Hygiene and Behaviour Change Coalition (HBCC) – Oxygen CoLab Phase 2

The Oxygen CoLab was set up initially as one of four thematic areas under “COVIDAction”, established when the FCDO reached out to DT Global’s Frontier Technologies programme to help source and support innovations to meet their pandemic response. The pandemic highlighted that products such as oxygen concentrators are not designed to work in low resource settings and that national governments across Africa and Asia do not have the funding to afford good oxygen delivery leading to an inequity in oxygen access around the world. Every year over 700,000 babies and young children die prematurely from pneumonia because they do not have access to oxygen in low-resource-settings. Since the end of the pandemic the programme has looked to accelerate global access to oxygen in low-resource-settings, taking on the systemic problem from multiple angles. The Programme is based on a CoLab approach, with the “Co” standing for collaboration, bringing together groups that have influence, expertise, funding, and other essential contributions and the “Lab” being the testing of assumptions and generating evidence for the world to learn from to unlock future progress. Phase 2 will see the team use a mix of targeted grant funding and technical assistance to: 1. Support manufacturers to develop products that are more suited to low resource settings. The team is working closely to support UNICEF’s $8m Advanced Market Commitment, using research and development grants and testing current and innovative products to encourage innovation and to improve oxygen concentrators globally. 2. Test business and delivery models such as “pay as you go Oxygen” that can both incentivise the manufacturers to build products for Africa and Asia and can help hospitals afford to provide oxygen. 3. Build a global movement, bringing together governments, NGOs, and the private sector to help make changes in the funding and regulations around Oxygen to help create greater access.