HSS Spotlight Briefs
The Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) Practice Spotlight series is an initiative of USAID’s Office of Health Systems. Practice Spotlight briefs discuss specific health systems strengthening approaches and how they were successfully applied in USAID-supported or other HSS program settings. By documenting approaches that work, Practice Spotlight briefs can inform strategic planning, program design, and implementation in the HSS space. The briefs support USAID’s Vision for Health System Strengthening 2030 and the accompanying Health System Strengthening Learning Agenda.
HSS Learning Agenda
Through the Health System Strengthening (HSS) Learning Agenda, the Bureau for Global Health, led by the Office of Health Systems (OHS), aims to improve health system strengthening programming by updating or generating, synthesizing, and disseminating evidence related to key HSS learning questions. The Learning Agenda will serve as a platform for continuous HSS learning and adaptation. Evidence from the implementation of the Learning Agenda will be used in the design and management of USAID health system strengthening strategies, programs, projects, and activities. OHS will regularly collate and share this evidence within the Agency and with our donor, implementer, government, private sector and civil society partners, to inform our collective efforts to support sustainable health systems.
HSS Vision 2030 (PDF) & Executive Summary
USAID’s ten-year vision is rooted in health system strengthening (HSS) approaches that are based on whole-of-society engagement, locally-driven solutions, and social and behavior change. Our new vision shifts the focus from strengthening individual functions—inputs or building blocks—of the health system to a focus on the health system outcome goals of equity, quality, and resource optimization. It also sets priorities and direction for USAID’s investments in HSS and represents a significant step forward in programming.
HPHC Tool
The goal of the High Performing Health Care System tool is to provide information about the functionality of health systems processes, functions, and intermediate outcomes.
HSS EGM
The Evidence Gap Map identifies existing literature examining the impact of health systems strengthening on health outcomes. Evidence is organized around USAID's Health System Strengthening Learning Agenda.
2023 HSS Case Competition winners & 2022 HSS Case Competition winners
The Case Competition is an opportunity for USAID staff and partners working on health system strengthening (HSS) activities to showcase the work they are doing and the impact that their activities are having on health systems and health outcomes. Using real-life examples, the Case Competition allows us to learn what does and does not work when implementing, institutionalizing, and scaling up health system programs and approaches. These case submissions help inform USAID and its partners’ ongoing work and contribute to learning syntheses and dissemination under the USAID HSS Learning Agenda to strengthen the global HSS evidence base.