Catalytic Opportunity Fund for Introduction and Scale-Up of New and Lesser-Used Postpartum Hemorrhage Medicines (NLUM-PPH)

The RHSC Maternal Health Caucus is pleased to announce a new small-grants mechanism to increase access to new and lesser-used medicines for postpartum hemorrhage (NLUM-PPH) capable of preventing and treating PPH. This includes heat-stable carbetocin (HSC) for prevention of PPH and tranexamic acid (TXA) for the treatment of PPH. The goal is to provide funding for government-endorsed, catalytic preparatory activities that drive quality NLUM-PPH introduction and/or scale-up in low- and lower-middle-income countries. 

Catalytic preparatory opportunities are broadly defined as activities that enable increased efficiency and/or effectiveness of medicine introduction and scale-up. Opportunities should demonstrate how they will lead to tangible, time-bound results for scale-up, specifically, how activities will lead to a sustainable increase in availability of quality new and lesser-used PPH medicines. Activities should utilize and build towards sustainable processes, systems, and resources to ensure that gains are continued beyond grant timelines. 

More information on types of activities can be found in the Catalytic Opportunity Fund (COF) Overview PowerPoint resource below. The Catalytic Opportunity Fund (COF) for NLUM-PPH is managed by the RHSC and CHAI and funded by MSD for Mothers*,** and FCDO. 

Quick links

Eligibility checks
Application
Frequently Asked Questions

Funding ceiling

Funding ceiling per application is a maximum of USD$100,000 including indirect costs, which should not exceed 12%. However, there is no limit to the number of distinct applications that can be submitted per applicant. 

Eligibility

The following eligibility criteria have been developed in relation to PPH medicines, the limited funding, and timeframe for activity execution. This COF is applicable to countries that have already made the decision to introduce the new and lesser-used PPH medicines. 

Country Eligibility

The following criteria must be met: 

  • Low- or lower-middle-income countries as designated by the World Bank in July 2021 (list included in COF Overview resource). 

  • Where the Ministry of Health has included the new and lesser-used PPH medicines into its Essential Medicines List and/or clinical guidelines. 

  • Where new and lesser-used PPH medicines have local regulatory approval or written commitment to pursue an importation waiver by the project start. 

All proposals must provide evidence of endorsement by relevant government authorities (e.g., relevant department involved in medicine/product introduction and/or maternal and neonatal child health) demonstrated via a letter of recommendation or defined informal equivalents (e.g., an email from authorized department representative). Government endorsement should explicitly state there is adequate new and lesser-used PPH medicine stock or there is a procurement plan in place (e.g., purchase order) to ensure adequate stock to support project activities as needed. 


Applicant Eligibility

Funds may be granted to non-profit or for-profit non-governmental organizations working with the public and private not-for-profit sector(s), with a strong preference for local entities. However, activities should be government endorsed and in line with government plans and policies. 

  • Local entity is defined as legally organized under the laws of the focal country, has its principal place of business or operations in focal country, is majority-owned by individuals who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of focal country, and is managed by a governing body where the majority of whom are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the focal country.

Medicine Eligibility

New and lesser-used PPH medicines for the purposes of this COF are defined as heat-stable carbetocin (HSC) for the prevention of PPH and tranexamic acid (TXA) for the treatment of PPH; both are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Activities to scale HSC alone or with TXA are eligible. Activities to scale TXA alone are not eligible. 


Activity Eligibility

Projects must meet the definition of “catalytic” which is defined as: activities that enable increased efficiency and/or effectiveness of medicine introduction (e.g., testing low-cost training approaches) OR activities that are critical to achieve a successful medicine introduction (e.g., training of national or master trainers to enable other committed investments in health care worker training to proceed).

Examples of eligible activities include development of a national costed implementation plan, forecasting and quantification, logistics management information system (LMIS) inclusion, training of master trainers, training of health care providers, clinical mentoring, clinical experience, peer-to-peer education, non-promotional education materials such as job aids, domestic resource mobilization, pre-service curriculum development or training, or implementation pilots to inform medicine introduction and scale-up approach.

Due to the time-limited nature of the funding, research studies are ineligible.


Fund Parameters

  • Implementing timeframe up to nine months from contract signature. 

  • Funding ceiling per application is a maximum of USD$100,000 including indirect costs, which should not exceed 12%. However, there is no limit to the number of distinct applications that can be submitted per applicant. 

  • Applicants must be able to provide audited financial statements or complete a financial statement questionnaire if requested. 



How to apply

Application Templates and Information  

Please consult the COF Overview resource and Application Templates below for more information. When ready, submit your application package to the COF Administrator at COF@clintonhealthaccess.org

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the submission deadline for applications?

There is no deadline to apply. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the funds are exhausted

When can I expect a response to my application?

We expect the end-to-end process from application to approval to take approximately two months. The variance will depend on when the application is submitted and how quickly questions (if applicable) from your application are addressed. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. 

How will my application be scored and reviewed?

Applications will be reviewed by MSD for Mothers, RHSC, CHAI, and one partner with relevant expertise, according to the scoring criteria available in the COF Overview resource. 

Can you fund medicines/commodities?

No, these funds are intended for preparatory scale-up activities. Other commodity funding mechanisms, such as domestic initiatives, the UNFPA New and Lesser Used Commodity Fund, and others are available. 

  • Through the UNFPA Supplies Programme, there is a global pool of funds called the New and Lesser Used Commodity Fund available for eligible country governments to request donated commodities for the introduction and scale-up of new and lesser-used commodities. Interested applicants can inquire about these funds from their local UNFPA country office. 

Why is funding capped at $100,000?

The maximum funding amount is intended to drive for short-term and catalytic focus. Applicants can submit multiple distinct applications for additional funding. 

For all other questions, please contact the COF Administrator at COF@clintonhealthaccess.org.

* MSD for Mothers is an initiative of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.
** Any proposal funded by MSD for Mothers will need to accept branding guidelines that include the usage of the RHSC and MSD for Mothers names and logos.

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