Results-based Financing (RBF) in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Programs in Low and Middle-income Countries (LMICs): A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

          Globally, results-based financing (RBF) has gained recognition as an ideal health financing mechanism, particularly among international donor agencies. Evidence to support the efficacy of RBF is indicative, but not conclusive, with various methodologies and tools being applied by different agencies to measure an impact of population health programs. The purpose of this paper is to offer a critical review of literature using specific evaluation reports, published articles, and unpublished documents on RBF evaluations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The focus is on the RBF schemes used to improve maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) outcomes. This study finds that current RBF evaluation methods are still predominantly quantitative. Few evaluation studies utilize qualitative evaluation tools that can explain the complex interactions between underlying political/institutional, economic, and social factors. This paper concludes that there is a need to transform the RBF model from a project financing mechanism to an institutionalized national health financing system.