Guinea-Bissau
GaneshAID provided participatory technical assistance for zero-dose child identification and Gavi funding application support — helping the Ministry of Health reach the most excluded children through evidence-based, Human Centred Design approaches.
Key Immunisation and Health System Challenges
Guinea-Bissau faces significant challenges in reaching zero-dose and under-immunised children, with geographic isolation, fragile health infrastructure and limited data systems creating persistent equity gaps. As one of the world's least developed countries, the health system requires targeted support to identify where unvaccinated children are concentrated and why they remain unreached.
GaneshAID provided technical assistance as part of a structured eight-country zero-dose programme, supporting Guinea-Bissau in building the analytical foundation for a Gavi funding application — combining desk review, primary data collection and participatory solution design with national stakeholders.
Nearly 10 million children per year receive no vaccines globally — 13% of each birth cohort. Guinea-Bissau's zero-dose children are disproportionately concentrated in geographically isolated and underserved communities, requiring tailored, context-specific interventions.
GaneshAID Support in Guinea-Bissau
Zero-dose child identification and barrier analysis
Primary and secondary analysis responding to all key analytical questions from Gavi's Zero-Dose Analysis Cards ("identify" section). Additional qualitative data collection conducted where the country context required it. Analysis covered geographic coverage gaps, demand-side barriers, supply-side constraints and systemic factors — differentiated by community typology (conflict zones, rural, urban informal, mobile populations).
HCD ideation sessions for tailored solutions
Interactive ideation sessions facilitated in-person and/or remotely using Human Centred Design methodology. Sessions brought together Ministry of Health staff, EPI teams, NGOs, local CSOs and humanitarian actors to co-design new, tailored and sustainable solutions directly addressing identified barriers to reaching zero-dose children. Documentation of minutes, action items and follow-up assurance throughout.
Gavi funding application development
Development of a complete set of prioritised, sustainable programmatic interventions reflected in: (1) Theory of Change for Gavi investments; (2) the supporting country application narrative; and (3) the submitted work plan, budget and Monitoring & Learning Plan. All applications developed under Ministry of Health leadership with full EPI stakeholder engagement.
Operational Contributions and System Improvements
As part of an eight-country zero-dose programme, applications were developed successfully under the leadership of the Ministry of Health, with full engagement of EPI stakeholders including NGOs, local CSOs and humanitarian actors. The participatory approach built national analytical capacity beyond the immediate application cycle.
Ministry-led applications
All applications developed under Ministry of Health ownership — national propositions, not donor-driven products.
Differentiated barrier analysis
Zero-dose typologies and barriers identified by context: conflict zones, rural areas, urban settlements and mobile populations.
HCD-validated solutions
Tailored programmatic interventions co-designed with national stakeholders and validated through participatory ideation.
Partners and Ecosystem in Guinea-Bissau
Part of an eight-country zero-dose programme
This engagement is one of eight countries where GaneshAID provided participatory technical assistance for Gavi funding applications. The multi-country programme covered EAF, HSS, CCEOP and FPP funding streams, building a replicable model for equity-focused zero-dose programme design across fragile and low-resource contexts.