Rewards for Good Performance or Results: A Short Glossary of RBF *Updated March 2011

Results-Based Financing (RBF) has been defined as "a cash payment or non-monetary transfer made to a national or sub-national government, manager, provider, payer or consumer of health services after predefined results have been attained and verified. Payment is conditional on measurable actions being undertaken." (www.rbfhealth.org). RBF is an umbrella term because the definition is general and characterizes various programs in many countries. Different labels exist for essentially the same concept or are associated with different incentives and payment arrangements.

This is a short version of a longer essay and glossary that describes how different terms are used and points out significant distinctions among types of RBF programs: Financial and Other Rewards for Good Performance or Results: A Guided Tour of Concepts and Terms and a Short Glossary of RBF

This glossary was revised in March 2011, after its presentation and discussion at The World Bank.