ALSF Book Sprint on Health Financing: How We Authored a User Guide in 5 Days

In our ongoing partnership, the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) now tackled one of Africa’s most pressing issues—sustainably financing national health systems. With the support of the Gates Foundation, a Book Sprint was held in Marrakesh, Morocco, from November 10 to 14, 2025, to develop a User Guide, hoping to guide and support African governments make strategic decisions to strengthen their health financing management. 

Bridging Finance and Health through the collaborative writing Book Sprint method

Throughout the years, the dual challenge of underfunded health systems and a rising tide of public health crises in African nations has been in question. Traditional funding is not proving enough so governments require new ways of thinking. 

The ALSF needed a resource that went beyond theory: a toolkit that ministries of finance and health can use to navigate complex instruments like Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), debt swaps, and health-focused bonds. Because the ALSF is in constant contact with African states, they knew that the standard, slow publishing route, would not suffice. The structure and the speed of a Book Sprint allowed them to capture the knowledge of experts from the US, Central Asia, and Africa, and distill it into a digital format that could be immediately applied on the ground.

The Challenge: Navigating Silos, Skepticism, and the Unexpected

For a resource as critical as this User Guide, it is a requirement to have expertise represented and drawn from various sectors including the academia, law firms, global health organizations, and advisory practices. This, on top of the naturally intensive rapid writing process, presented some challenges that tested the group’s resilience.

The first challenge for this ALSF group is bridging that natural divide between specializations. With the room split between financial expertise and public health knowledge, authors initially focused on their domains, ensuring accuracy in their fields. When the financial advisors and health experts had to edit and refine each other’s work, as part of the Book Sprint method, the authors needed a significant shift in perspective to ensure a unified voice. 

There was also an initial hesitation about the speed of the process. The experts were accustomed to the length of their development cycles so they wondered if a complex, comprehensive guide could be produced in five days. 

On top of these, the group faced unexpected challenges with a wave of illness affecting nearly half the authors during the week and an allergic reaction caused by a stray cat appearing in the meeting room.

Turning Friction into Insight

All these challenging elements combined with the naturally high-pressure environment of a Book Sprint made the authors’ success even more impressive.

Despite the natural skepticism, the experts allowed the method and facilitation to guide their thoughts and actions. This openness is crucial in reaching the finish line. Alysa Khouri, Book Sprints facilitator, guided the participants in embracing the discomfort of cross-editing. By pushing financial experts to review health content and vice versa, the team was pushed to widen their professional horizons. Bankers understood the constraints of health ministries and health officials grasped the realities of debt management. This did not just improve the text, but created a more holistic guide.

Eventually, the authors became a cohesive unit. The trust in the process grew and allowed for quick progress in writing. This speed compensated for when the group lost time with the health concerns. 

What’s next?

The result of this Book Sprint is not a printed book destined for a shelf, but a dynamic, digital toolkit designed for widespread online access. The guide breaks down legal and structural complexities into modular, actionable advice.

Beyond the content, the Sprint fostered professional camaraderie. Participants who previously knew each other only by reputation are now planning reunions in Paris and London, which is proving to be a great intangible from the intense week of writing. 

The guide is set to be presented at a major conference in quarter two of 2026, ready to help African governments secure the financing they need.

Ready to break down silos and produce actionable content at speed? If your organization needs to turn complex expertise into a practical resource, a Book Sprint might be your solution. Contact us today to learn how we can facilitate your next big project.