Launched in 2023, Together for Health (Juntos pela Saúde, in portuguese) is an initiative of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), managed by the team at the Institute for the Development of Social Investment (IDIS).

In partnership with private donors, the Program seeks to gather funds to support and strengthen the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil.

The perspective is that, by 2026, approximately BRL 200 million non-reimbursable reais (BRL100 million from partners and BRL100 million from BNDES) will be allocated to health projects that aim to benefit care activities for populations living in these regions of the country, including primary care services; medium and high complexity services; urgent and emergency services and diagnostic support.

For every real donated by other institutions, BNDES contributes with another real, in a matchfunding style (see how you can donate).

Through these guidelines, the initiative is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, Health and Well-being; and 10, Reduction of Inequalities.

Who will receive funds from Together for Health?

The entities that can receive funds from the program are: private non-profit organizations (Philanthropic Health Units, for example) or public bodies, with the exception of the Federal Government or entities linked to it and that receive budgetary transfers for their maintenance. The health projects presented must be aligned with the premises of Together for Health and will be submitted for approval by the Validation Committee, made up of members of the BNDES and the Program’s Supporting Institutions, the latter participating exclusively in the meetings in which proposals are assessed that are donors.

What are the support modalities?

There are two main types of support: Notice and Structured Promotion.

Structured Promotion is a type of support aimed at carrying out health projects that adhere to the objectives and purposes of the Initiative, but which, due to their complexity or uniqueness, require prior structuring by IDIS. The minimum value for this types of projects must be BRL 2 million (BRL 1 million from the supporter and BRL 1 million from BNDES).

The Notice modality involves supporting health projects within the scope of the Initiative through public calls selections (Notices), whose themes must be approved by BNDES, with all sources of financial funds considered, before the selection is announced. The minimum support from interested partners for Notices is BRL 10 million (which, added to the BNDES matchfunding, will make the minimum amount for launching a notice a total BRL 20 million).

How will the funds be invested?

There are three investment possibilities:

Investment options are non-exclusive (one or the other). They can be combined, that is, a single project can simultaneously include all three investment possibilities.

It is important to highlight that are not eligible for support projects that:

a) are related to other public policies that act on social and economic determinants of health, such as basic sanitation, education, promotion of lifestyle and nutrition habits, even though they may have an impact on the health conditions of the population;

b) focus on health actions and services with restricted access, such as those linked to health plans or that involve any form of direct payment by the population to access them.

c) directly favor the private partner/supporting institution, or institutions linked to them.