Private Sector Engagement for Sustainable Development Impact
URC, working with private-sector company Molbio Diagnostics Ltd., expanded and improved TB screenings in isolated and disadvantaged areas in the Philippines. Using ultraportable X-rays powered by AI and Truenat mobile testing, the time from test to diagnosis was reduced to a single day. (Photo credit URC)
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Global development financing and implementation models are changing rapidly. Public funding is increasingly constrained, while private capital, innovation, and expertise are playing a decisive role in delivering sustainable health and development outcomes. Governments and donors are prioritizing solutions that mobilize market forces, expand economic opportunity, and reduce long-term dependence on aid. URC’s Private Sector Engagement (PSE) approach addresses this shift by aligning public priorities with private-sector incentives. Designed to resonate with business and government decision-makers alike, this Signature Product leverages URC’s technical credibility, market fluency, and global experience to unlock private investment, strengthen services, and deliver measurable, durable impact.
Approach
URC’s Private Sector Engagement Signature Product is built around a disciplined, repeatable framework structured around mutually beneficial solutions between the private sector and core development actors. It embeds the private sector as a core partner in development solutions—not an afterthought. At the heart of the approach is URC’s “Five I’s” Framework, which systematically moves engagements from awareness to sustained implementation.
URC engages the private sector early to strategically align development priorities with commercial and institutional interests, establishing a shared value proposition grounded in risk management and opportunity identification. Through structured engagement, URC facilitates alignment among stakeholders around roles, incentives, and long-term objectives. This foundation enables collaborative concept development that leverages private-sector capabilities across financing, delivery, and innovation ecosystems.
How It Works
URC applies a structured, repeatable Five I’s Framework to integrate the private sector as a strategic partner—not a supplemental actor.
1. Inform
URC engages private-sector actors early to establish a clear business case. Engagement focuses on market opportunity, operational efficiency, risk management, and performance outcomes.
2. Ideate
URC co-designs solutions with partners using market intelligence and operational insight. Designs reflect real-world constraints, pricing signals, and delivery models.
3. Innovate
Private-sector capabilities in technology, service design, digital tools, and operations are applied to solve system bottlenecks and improve efficiency.
4. Invest
URC mobilizes private investment, domestic capital, and in‑kind resources to expand scale and sustainability.
5. Implement
Solutions are integrated into national systems, regulatory environments, and service networks to ensure accountability, continuity, and long-term adoption.
What differentiates URC’s approach is its emphasis on accountability and execution. Engagements are structured to improve performance—not just participation. URC embeds governance, continuous quality improvement, and data-driven decision-making to ensure private-sector participation strengthens access and quality while managing risk and stimulating the introduction of innovative solutions. The approach is adaptable across health, economic growth, trade, and stabilization contexts and is designed to progressively reduce reliance on donor funding while increasing local ownership and self-reliance.
As a private company, URC brings commercial rigor and executive-level discipline to partnership management—combining technical credibility with business acumen and operational focus. The result is a scalable, repeatable approach that helps clients deliver outcomes efficiently, attract investment responsibly, and reduce reliance on time‑bound external support.
Outcomes
This Signature Product delivers results by aligning incentives, enforcing accountability, and applying market discipline to complex systems for long-term, scalable impact.
URC Clients Can Expect:
Clients gain scalable solutions that deliver value, manage risk, and perform over time. This approach enables governments and funders to do more with limited resources—delivering “more money for health, and more health for the money.”
Examples of Success
Jordan – Strengthening Maternal and Reproductive Health through PSE
URC applied the “Five Is” approach to engage private hospitals, pharmacies, professional associations, and technology firms to improve maternal and child health. Seven private hospitals launched quality improvement initiatives, while more than 2,400 providers completed accredited communication training and over 400 completed respectful maternity care training. Partnerships with private firms enabled obstetric ultrasound training for 173 providers, strengthening early detection and referral systems nationwide.
Philippines – Expanding TB Detection with Private Providers and Technology
Through the MOVE-IT initiative, URC partnered with private providers and companies to expand TB detection and care. URC linked 273 private providers to GeneXpert testing sites, resulting in a 33% increase in TB case detection. Private-sector partners supported AI-enabled portable X-ray deployment and workplace screening programs, screening over 45,000 workers and identifying 140 TB cases.
