THET

International Health Links Funding Scheme

Posted on 11. Oct, 2009 by Erin in Latest News

THET is very excited to be able to announce the launch of the long awaited UK International Heath Links Funding Scheme (IHLFS).

The IHLFS is a 3-year scheme that provides grants, information and support to Health Links. Funded by the UK Department for International Development (DfID) and the Department of Health (DH), it is jointly managed by THET and the British Council.

The Scheme makes £1.25 million available to support the work of Health Links each year, with the primary purpose of building the capacity of developing country health services.

The IHLFS will achieve this purpose by funding effective Links that contribute to priorities defined in the national health plans of target developing countries.

Under the Scheme, there are 3 types of grants available to Links in target countries:

1. Small grants (up to £3,000) to support the development of new and young Links. Applications will be considered at any time during the IHLFS.
2. Medium grants (up to £15,000 per year for one or two years) to help existing Links carry out a needs assessment, develop plans for a larger initiative or carry out modest development programmes. Applications will be considered once a year.
3. Large grants (up to £60,000 per year for up to three years) to support strategic capacity building programmes implemented via a Link partnership. Activities could include, for example, curricula development; working with faculties to strengthen pre and post qualification training; improvements to the teaching or clinical environment; interventions to strengthen professional conduct; or practice based research. Applications for three year grants can only be considered in Year 1 of the Scheme.

To find out more about the eligibility criteria for all 3 types of grants, including whether your Link is in a target country, please click here.

For further information, full application details and to download application documents for all grant types, please visit the IHLFS webpages at www.britishcouncil.org/learning-healthlinks.htm.

The deadline for the first and second rounds of medium and large grant applications has now passed.

Applications for Small Grants may be submitted at any time during the lifetime of IHLFS or until all the funding for each year is allocated.

All queries about the Scheme should be sent to the IHLFS team at HealthLinks@britishcouncil.org.

The IHLFS will work closely with the new UK International Health Links Centre.

To read a copy of the Press Release about the IHLFS from 28th September 2009, please click here. Further background information on THET and the British Council is available here.