The UK-based international health charity, THET, and the British Council, the UK’s international body for cultural relations have launched a pioneering funding scheme supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Department of Health.

The scheme is aimed at strengthening partnerships, or ‘links’, between UK health institutions and their counterparts in the developing countries. The International Health Links Funding Scheme (IHLFS) is a three-year scheme that provides grants and support for links.

The primary purpose of links is to build the capacity of developing countries’ health systems. Link activities can be very broad, and include training and capacity building for staff, providing practical skills, continuing professional development and curriculum development.

This scheme will greatly contribute to the UK’s commitment to international development. The IHLFS will be divided into small grants of up to 3,000 pounds for supporting the development of new and young links; medium grants of up to 15,000 pounds over one or two years, and large grants of up to 60,000 pounds per year for three years. Grants will be given to links that contribute to the achievement of priorities defined in the national health plans of target developing countries.

The British Council has been delivering international partnership work in support of development aims for nearly 30 years. The IHLFS is open to a wide range of not-for-profit health institutions including developing country hospitals, health training institutions or professional associations.