Pete Baker
banner
peterbaker17.bsky.social
Pete Baker
@peterbaker17.bsky.social
Global health, health financing, priority setting. @CGDev Deputy Director & Policy Fellow.

iDSI Deputy Director. NICE Committee Member. Ex DFID. Views are mine.
Reposted by Pete Baker
Reposted by Pete Baker
1st edition of our @cgdev.org series "Tough Times, Tough Choices" is hot off the press

Facing budget cuts, we argue WHO's leadership must chart a path of retrenchment to a lean @who.int for the global good

w/ @peterbaker17.bsky.social & @rachelbonnifield.bsky.social

www.cgdev.org/publication/...
A Lean World Health Organization for the Global Good
In this brief—the first in the Tough Times, Tough Choices series that will target the major global health and development institutions and their funders—we propose a different approach: radically stre...
www.cgdev.org
July 10, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Excited to have contributed to a special issue of BMJ Evidence Based Medicine, summarising India’s experience of institutionalizing health technology assessment, with valuable lessons for other LMICs.
Read on @cgdev.org
bit.ly/4h2UGGC
Celebrating Ten Years of the international Decision Support Initiative
Over the last decade, iDSI has partnered with countries to develop evidence-informed priority-setting institutions and processes. Read our blog for a summary of key successes, challenges, and lessons ...
bit.ly
June 10, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Reposted by Pete Baker
"The goal must be rapid transformation of Gavi & the Global Fund toward an approach that is more sustainable, efficient, empowering, and resilient to future shocks."

@peterbaker17.bsky.social‬ & @jmadankeller.bsky.social‬ on the Gavi & Global Fund replenishment cycle:
Gavi and the Global Fund Replenishments: Donors Must Demand Real Reform
In the midst of a global health funding crisis, Gavi and the Global Fund are seeking substantial replenishments: $9 billion over five years and $18 billion over three years, respectively (Figure 1).…
www.cgdev.org
June 9, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Reposted by Pete Baker
Gavi and the Global Fund are seeking substantial replenishments in an uncertain fundraising environment.

@peterbaker17.bsky.social & @jmadankeller.bsky.social argue that this replenishment cycle is the moment for donors to push for real and long-overdue reform💡⬇️
www.cgdev.org/blog/gavi-an...
Gavi and the Global Fund Replenishments: Donors Must Demand Real Reform
In the midst of a global health funding crisis, Gavi and the Global Fund are seeking substantial replenishments: $9 billion over five years and $18 billion over three years, respectively (Figure 1). B...
www.cgdev.org
June 3, 2025 at 2:47 PM
New @cgdev.org blog.

@jmadankeller.bsky.social & I ask: can donors and the AU tie the replenishments of @GlobalFund and @gavi to real reform, in line with Lusaka Agenda? Empowering countries & building sustainable health systems that can withstand aid volatility?

www.cgdev.org/blog/gavi-an...
Gavi and the Global Fund Replenishments: Donors Must Demand Real Reform
In the midst of a global health funding crisis, Gavi and the Global Fund are seeking substantial replenishments: $9 billion over five years and $18 billion over three years, respectively (Figure 1). B...
www.cgdev.org
May 28, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Reposted by Pete Baker
At a #WHA78 side event, countries shared how #HealthTaxes can fund systems & save lives.

Read highlights from Tonga, Thailand, Ghana & the Philippines, plus reflections from @HelenClarkNZ, WHO & partners: ahpsr.who.int/newsroom/new...
May 20, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Reposted by Pete Baker
💸 Health taxes save lives and raise revenue – so why aren’t more countries using them?

Join us 19 May, 12:00–14:00 in Geneva during #WHA78 to explore barriers & opps for #HealthTaxes w/ leaders incl. @HelenClarkNZ, Ana Akauola & @AlisonDDCox.

Register > ahpsr.who.int/newsroom/eve...
May 8, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Uk aid cuts even worse/sooner than expected
Today's spring statement quietly revealed that the vast majority of the aid cut the PM announced for 2027 will actually happen in 2026.

In fact, 2026/27 will see a 27% cut. That is steeper than the Boris Johnson aid cut in 2021.

A short thread on the figures:
March 27, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Reposted by Pete Baker
Thrilled to see our analysis covered in @economist.com! US foreign aid cuts will have a devastating impact on health systems around the world.

@cgdev.org @peterbaker17.bsky.social
March 13, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Reposted by Pete Baker
I've written a blog post looking at how US AID cuts could impact drug resistance to TB drugs, and intern then negative long term consequences this could have for Americans.

www.cgdev.org/blog/tubercu...
Tuberculosis Doesn’t Respect Borders—US Aid Cuts Could Fuel a Global Health Crisis
Reducing access to vital treatments against drug-resistant TB will likely pose huge risks for everyone, including Americans. The 90-day freeze on most aid while this assessment is carried out causes r...
www.cgdev.org
February 25, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Reposted by Pete Baker
"The UK government will cut spending on development assistance from 0.5% to 0.3% in 2027 to fund the greater investment in defence", Prime Minister Keir Starmer says.
 
@cgdev.org’s @ianmitchell1.bsky.social responds:
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer just cut the UK aid budget from 0.5% of GNI to 0.3% in 2027 to fund increases in defence spending.

He says he’s making tough choices, but cutting funding for the world’s poorest people is the easiest—and cruellest—choice he could make (1/4)
February 25, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Trump’s actions are triggering a global health financing crises. We need an emergency response. But what to prioritise?

In this @cgdev.org blog we identify 26 countries that are most vulnerable & least able to respond, and discuss 3 options for funders.

