PEPFAR May Improve Key Economic and Educational Outcomes, Not Just Health Outcomes

[Bob Noziglia]

Dear All,

I wanted to make sure to pass along this latest analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation (HERE) that in addition to promoting health outcomes, the landmark response to address HIV/AIDS may also help to grow per capita GDP and reduce the number of girls and boys who are out of school.

PEPFAR may have a direct economic stimulus effect. The aid program was associated with a 2.1 percentage point increase in the GDP per capita growth rate over the study period, compared to what would have been expected in the absence of the program. The program was also associated with a 9.2 percentage point decline in primary school-age girls not in school. The share of boys of primary school age who were out of school also declined by 8 percentage points in PEPFAR countries.  

These findings contribute to existing evidence that PEPFAR, which was not designed as an economic or educational program, has a positive impact on non-health outcomes. The findings also suggest that investments in vertical health programs—those focused on one issue or disease—can have knock-on effects that support broader economic development goals and improvements, which is vital in an era of constrained aid budgets.

For the analysis, researchers studied a data set of 157 low- and middle- income countries. The group included 90 countries that had received PEPFAR support and 67 counties that had received minimal or no PEPFAR support, between 2004 and 2018.

Best,

BN

Bob Noziglia | Advocacy Advisor

Christian Connections for International Health (USA) | www.ccih.org

mobile: +1-901.262.6246 | bob.no...@ccih.org

 

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