1. HFI spearheaded efforts to increase access to diabetes care around the world.
Devices for Development Consortium
HFI is excited to launch the Devices for Development Consortium (D4DC), which aims to address the market failures around quality glucose measurement in under-resourced settings. In March 2021, HFI convened an expert roundtable to discuss D4DC, which kick-started several activities. HFI presented D4DC at an Innovations in Humanitarian Financing Forum Roundtable, began a collaboration with JDRF International on T1D, and hosted a high-level UNGA 76 dinner with leaders from Mexico, Medtronic, UNICEF, WHO, and Sandclock to discuss D4DC. HFI’s first D4DC pilot program will take place in Jalisco, Mexico, with the potential for a national scale-up.
Diabetes Partnership with the Danish Red Cross
HFI secured a contract with the Danish Red Cross to scope the first social impact bond for T2D in Armenia. To help pave the way towards cost-effective care, HFI will work with the Danish Red Cross to review available data collection systems in Armenia; quantify the health and economic impact of the new diabetes program to identify the highest-impact interventions; and design a Social Impact Bond-type model to finance the scale-up of the program.
2. To promote investments in health, we explored the potential of cryptocurrency.
Blockchain and the Democratization of Philanthropic Giving Panel
HFI hosted an UNGA 76 side event at the Harvard Club of New York with approximately 50 attendees. High-level speakers included Dr. Jane Thomason, Co-Founder of British Blockchain and Frontier Technology Association; Timothy Massad, Former Chairperson of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; Alexandra Scheibe, Partner at McDermott, Will, & Emery LLP; Q Rasi, CSO at Sandclock; and Sunita Grote, Lead at UNICEF Ventures.
Generous NFT Donation from Sandclock
HFI received a generous NFT (non-fungible token) donation from Sandclock in the form of digital art. This piece of artwork, known as the “Water God,” was auctioned in October. Proceeds generated from this auction will support our diabetes programs in Mexico, where we are working closely with local partners, and Armenia, where we are partnering with the Danish Red Cross.
3.In the name of global solidarity, HFI continued to connect the dots between COVID-19 and NCDs.
Inaugural DC Event with NCD Alliance
On the sidelines of the World Bank Group / International Monetary Fund 2021 Annual Meetings, HFI and NCD Alliance hosted a roundtable discussion on prioritizing NCDs in the recovery agenda. Attendees included representatives from UNDP, Uruguay, UNICEF, Medtronic, and more.
Virtual Panel Discussion on Catalyzing Investments for NCDs
In November, HFI partnered with NCD Alliance and Sanofi to host a virtual panel discussion on catalyzing investments for NCDs during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Our expert panelists included Dr. Bente Mikkelsen, Director of NCD Department at WHO; Dr. Andreas Seiter, Lead of Private Sector at the World Bank; Prof. Thomas J. Bollyky, Director of the Global Health Program at CFR; and more.
4. We organized three blended finance training sessions for the City Cancer Challenge Foundation (C/CAN) in March, July, and November.
These blended finance training sessions represent a series of three workshops focused on equipping participants with a foundational understanding of innovative finance instruments and how blended finance can raise catalytic funding for cancer prevention and treatment programs. C/CAN staff was able to explore blended finance solutions for their work and began designing a blended finance vehicle.
5. To share our expertise, HFI became a member of several action-oriented groups in the health and finance spaces.
6. HFI launched our first Senior Advisory Board, which brings together a distinguished and diverse group of health and finance experts united by their shared passion and commitment to combat NCDs.
Our Senior Advisory Board consists of Dr. Cary Adams (CEO, Union for International Cancer Control), Ranajoy Basu (Global Head of the Impact Finance practice, McDermott, Will & Emery), Lena Konanova (Partner, Selendy & Gay PLLC), Prabhat Pani (Senior Advisor for Partnerships, Tata Trusts and Head of Social Sector Interventions, SPJIMR), Kyle Peterson (Co-founder And Managing Partner, Boldly Go Philanthropies), George Vradenburg (Co-Chair, Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative), and Shelley Zalis (CEO, The Female Quotient).
7. We grew our Executive Board.
Our fantastic Executive Board includes Gloria Benedikt (Visiting Fellow, IWM), Joel O. Carter (Managing Partner, Verdant Heights Global, LLC), and Marina Mez (Sales & Marketing Manager, Hotshot Coffee Sleeves).
8. To pursue our growing opportunities, HFI continued to expand our team.
Abdul-Rahman Lediju joined HFI as the Director of Innovative Finance. Mariah Hicks joined HFI as an Executive Assistant. Alayna Sublette joined HFI as a Programs Associate. Additionally, Sarbani Chakraborty and Vanessa Candeias joined HFI as Senior Advisors. Finally, HFI welcomed four new cohorts of interns this year over the spring, summer, fall, and winter terms.
9. HFI leadership lent their voices and expertise to critical conversations around NCDs, health economics, innovative finance, and COVID-19.
Dr. Andrea Feigl, HFI’s CEO and Founder, participated in a host of events:
WHO consultation on the Draft Tool to Support Member States in their Decision-making on Private Sector Engagement for the Prevention and Control of NCDs
WHO Global Diabetes Compact Forum
10. Reinforcing our role as a thought leader, we published several articles on NCDs, health economics, and innovative finance.
As we wrap up 2021, please consider donating to HFI by following this link! As our whiteboard video below on the NCD financing gap illustrates, HFI’s innovative finance and health economics programs are critical to ensuring quality health coverage for people suffering from NCDs.
