IHLFS supports Links which are driven by the developing country partner. Links must benefit the developing country and be in line with national and district health plans.

A wide range of not-for-profit health institutions and organisations are eligible for IHLFS funding.

IHLFS awards three different types of grants:

Start up grants (up to £3,000 for a period of up to 6 months)

The final round for Start-up Grant funding has now closed.

The scheme focuses on Links that support the priorities set out in the national health plans of target developing countries.

Start-up Grants are open to health organisations and institutions in all DFID’s Public Service Agreement (PSA) countries working with partner institutions in the UK. PSA countries are:

Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Vietnam and Yemen.

To see a list of Start-up Grants that have been funded under IHLFS please click here

Project grants (up to £15,000 per year for one or two years)

The final round for Project Grant funding has now closed.

Project grants help existing Links carry out a needs assessment, develop plans for a larger initiative or carry out modest development programmes. Applications were considered once a year.

Project grants were available to health organisations and institutions in any of the 14 IHLFS target countries. Target countries for year one were:

Africa: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia.

Asia: Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan.

To see a list of Project grants that have been funded under IHLFS please click here

Large grants (up to £60,000 per year for up to three years)

The final round for Large Grant funding has now closed.

Large grants support strategic capacity building programmes implemented by 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 were only considered during the first year of the Scheme and are no longer available under the IHLFS.

Large grants were available to established Links with a proven track record, a strong partnership, and clear development plans, in any of the IHLFS target countries (see list under ‘Medium grants’).

To see a list of Large grants that have been funded under IHLFS please click here