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An analysis of funding patterns in development assistance for mental health: who, when, what, and where

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 January 2021

Rebecca S. F. Gribble*
Affiliation:
Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
Bernhard H. Liese
Affiliation:
Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
Marisha N. Wickremsinhe
Affiliation:
University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Rebecca S. F. Gribble, E-mail: rsg70@georgetown.edu
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Abstract

Background

Mental health has recently gained increasing attention on global health and development agendas, including calls for an increase in international funding. Few studies have previously characterized official development assistance for mental health (DAMH) in a nuanced and differentiated manner in order to support future funding efforts.

Methods

Data from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Creditor Reporting System were obtained through keyword searches. Projects were manually reviewed and categorized into projects dedicated entirely to mental health and projects that mention mental health (as one of many aims). Analysis of donor, recipient, and sector characteristics within and between categories was undertaken cumulatively and yearly.

Findings

Between the two categories of official DAMH defined, characteristics differed in terms of largest donors, largest recipient countries and territories, and sector classification. However, across both categories there were clear and consistent findings: the top donors accounted for over 80% of all funding identified; the top recipients were predominantly conflict-affected countries and territories, or were receiving nations for conflict-affect refugees; and sector classification demonstrated shifting international development priorities and political drivers.

Conclusion

Across DAMH, significant amounts of funding are directed toward conflict settings and relevant emergency response by a small majority of donors. Our analysis demonstrated that, within minimal international assistance for mental health overall, patterns of donor, recipient, and sector characteristics favor emergency conflict-affected settings. Calls for increased funding should be grounded in understanding of funding drivers and directed toward both emergency and general health settings.

Information

Type
Original Research Paper
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press
Figure 0

Fig. 1. Ten largest donors for DAMH dedicated entirely to mental health by year, with a percentage of total DAMH dedicated entirely to mental health for 2006–2016 (in US$ millions).

Figure 1

Fig. 2. Ten largest donors for DAMH that mentions mental health by year, with a percentage of total DAMH that mentions mental health for 2006–2016 (in US$ millions). IDA, International Development Association; IBRD, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Figure 2

Fig. 3. Ten largest recipients of DAMH dedicated entirely to mental health by year, with a percentage of total DAMH dedicated entirely to mental health for 2006–2016 (in US$ millions). Note: All other recipients include 142 additional countries, territories, regions, and unspecified recipients.

Figure 3

Fig. 4. Ten largest recipients of DAMH that mentions mental health by year, with a percentage of total DAMH that mentions mental health for 2006–2016 (in US$ millions). Note: All other recipients include 145 additional countries, territories, regions, and unspecified recipients.

Figure 4

Fig. 5. Five largest OECD sector categories for DAMH dedicated entirely to mental health and all DAMH dedicated entirely to mental health by year, in US$ millions.

Figure 5

Fig. 6. Five largest OECD sector categories for DAMH that mentions mental health and all DAMH that mentions mental health by year, in US$ millions.

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