The Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS) Project in Nigeria supports the goals of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the government of Nigeria in efforts to advance health systems strengthening and expand sustainable health financing. Banyan Global leads integrating gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) across the activity objectives in Zamfara, Plateau, Nasarawa, Lagos, and Kano states.

Banyan Global leads GESI integration on the LHSS project in Nigeria which focuses on expanding financial risk protection to reduce financial barriers and out-of-pocket payments; increasing coverage for the poor and improving equitable access to essential health services for populations facing vulnerability; increasing utilization of state health insurance and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund for HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB) services; and increasing government funding and expenditure for HIV/AIDS and TB services.

Banyan Global conducted a GESI analysis in early 2023 that informs the design of activity interventions and the TA LHSS provides, through recommendations provided to partner state MDAs/government. Through findings from this analysis, Banyan Global has defined populations facing vulnerability and is collaborating with government health insurance agencies to ensure coverage for these populations. Banyan Global accomplishes this by supporting the national health insurance agency and national PHC agencies to develop GESI policies and establish GESI focal points, providing recommendations for improving GESI integration in the supervision of Basic Health Care Provision Fund facilities to improve enrollees’ health care experience, and supporting partner state MDAs to identify GESI champions and build their capacity in each state.

Banyan Global is a subcontractor to Abt Associates on the $209 million, five-year USAID-funded LHSS project under the Integrated Health Systems award that works globally in up to 52 countries to strengthen their health systems as a means to achieve universal health coverage and improve population health and well-being. With an eye toward empowering countries to transition away from donor support, the project is strengthening the capacity of local organizations to lead implementation. Banyan Global is responsible for providing technical assistance to promote gender integration and social inclusion in LHSS activities that strive to increase financial protection, population coverage, and service coverage of quality essential services, LHSS’s three priority areas. Banyan Global also supports work to increase private investment in the health sector.