Product Development and Access Partnerships: Call for Organisations

Deadline: 20-Apr-23

The Australian Government, through the Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security (CHS or Centre) which sits within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT’s) Global Health Division, is seeking proposals for the Product Development and Access Partnerships under the Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative (PHR).

The predecessor to the PHR, the $300 million Health Security Initiative for the Indo-Pacific Region (HSI), 2017-2022, aimed to reduce risks associated with emerging and endemic infectious diseases with the potential to cause social or economic harm on a national, regional or global scale. The HSI supported four Product Development Partnerships (PDPs). Additional PDP investments were made by DFAT to support partner governments’ COVID-19 prevention and response strategies.

Up to AUD75 million will be made available over five years (2022-23 to 2026- 27) for activities supported through the Product Development and Access Partnerships program under PHR. In addition to funding for core research and development activities, this competitive process will also encourage PDPs to address product access barriers. This could include working with a range of partners such as international and local NGOs, specialists in the development of treatment guidelines, or agencies specialising in de-risking the procurement of medicines or health technologies by developing countries to reduce product prices and facilitate supply.

Operational Objectives

The Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative’s goal is to help build resilient and equitable health systems in the Indo-Pacific region, capable of progressively reducing disease burdens and responding effectively to health emergencies.
The strategic objective of the PHR is that Australia is a trusted health partner in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, with stronger institutional linkages and high value placed on the public health expertise. The Competitive Application process for Product Development and Access Partnerships seeks to meet this goal through a focus on research and product development and to further drive access to these new products in the Pacific and Southeast Asia region.
- Intermediate outcomes (provisional) specific to Product Development and Access Partnerships that are to be achieved are as follows:
  - Intermediate Outcome 1: New products targeting diseases in scope are trialled in partner countries.
  - Intermediate Outcome 2: New products targeting diseases in scope receive marketing authorisation at global level and in partner countries.
  - Intermediate Outcome 3: Guidelines and policy documents are updated stating acceptability of new products at global level and in partner countries.
  - Intermediate Outcome 4: New products are included in the Global Fund Procurement Database and/or similar procurement tools or instruments.
  - Intermediate Outcome 5: Volume of product distributed in the partner countries increases.
- End of Program Outcomes (EOPOs) (provisional) specific to Product Development and Access Partnerships that are to be achieved by 2027 are as follows:
  - EOPO 1: Increased development, trialling, registration of, access to and take up of new or modified drugs, diagnostics, vaccines and vector control tools for use in partner countries.
  - EOPO 2: More effective engagement with national Governments, relevant donors, multilaterals and global institutions.
  - EOPO 3: Demonstrated prioritisation of GEDSI within product design, target audience, trial design, purpose and characteristics as relevant to disease burden

Funding Information

The proposal budget is within the indicative range of AUD5 million to AUD20 million over five years.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Organisations are PDPs, other Not-for-Profit Organisations and incorporated entities. Only PDPs may receive standalone funding. Other organisations may participate in or lead consortiums, provided such consortiums include at least one PDP.
Eligible Organisations may be involved in multiple consortiums and proposals.
Should two or more Eligible Organisations wish to enter a consortium together, one partner must be nominated as a Lead Organisation.
If successful, the Lead Organisation will be accountable for all funds. A DFAT Funding Agreement will be signed with the Lead Organisation, and the Lead Organisation will be responsible to DFAT for the performance of the consortium under the Agreement to achieve the objectives as required.
Consortium proposals must be accompanied by a separate letter from each participating organisation providing information about itself, noting the relationship between the Lead Organisation and participating organisation(s) and expressing the intent to collaborate.
DFAT reserves the right to reassess any proposal if, following submission, the membership of a successful consortium proposal changes, including withdrawing consortium organisation member(s).
Organisations submitting proposals must not have any reason preventing them from operating in Southeast Asia, the Pacific or Australia.
Individuals with conflicting commitments and/or current or Former DFAT Employees must not be included in the proposal or engaged in proposal activities. DFAT may reject any proposal which does not comply.
Proposals compiled with the assistance of current DFAT employees or Former DFAT Employees will be excluded from consideration.

For more information, visit Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.