Strengthening Health Financing and Private Sector Engagement within the Combi Track

In April 2026, Task Force Health Care (TFHC) visited Nairobi as part of the Combi Track Kenya, focusing on identifying financing opportunities, strengthening private sector collaboration, and preparing the next steps of health partnerships between the Netherlands and Kenya.

What we did

During our mission, we were able to accomplish valuable new connections and From 8 to 11 April, Micha van Lin and Helena Pluimes engaged with a wide range of stakeholders, including public institutions, private sector representatives, faith-based organisations, and development partners. The programme focused on aligning priorities between Kenyan stakeholders and Dutch innovators, identifying concrete collaboration opportunities, and strengthening the foundation for future activities.

Key meetings included with Rebel Group to define the scope of a new financing assignment, and with Willow Health Media to shape a communication strategy that strengthens the positioning of the Combi Track approach in Kenya. Engagements with organisations such as Jacaranda Health and Insight Health Advisors provided insights into ongoing maternal and child health (MCH) programmes and innovation scaling efforts, related to exploring the potential of a collective Combi Track approach in MCH.

In addition, TFHC met with key private and faith-based umbrella organisations, including the Kenya Healthcare Federation (KHF), the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA), and the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK). A roundtable session brought together Dutch and Kenyan stakeholders to align on priorities, financing challenges, and opportunities for collaboration.

Key Insights

A central outcome of the visit is the need for a more structured understanding of healthcare financing. While multiple funding streams exist, from domestic budgets to international and multilateral programmes, these are often difficult to navigate for organisations looking to scale. Together with Rebel Group, TFHC will therefore update the existing financing overview into a more practical and accessible overview of financing opportunities, including instruments, timelines, and entry points.

The visit also highlighted the critical role of the private and faith-based sector, which together deliver a significant share of healthcare services in Kenya. These actors are essential for scaling innovations, yet face challenges related to procurement, financing, maintenance, and long-term business cases. Building a structured collaboration approach with these stakeholders will be a key focus moving forward.

Another important insight relates to the gap between innovation and implementation. While many solutions are successfully piloted, scaling remains constrained by financing barriers, reimbursement pathways, and alignment with national systems such as the Social Health Authority (SHA). Addressing these challenges requires not only strong solutions, but also a clear understanding of how they fit within the broader health system.

Why this matters

The Combi Track plays a key role in connecting Dutch innovations and expertise to local needs and priorities. As Kenya continues to advance its universal health coverage agenda and reform its healthcare financing system, there is a growing need for solutions that are not only innovative, but also financially and operationally viable for all stakeholders involved.
By focusing on financing, private sector engagement, and long-term partnerships, the Combi Track helps ensure that collaborations move beyond pilots and contribute to sustainable impact within the Kenyan health system.

What’s Next?

Building on the visit, TFHC will further develop the financing assignment with Rebel Group, translating insights into a concrete and actionable financing overview for Dutch organisations. In parallel, collaboration with Willow Health Media will support more consistent storytelling and visibility for the Combi Track.
The outcomes of this visit will also feed into upcoming activities, including an incoming visit from Kenyan stakeholders to the Netherlands later in 2026 and outgoing visit related to an existing event in beginning 2027. These engagements will focus on deepening partnerships, facilitating matchmaking, and accelerating implementation and scale.