Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research

What Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research does

The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR) is an international partnership established in 1999 and hosted by the World Health Organization, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It operates as a research and knowledge-mobilization organization that supports the generation and use of evidence to strengthen health systems in low- and middle-income countries. Its primary constituencies are policymakers in LMIC ministries of health, health policy and systems researchers in LMIC academic and research institutions, and frontline health systems implementers. Engagement is delivered through grants, embedded implementation research, evidence synthesis, capacity-strengthening programs, regional knowledge-translation networks (KNOSA East and West Africa), the Alliance Alumni Network on LinkedIn, and convenings including WHA side events, the World Health Summit, and the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research.

AHPSR's core outputs are publications, frameworks, digital tools, and partnership initiatives rather than commercial products. Flagship offerings include the Annual Report series (2024 and 2025 editions covering 68 grants/17 projects/43 countries and 109 projects/41 countries respectively), the Health Reform Manual (an eight-step framework for designing, implementing, and evaluating health system reforms released in May 2026), the Alliance Impact Explorer (interactive tool showcasing change stories), the AI-Powered Search tool on the HPSR portal (natural language question-answering over Alliance-supported work), the AI-DLPI 'Teeka Seekho' platform (AI-driven capacity building for frontline vaccinators), and the three-year Digital Health Wallets partnership with WHO and Temasek Foundation targeting ASEAN countries. Research output includes 46 peer-reviewed journal articles in 2024 with 41% women lead authors, and the monthly podcast 'The Alliance Lift' launched in 2025.

Its business model is non-commercial. AHPSR is funded entirely through grants and institutional partnerships with WHO (host), UNICEF, Gavi, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Temasek Foundation, the Government of Norway, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, among others. All publications, digital tools, and research outputs are distributed free of charge via the WHO publications portal and IRIS repository. There is no commercial pricing model, no proprietary technology product, and no traditional ownership structure; the Alliance is governed by a Board (chaired by Rt Hon. Helen Clark), a Secretariat led by Executive Director Dr Kumanan Rasanathan, and a Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee.

Name

Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research

Legal name

Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research

Website

https://ahpsr.who.int

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research is a WHO-hosted international partnership that funds, generates, and translates evidence to strengthen health systems in low- and middle-income countries, serving policymakers, researchers, and implementers through grants, embedded research, frameworks, and digital tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Global Health Research and Policy

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations (HLAJAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health Systems Strengthening & Global Health Technical Assistance (BPADAEAH), Multilateral Global Health Partnerships (UN/WHO-led Initiatives) (HLAJAOAA), Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) for Global Health (HLAJAOAD)

Keywords

• Health policy research
• Health systems strengthening
• Embedded implementation research
• Evidence synthesis methods
• Global health partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant funding and institutional partnerships: The Alliance is funded through grants and institutional partnerships with major global health donors and governments. It receives support from organizations including WHO (as host), UNICEF, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Temasek Foundation, Government of Norway, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. As a partnership hosted by WHO, it operates as an international organization focused on advancing health policy and systems research rather than generating commercial revenue.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research is an international partnership hosted by WHO that advances health policy and systems research (HPSR) in low- and middle-income countries. It provides grant funding, technical support, and capacity strengthening to researchers and institutions, and produces publications, frameworks, and digital tools (including an AI-powered search, the Alliance Impact Explorer, and the KNOSA Knowledge to Policy framework) that connect research evidence to policy-making and health system reform.

