Partnerships
The Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) works with partners to strengthen local health systems and improve health outcomes in underserved Filipino communities. We welcome partners who share our vision of a healthier, more equitable Philippines.
What We Do
By building the capacity of local government leaders, ZFF acts as a catalyst to improve health outcomes for all Filipinos. ZFF envisions equitable access to reliable, efficient, and resilient primary health care, achieved through better governance of local health systems.
Cognizant of the local governments’ role in the local health system, ZFF supports capacity development of governors, mayors, their health committees and health workers, and other community leaders. Our work combines a whole of systems approach in developing local government capacity, using the 70-20-10 framework of training (10%), coaching and mentoring (20%) and practical application of knowledge (70%).
Starting with a prototype in 72 municipalities in 2008, ZFF’s work with partners from government, development organizations, and academic institutions reached 774 municipalities, 24 cities, and 47 provinces as of the end of 2025.
In our current 2022-2031 strategy, we continue to build local government capacity through key work areas in Local Health Systems, Nutrition Governance, and Adolescent and Youth Sexual Reproductive Health (AYSRH).
Local Health Systems
Since 2008, ZFF’s work has focused on improving local health systems. Focusing on health financing, data management, and service delivery improvements by community health workers, ZFF boosts the governance capabilities of provincial and city leaders and their teams through scaled interventions and communities of practice.
Strengthening access to primary health care is a central component of the Bayang Malusog program. Its focus extends to public health initiatives addressing non-communicable diseases (hypertension and diabetes screening and management), infectious diseases (HIV, TB), and maternal and child health services.
We look for partners interested to collaborate/ engage with us on:
- Capacity building for provincial governors and health teams on Universal Health Care, primary health care strengthening and financing of public health programs, or service delivery in programmatic areas of non-communicable diseases (hypertension, diabetes), infectious diseases (HIV, TB), and maternal and child health services
- Knowledge development (research, policy advocacy) and peer learning among provincial governments and academic institutions through communities of practice on public health governance
Nutrition
ZFF’s Pook Malusog program aims to bolster nutrition governance at all local government levels. This includes enhancing capacities in local governance structures, planning, and financing, and delivery of essential services for pregnant women and children aged 0-5.
Key focus area is in local maternal and child health and nutrition systems. This is specifically tailored to the capacity of local governments to put into effect the First 1000 Days (F1KD) Act and the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Systems Act towards reducing stunting and wasting in young children and improving the nutritional health of pregnant women.
We look for partners interested to collaborate/ engage with us on:
- Capacity building for provincial governors and health teams on nutrition governance and financing
- Support enhancing local government capabilities (provinces, cities, municipalities) in managing health and nutrition data and financing of maternal and child nutrition programs
- Enhancing capacities of public health facilities and community workers managing data of pregnant women and children (0-5 years old)
- Knowledge development (research, policy advocacy) and peer learning among provincial governments and academic institutions through communities of practice in nutrition governance
Adolescent and Youth Sexual Reproductive Health
ZFF has been working with partners on strengthening local government capacity for reproductive health and family planning, empowering youth leaders to tackle adolescent pregnancy. Specific focus is on supporting improving local government capacities, including those of youth leaders to prevent unintended pregnancies among 15–19-year-olds.
ZFF will pilot test local governance interventions designed to safeguard and protect adolescents aged 10-14 thereby decreasing unintended pregnancies and establishing safer surroundings for their optimal development.
We look for partners interested to collaborate/ engage with us on:
- Capacity building for provincial governors and city/ municipal mayors and their health teams on health governance towards safeguarding and protecting adolescents from unintended pregnancies and HIV/STIs
- Supporting local government capacities towards integrated service delivery and delivery of high impact practices and interventions
- Primary health care financing for reproductive health
- Building resilient systems and response to reproductive and sexual health needs during extreme and severe weather events, and catastrophic natural disasters
- Knowledge development (research, policy advocacy) and peer learning among local governments and academic institutions on safeguarding and protecting adolescents, women’s sexual and reproductive health
Why We Want To Partner
ZFF understands that working effectively together can improve the health outcomes of vulnerable communities more rapidly.
Partners of ZFF include development agencies, academic institutions, civil society and non-government organizations, philanthropy, corporate foundations, government agencies, and local governments.
We aim to strengthen the capabilities of local government units. This allows them to better serve and deliver programs to vulnerable communities, families, women, and children. Our collaboration with government agencies is to guarantee continued support for strengthening local government capacity.
We partner with academic institutions, thought leaders, learning networks, and technical experts to share lessons learned and build upon current knowledge in local governance for health systems strengthening, nutrition governance, and AYSRH.
We build multi-sectoral alliances with other civil society organizations, partnership networks to effectively boost community health outcomes in alignment with local priorities
Our collaborative projects with development agencies, private sector and philanthropists involve piloting innovative solutions, contextualized capacity development, and scaling up high-impact interventions in local governments.