Flexible Grant Schemes in Public Health: A Systematic Scoping Review

Abstract

Flexible grant schemes have emerged as an adaptive funding approach in public health, offering increased autonomy, adaptability, and responsiveness compared to traditional, rigid grant models. This systematic scoping review synthesized literature published between 2020 and 2023 to examine how flexible and microgrant programs are defined, implemented, and evaluated across diverse public health settings. Findings indicate that these schemes can enhance service delivery, community engagement, and sustainability of health interventions, with key success factors including stakeholder collaboration, staff capacity, clear communication, and alignment of program objectives. However, challenges such as inconsistent definitions of flexibility, limited empirical evidence on direct health outcomes, and administrative burdens remain. The study highlights the need for standardized evaluation frameworks and capacity building initiatives to optimize the effectiveness of flexible grant schemes and improve public health outcomes.