on ASALs addresses Turkana’s <30% registration uptake, enhancing equity.

World Bank and Global Fund

The World Bank’s KSh 20 billion UHC project (2024–2028) funds SHA’s e-contracting in 45 counties, onboarding 594 facilities by September 2025. In partnership with the Global Fund, KSh 5 billion supports malaria vector control under PHCF, distributing 1 million bed nets amid 3.5 million cases annually. These collaborations ensure bi-weekly payments (KSh 8 billion disbursed), reducing NHIF-era delays.

GAVI and European Union

GAVI’s KSh 3 billion vaccine alliance with SHA procured 1 million oral cholera doses in 2025, bolstering ECCIF for outbreaks. The EU, a long-standing partner since the Lomé Convention, provided KSh 4 billion for primary care infrastructure, aligning with PHCF’s 100,000 health kits. EU-funded pilots in Makueni integrate SHA with county supplements like MakueniCare, covering 80% of households.

Emerging Donors: UAE and UK Aid

Kenya’s KSh 194 billion UAE loan (negotiated 2024) via International Holding Company (IHC) supports SHA’s digital backbone, including Apeiro’s technology for claims processing. UK Aid’s Direct Aid Program (DAP) grants (up to EUR 1 million in 2025–2026) target climate-health initiatives, funding CHP training in environmental surveillance.

Data from MoH, WHO, and partner reports (2025).

Impacts of These Partnerships

Partnerships have accelerated SHA’s rollout:

• Enrollment and Access: 26.7 million registered, with NGO drives boosting informal uptake by 20% in ASALs (MoH 2025).
• Outbreak Response: GAVI/KRCS efforts reduced cholera by 30% in Kwale; PEPFAR enhanced TB detection by 15%.
• Equity Gains: Mercy Corps/IRC initiatives prioritized women (35% registrants) and refugees, addressing 21% anemia in pregnant women.
• Efficiency: Donor-funded digital tools rejected KSh 10.7 billion in fraud, ensuring 4.5 million zero-cost treatments.

A 2025 Cytonn review estimates partnerships could save KSh 15 billion in health costs by 2030, but GeoPoll notes rural skepticism (13% optimism).

Challenges in Partnerships

Hurdles include:

• Funding Dependencies: SHA’s KSh 6.1 billion allocation covers 4% of needs; donor fatigue amid global crises risks gaps.
• Coordination Issues: Devolution causes overlaps, with 45 counties signing IPAs but ASALs lagging (40% coverage).
• Transparency Concerns: OAG’s 2025 report flagged KSh 104.8 billion UAE-linked system irregularities, eroding trust (70% negative X sentiment).
• Sustainability: NGO pilots (e.g., IRC’s refugee program) face scale-up challenges without long-term funding.

Future Outlook

SHA targets 80% coverage by 2028, requiring 10 million informal contributors. Planned expansions include:

• Donor Scaling: KSh 194 billion UAE loan for tech; USAID’s 2026 HIV extension.
• NGO Integration: AMREF-led CHP training for 50,000 more promoters by 2026.
• Policy Alignment: BPTAP reviews to embed partnerships in Taifa Care.

WHO projects these alliances could avert 20% of climate-sensitive illnesses by 2030.

Conclusion

SHA’s partnerships with NGOs like Mercy Corps, IRC, and KRCS, and donors such as USAID, World Bank, and GAVI, are indispensable for UHC, mobilizing KSh 50+ billion in 2025 to boost enrollment, combat outbreaks, and ensure equity. Amid Kenya’s NCD and epidemic burdens, these collaborations—evident in 1 million screenings and 4.5 million treatments—bridge funding gaps and amplify reach. Challenges like coordination and transparency demand vigilance, but as CS Duale affirmed in June 2025, such alliances build a “reliable” system. By fostering inclusive, sustainable ties, SHA can realize health for all, transforming Kenya’s medical landscape by 2030.

LULU MAISHA MAGIC PLUS SEASON 1 EPISODE 104 THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25TH 2025 FULL EPISODE