Program Review of the Gates Foundation Multilateral Partnership Team (MLP)

Universalia has been contracted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to lead the review of the work of the BMGF’s Multilateral Partnership Team (MLP), and in particular, of its management of the foundation’s relationship with the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The overall purpose of the review is to provide recommendations to BMGF leadership on how the current partnership model with UNICEF and WHO meets the needs of the foundation and how it can be strengthened to improve the ability of the three organizations to reach their respective goals. Universalia’s approach draws on a theory-of-change reconstruction for the work of the MLP; a portfolio review of BMGF-funded work with UNICEF and WHO; in-depth tripartite consultations; a horizontal review of good practices in relationship management and organisational capacity development; a comparator study of the partnership practices of major philanthropic foundations; and a participatory evidence restitution workshop.