👇

www.cgdev.org/blog/26-coun...
26 Countries Are Most Vulnerable to US Global Health Aid Cuts. Can Other Funders Bridge the Gap?
In this blog, we conceptualise this as a health system shock, present a back-of-the-envelope assessment of LMICs that are most exposed, and discuss possibilities for short-term policy responses from o...
www.cgdev.org
February 25, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Reposted by Pete Baker
Since merging w/ the Foreign Office & the creation of FCDO, the UK no longer has the reputation as a value for money champion.💷

To help rethink the approach to maximizing VFM, @tomldrake.bsky.social & @peterbaker17.bsky.social provide six recommendations for the FCDO ⬇
bit.ly/3QumZTA
Achieving Value for Money in Global Development: Six Recommendations for the FCDO
As part of a wave of public reviews and consultations, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a call for inputs on reforming how it thinks about the value for money…
bit.ly
February 21, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Reposted by Pete Baker
NEW: @ianmitchell1.bsky.social & @samhugh3s.bsky.social find a 1 year US aid freeze could trigger an economic shock of 1% of GNI in 23 economies—with 8 countries, incl. South Sudan, Somalia & Ethiopia, facing a devastating 3%+ hit.
Which other countries could step up?
www.cgdev.org/blog/which-c...
Which Countries Are Most Exposed to US Aid Cuts; And What Other Providers Can Do
While it is still unclear how long the current freeze on US foreign aid will last, and when and where it might resume, it seems the US, under the second Trump administration, may be ready to abandon i...
www.cgdev.org
February 11, 2025 at 12:01 PM
USAID crisis shows the global health golden age has become the age of donor instability.

A New Compact is needed to protect core services:

✅Countries prioritise & finance essential health services.
✅Donors acknowledge instability & top-up national plans.

@cgdev.org blog: cgdev.org/blog/decoupl...
Decoupling “Stop Work” Orders from “Stop Basic Care”: How New Aid Models Can Protect Countries from Unreliable External Financing
The Trump administration’s stop-work order highlights precisely why we need a new model for health aid—one in which domestic financing supports the highest priority, core health services. On 20 Januar...
cgdev.org
February 3, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Reposted by Pete Baker
The last week has been v bad for US foreign assistance -- and that's bad for America.

But there's still time for Secretary Rubio--who has a track record of supporting smart aid--to avert looming disaster and enact a *real* (and needed!) review and reform. Here's how:

www.cgdev.org/blog/changin...
Changing Course to a Good-Faith Aid Review: How Four Principles Could Advance the American Interest and Save Lives
Making the case for how to conduct a good-faith, smart aid review in service of the administration’s goals and the American people.
www.cgdev.org
January 28, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Reposted by Pete Baker
Trump is near certain to take an axe to family planning programs. These are likely very high ROI investments and UK aid should lean in

www.cgdev.org/blog/trumps-...
Trump’s Election Gives the UK a Clear Global Health Mission: Champion Family Planning and Reproductive Rights
The US role in global health appears increasingly uncertain as President-elect Trump prepares to enter the White House. While his previous term provides clues about future directions, evolving dynamic...
www.cgdev.org
January 16, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Reposted by Pete Baker
With Trump's inauguration just days away, many people are worried about what his second term will mean for global reproductive rights. In a new blog, my colleagues and I argue that the UK should step up to champion family planning and reproductive rights:
www.cgdev.org/blog/trumps-...
https://www.cgdev.org/blog/trumps-election-gives-uk-clear-global-health-mission-champion-family-planning-and-reproductive"
January 15, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Reposted by Pete Baker
The Trump admin is likely to step back from support for sexual & reproductive health & rights (SRHR) globally.

@katherineklemperer.bsky.social, @peterbaker17.bsky.social
& other experts argue that opens a space for the UK to step up and play a pivotal role for SRHR ⬇
www.cgdev.org/blog/trumps-...
Trump’s Election Gives the UK a Clear Global Health Mission: Champion Family Planning and Reproductive Rights
The US role in global health appears increasingly uncertain as President-elect Trump prepares to enter the White House. While his previous term provides clues about future directions, evolving dynamic...
www.cgdev.org
January 16, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Trump's election is a worrying day for family planning and reproductive rights. In this @cgdev.org blog we argue there is both a strong value for money case and a strong strategic case for the UK to step into the breach left by the US, and propose policy options for the UK:

👇
With Trump's inauguration just days away, many people are worried about what his second term will mean for global reproductive rights. In a new blog, my colleagues and I argue that the UK should step up to champion family planning and reproductive rights:
www.cgdev.org/blog/trumps-...
https://www.cgdev.org/blog/trumps-election-gives-uk-clear-global-health-mission-champion-family-planning-and-reproductive"
January 15, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Reposted by Pete Baker
With contributions from ReBUILD's Sophie Witter...
The Lusaka Agenda called for global health funds such as the Global Fund & Gavi to empower countries and align their financing with government systems. Today we outline 6 indicators that could track progress on this alignment.

www.cgdev.org/blog/money-t...
Money Talks: The Lusaka Agenda Financing Alignment Indicators
Just over a year ago, the Future of Global Health Initiatives process concluded with the publication of the Lusaka Agenda, which recognized that the current global health financing architecture needs ...
www.cgdev.org
January 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM
The Lusaka Agenda called for global health funds such as the Global Fund & Gavi to empower countries and align their financing with government systems. Today we outline 6 indicators that could track progress on this alignment.

www.cgdev.org/blog/money-t...
Money Talks: The Lusaka Agenda Financing Alignment Indicators
Just over a year ago, the Future of Global Health Initiatives process concluded with the publication of the Lusaka Agenda, which recognized that the current global health financing architecture needs ...
www.cgdev.org
January 9, 2025 at 4:03 PM