KIT to present research from working in fragile settings at the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research
Our Advisors Eelco Jacobs and Heloise Widding, from the Health Systems Strengthening Team will be presenting at the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR2024), in Nagasaki, Japan, from 18 to 22 November.
The theme this year, “Building Just & Sustainable Health Systems: Centering People and Protecting the Planet,” will address key topics like health governance, planetary health, health justice and inclusion in conflict-settings, and knowledge for just health systems. These discussions and platform play a vital role in advancing health policy and systems research.
Our team has a strong track record of working within complex governance contexts in fragile and low resource settings. Through our Centre for Health Systems in Fragile and Conflict Affected Settings we offer methods that span from applied research, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) to technical assistance, capacity development and training.
Eelco, the Chair for this Centre, will present findings from two studies: the first on third party monitoring for health in Afghanistan and the second on political economy dynamics influencing SRHR financing in Uganda and Malawi.
“ HSR2024 is a great opportunity to connect with the global health systems community, be inspired and engage in thought-provoking discussions. I am particularly keen to contribute to and learn from the presentations and debates on governance for complex health systems, with due attention to the politics of health reform, which is rightly one of the symposium’s key themes. ” ”
Eelco Jacobs
Senior Advisor
Heloise will present a study on strengthening evidence for health workforce decision-making in fragile settings in the Sahel.
“ I am excited for a week of learning from and exchanging with fellow researchers on important health system strengthening topics, such as health workforce planning, climate resiliency, and justice and inclusion in health systems. HSR presents an excellent opportunity to interact with new ideas, approaches, and practices. ” ”
Heloise Widdig
Advisor
Summaries and timings of presentations
Monday, 18 November, 08:00-12:15
Eelco Jacobs and Heloise Widdig will contribute to a panel in satellite session: The future is ours: Together we can achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) Inclusion
This satellite session provides a platform for sharing resources and best practices to enhance sexual reproductive health access within Universal Coverage for Health (UHC) frameworks. Bringing together researchers, policy makers, advocates, and activists, this session will explore progress, challenges, and priorities for advocacy and research in SRH and UHC.
Wednesday, 20 November, 14:10 – 15:40
Eelco Jacobs Oral Presentation: Third party monitoring for health in afghanistan: the good, the bad and the ugly
In session: Sustaining Health Systems in Transition: The Role of Development Assistance and National Ownership
This study analyzed the perceptions of stakeholders involved in third-party monitoring (TPM) of the of the Basic and Essential Packages of Health Services in Afghanistan from 2013 to 2021. Ministry of Public Health representatives saw TPM as providing reliable data for evidence-informed decisions at a reasonable cost. However, TPM was hampered by excessive data collection and reporting, limiting its use and impacting service provision. Allegations of corruption emerged, particularly after the introduction of pay-for-performance mechanisms, highlighting its perverse incentives. These issues could be mitigated by promoting local data ownership and use, and addressing political economy dynamics in P4P schemes.
Read the BMJ Global Health publication of this study here: https://gh.bmj.com/content/8/12/e013470
Thursday, 21 November , 08:00 – 09:30
Eelco Jacobs Oral Presentation: The political economy of domestic resource allocation for sexual and reproductive health and rights: a comparative case study of Malawi and Uganda
In Session Title: From Free Healthcare to Hidden Costs: Policy Formulation and Resource Allocation in Health Systems
The financing gap between current spending on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and the levels required to meet international goals remains expansive despite a track record of public commitments. This qualitative study examines political economy dynamics influencing SRHR financing in Uganda and Malawi, emphasizing the interests and motivations of both actors within government and bureaucracies as well as civil society organisations and donor agencies in this process. The political settlement was found to significantly determine the influence of different stakeholders and their strategies. The study underscores the need for high-level political engagement to address persistent SRHR funding gaps.
Friday, 22 November
Heloise Widdig Poster Presentation: Creating health workforce profiles: A novel approach to strengthening evidence for decision-making piloted at district level in Mali and Niger
Properly trained, paid and supported health workers are the cornerstone of a functioning health system. However, many settings lack high-quality health workforce data for planning. A health workforce profile is an adaptable, accessible and problem driven health workforce assessment which can be used by decision-makers to better understand the challenges. We developed health workforce profiles in a rural district in Mali and Niger, which revealed challenges around distribution, contract types, volunteerism, and gender. The health workforce profile presents an opportunity to construct a more comprehensive overview that can be used to make context specific, evidence informed choices.
