Abt Associates Awarded Market-Based Partnerships for Health Project in India

Abt Associates Inc. was recently awarded a new task order by USAID/India issued under the Private Sector Partnerships (PSP) IQC called the “Market-Based Partnerships for Health” project. The MBPH project looks to formulate partnerships with commercial entities for creative opportunities that will offer the mutual benefits of greater income for the commercial sector partner and improved quality of life for the community, particularly the rural poor. The project expands upon Abt Associates’ innovative work in India implemented under the Private Sector Partnerships-One (PSP-One) project that has developed strong partnerships with a multitude of commercial partners to implement effective, sustainable interventions in the areas of family planning and reproductive health.

The main thrust of this new task order will be to establish and expand upon partnerships with commercial sector entities, who either currently operate within the health field or those looking to enter this area, and implement sustainable interventions to improve health outcomes in the areas of family planning, reproductive health, maternal and child health, tuberculosis (TB), and hygiene promotion. Additionally, Abt will institutionalize knowledge of market-based partnerships gained through project implementation by establishing an autonomous Center of Excellence that will continue to foster these types of initiatives once the MBPH project ends.

Abt Associates’ partners on this project include Constella Futures, Monitor India, Population Services International (PSI), and Banyan Global and together they bring over 20 years of experience working with the private sector in India.

The MBPH project will initially focus on hygiene promotion and handwashing, and TB. Depending on need and additional funding, the program may explore partnerships in other population, health and nutrition areas, including work on injectable contraceptives and HIV issues.