Product overview

The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research is an international partnership hosted by WHO that functions as a research and knowledge mobilization organization rather than a traditional product company. Its offerings include annual reports documenting research activities and impact, the Health Reform Manual providing an eight-step reform framework, publications covering topics from health financing to embedded implementation research, the AI-Powered Search tool for knowledge retrieval, the Alliance Impact Explorer for tracking change stories, the Alliance Lift podcast for knowledge dissemination, the KNOSA framework for evidence-to-policy translation, and the Digital Health Wallets initiative for health credential portability. Together, these products and initiatives support the generation and use of evidence to strengthen health systems in low- and middle-income countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Report 2025 Annual report presenting the Alliance's activities, outputs and impact across 109 projects in 41 countries and territories, focusing on health policy and systems research to address priority challenges.
• Annual Report 2024 Annual report documenting 68 grants across 17 projects in 43 countries, 46 peer-reviewed journal articles, and 11 major meetings supported by the Alliance.
• Health Reform Manual Practical guidance manual providing an eight-step framework for designing, implementing and evaluating health system reforms grounded in health policy and systems research, for policymakers, advisors, and stakeholders engaged in health system strengthening.
• Sustaining Coverage in the Face of Health Financing Cliffs Meeting report from a March 2025 technical meeting exploring strategies to sustain essential health service coverage amid declining external aid and fiscal pressures.
• The Alliance Lift Podcast Monthly podcast featuring conversations with researchers, policy-makers and health systems implementers to share insights and experiences in health policy and systems research.
• AI-Powered Search on HPSR AI-powered search tool on the HPSR publications page allowing users to ask questions about Alliance-supported work and receive comprehensive answers in plain language.
• Alliance Impact Explorer Interactive tool showcasing stories of change and demonstrating how the Alliance catalyzes evidence-informed change to strengthen health systems.
• Alliance Alumni Network LinkedIn community connecting researchers, policy-makers and health systems implementers to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing in health policy and systems research.
• KNOSA (Knowledge to Policy Framework) Framework supporting knowledge translation and evidence-informed decision-making through institutional partnerships and embedded research approaches, with KNOSA networks operating in East and West Africa.
• Health Policy and Systems Research Funding Opportunities Grant funding opportunities managed by the Alliance for researchers and institutions conducting health policy and systems research in low- and middle-income countries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11 new policies adopted through KNOSA East Africa programme
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alliance is an international partnership hosted by WHO. WHO provides institutional hosting and administrative support, while the Alliance contributes to WHO's mission of advancing health policy and systems research globally.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UNICEF on embedding implementation research in health systems, particularly for immunization programmes. Collaborated on the Decision-maker Led Implementation Research for Immunization initiative alongside Gavi.
• Gavi, the Vaccine AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Gavi on embedded implementation research for immunization, supporting research teams to improve routine immunization programmes in low- and middle-income countries.
• Boston University School of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on the research and learning for health equity initiative, bringing expertise in public health research and convening global experts.
• WHO Department of Digital Health and InnovationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint interdisciplinary project on digital health interventions to strengthen health systems in LMICs, focusing on data solutions for primary care managers.
• WHO Department of Data, Digital Health, Analytics and AIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on the digital health wallets initiative alongside Temasek Foundation to help ASEAN countries implement interoperable digital health credentials.
• WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on governance of national public health agencies study, examining how governance arrangements shape emergency action across different countries.
• KNOSA Network Partners (Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional network supporting knowledge translation and evidence-informed policy-making, with partnerships across East Africa. Achievements include 11 new policies adopted, 15 technical briefs produced, and 64 institutions engaged.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TDR (Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases): Also a WHO-hosted research partnership based in Geneva that funds and coordinates research on infectious diseases of poverty in LMICs. Operates the same hosted-partnership model with donor funding, governance boards, and a focus on building research capacity in low- and middle-income countries.
• Results for Development (R4D): A global nonprofit that generates evidence and supports policymakers on health financing, health systems strengthening, and primary health care in LMICs. Highly comparable to the Alliance in focus on health policy and systems research, embedded country engagement, and donor-funded research delivery.
• Health Systems Global: An international membership society for the health policy and systems research community that the Alliance helped build. Both organizations convene the same researcher-policymaker-implementer community and co-organize the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research.
• HRP (Human Reproduction Programme): Another WHO-hosted partnership headquartered in Geneva that convenes researchers, policymakers, and implementers to generate and use sexual and reproductive health research. Directly comparable in governance, funding model, and mission to strengthen health systems through evidence.

Broad incumbents

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: A major financial partner of the Alliance and the largest philanthropic funder of global health research. Operates in the same evidence-to-policy space but at vastly greater scale, and frequently co-funds Alliance projects on digital health, primary health care, and NCDs.
• PATH: A global nonprofit that works on health systems strengthening, policy advocacy, and innovation across LMICs. Comparable in mission to advance health equity through evidence-informed approaches, though PATH operates as a much larger implementing NGO with broader programmatic reach.
• Wellcome Trust: One of the world's largest charitable foundations funding health research globally. While much broader in scope and budget, Wellcome funds health policy and systems research in LMICs and is a major participant in the same evidence-to-policy ecosystem as the Alliance.
• FHI 360: A large global development nonprofit that conducts and applies health systems and implementation research across LMICs. Comparable in mission to generate and use evidence for health policy and program improvement, with overlapping donor set and country footprint.

Emerging players

• Population Council: An international research nonprofit conducting biomedical, social science, and policy research on health and development in LMICs. Comparable as a research-generating organization working at the intersection of evidence and health policy, though with a narrower thematic focus.

Others

• Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance: A core strategic partner of the Alliance on embedded implementation research for immunization. Not a direct competitor, but operates a similar public-private-partnership model in the same global health architecture and serves overlapping LMIC ministry stakeholders.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AllianceHPSR
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClUSU1NbXqcoCxqoAsak_TA
• Facebookfacebook.com/allianceHPSR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alliance-hpsr

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research