Health System Strengthening in Fragile States
Approximately two billion people live in fragile and conflict-affected situations, according to recent figures from the World Bank. None of these low-income, fragile countries was able to achieve a single Millennium Development Goal and progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals remains elusive.
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Findings from Research on Sexual Violence in Humanitarian Settings
Over the past decades, patterns of sexual violence in humanitarian settings have been influenced by a rise in conflict, mass displacement and disruption in the rule of law. Sexual violence is a form of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) that is present in all societies. SGBV and especially sexual violence are usually exacerbated by disruption of the social fabric resulting from conflict or natural disasters.
Read more about Findings from Research on Sexual Violence in Humanitarian Settings -
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How the world is tackling the deepening crisis unfolding in Afghanistan’s health system
In August this year, after the takeover by the Taliban, the funding that supported the health sector has been cut off. This, along with the mass exodus of trained personnel, has left the system on the brink of collapse.
Read more about How the world is tackling the deepening crisis unfolding in Afghanistan’s health system -
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Tailor-Made Training sur le concept et l’établissement d’une communauté de pratique
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Agribusiness Investments in Fragile States: Research with CASA
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Cash and Voucher Assistance for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Humanitarian Settings and Fragile States
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Health Pooled Fund
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Sexual Violence in Humanitarian Settings: Nigeria, Yemen and Haiti
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Psychological First Aid: A Crash Course
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FORCE (Formation Santé et Droits Sexuels et Reproductifs) – Mali
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Helping Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh
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STRENGTHS Project: Scaling Up Psychological Interventions with Syrian Refugees
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South Sudan Health Action and Research Project (SHARP)
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Addressing Governance, Gender and Disasters in a Fragile Health System
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Results-Based Financing for Maternal Health in Mali
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Afghan Health: Monitoring and Evaluation
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Improving Health Worker’s Performance in Liberia
Health in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations
Fragile states are generally defined as states with a weak capacity to carry out basic state functions such as service delivery. They lack the ability or political will to develop mutually constructive relations with society. This impairs the functioning of a country’s health system, its ability to change, and its capacity to extend access to health care services to its whole population.
In order to be effective, health programming in fragile situations must take context into account. Health governance can be improved and relations between the state and its citizens strengthened through, for example, social accountability mechanisms.
Like KIT, most development agencies now give more priority to fragile states and increasingly realise that standard approaches to development do not yield sufficient results. Policy and practice in this area are still evolving and our health professionals monitor developments continuously in order to enhance the effectiveness of our interventions, in tandem with our partners.
WHO Collaborating Centre
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated KIT Health as WHO Collaborating Centre for health systems in fragile and conflict affected contexts.
Our Services
KIT’s assistance on behalf of fragile countries and situations takes several forms:
- We provide technical expertise to governments and international agencies on strengthening health systems in fragile states
- We conduct operational research with an eye towards improved practices and innovation in health programming
- We coordinate the integration of service delivery with health system strengthening and operational research, translating into improved policies and practices
- We engage in networks to share ideas for context-specific solutions for fragile states
These experiences inform KIT’s health education activities, which include the training of higher-level management and policy staff in fragile states, as well as our tailor-made training programmes.
