Faith & Community Initiative (FCI)

The Faith & Community Initiative is a first-of-its-kind consortium bringing together faith-based and humanitarian organizations to strengthen integrated health services and support long-term local leadership of those services. The initiative focuses on HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, nutrition, and related community health priorities.

FCI invests in and strengthens faith-based health networks that already provide essential healthcare services in underserved communities. By working through trusted local systems and partnerships, the initiative helps extend access to quality care while building long-term sustainability and local ownership. The initiative is coordinated with local governments and community groups and serves all people based on need.

• Expand access to high-quality integrated health services.
• Protect mothers and vulnerable children from infectious disease.
• Train and equip 30,000 community health workers.
• Connect more than 2,500 community sites through referral systems.
• Transition leadership of health services to local systems and leaders.
• Mobilize communities and partnerships to sustain progress beyond the life of the initiative.
• Prioritize vulnerable populations, including people living with HIV, pregnant and breastfeeding women, adolescent girls, and underserved communities facing barriers to healthcare.

The Faith & Community Initiative works alongside governments, faith-based organizations, healthcare providers, and communities to strengthen national and local health systems and improve access to quality healthcare. Through integrated approaches, the initiative supports:

• Integrated service delivery
• Laboratory system strengthening
• Health workforce development
• Supply chain improvements
• Digital health and data systems
• Technical assistance and mentorship
• Country ownership and sustainability efforts

A key focus of the initiative is supporting and equipping approximately 30,000 community health workers. These frontline providers help extend essential health services to underserved communities and serve as a critical link between households and the formal healthcare system. The initiative will strengthen training, supervision, and support systems while aligning efforts with national government priorities.

From the outset, FCI is designed with long-term sustainability in mind. Working with governments, healthcare providers, faith networks, and community organizations, the initiative will strengthen local capacity and support the gradual transition of leadership, management, and service delivery to local institutions and stakeholders. Through coordination with local governments and community partners, FCI helps build locally led health systems that can sustain progress beyond the life of the initiative.

At the center of the model is a hospital or larger health facility that serves as a "hub." The hub provides training, supervision, referrals, supplies, and technical support to a network of community clinics and health posts known as "spokes."

This system improves service quality, strengthens referral pathways, and helps ensure people in remote communities can access consistent healthcare services.