Women Deliver’s Post

The Union for African Population Studies (UAPS) 9th Annual Conference in Lilongwe last month was a jam-packed and informative week. Hosted by the Government of Malawi, with support from the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the theme of the conference was “Road to 2030: Leveraging Africa’s Human Capital to Achieve Transformation in a World of Uncertainty”. Having innovators, researchers, implementors, policymakers, and government officials under one roof, thinking through the most pressing challenges of our time not only highlighted the exciting momentum and synergies of solutions already underway but also what's possible in the future when we put our collective heads together to harness Africa’s greatest asset: its humanity.

Check out this article on womenforenvironment about our amazing director, Dr. Jamila Bargach and her journey on the WE Africa Program. Article: https://lnkd.in/eSSSP9uf

Views are mine: The New WHO-AFRO Director My 10 take home messages from today’s interview session of the candidates standing for the position of the WHO Regional Director for Africa. 1.      Health systems strengthening: sustainable health financing, equitable and fair health systems, bringing universal health coverage to life 2.      Infodemic management as a priority area for action 3.      Centrality of community engagement in agenda setting 4.      Increase local vaccine manufacturing capacity 5.      Emergency preparedness and response, with improved information sharing capabilities 6.      Support to countries to identify, prioritize, test and scale effective health interventions 7.      Foster robust collaboration between WHO and Africa CDC, NEPAD and other bodies, as well as aligning the WHO Afro agenda with the Africa agenda 2063 8.      Leverage the political capital of the Africa Union through the Africa CDC: health is political capital 9.      Prioritize climate change, one health and AMR as top political priorities 10.  Systematically integrating  gender mainstreaming in health programming The candidates to me were all exceptional, and the questions were insightful. I am convinced who ever takes the helm of WHO AFRO will do a great job; I was however disappointed at two levels: 1.      There was no female candidate (note that all former directors between 1954 – 2015 were men) 2.      I missed reproductive rights upheld as a priority with the current backlash globally The short video (3 hours, 37 minutes, 45 seconds) of the event could be watched with the link below: https://lnkd.in/exBDqBmQ

Please join us at this Pre-Conference event whereby I will represent Community Based Organisations (CBOs) Coalition Malawi as one of the Panelist. The Pre-Conference, titled "Shifting Power and Advancing Equity in African Population Research and Collaborations," aims to examine the power dynamics that exist in demographic research collaborations in the African context and explore strategies to foster more equitable and inclusive practices. Bridging the gap between research findings and practical implementation remains a challenge. There is a need to involve communities in research design, implementation, and evaluation. This can ensure relevance and responsiveness to local needs. Researchers, policymakers, communities and practitioners must collaborate effectively to translate research into real-world impact. By fostering collaboration, transparency, and equitable access, we can enhance the relationship between research and societal well-being. Community-based organisations can play a crucial role in shaping national research agendas and promoting the wellbeing of populations. CBOs/CSOs involvement in setting research agendas can ensure that research priorities align with societal needs, promote transparency, and contribute to the overall wellbeing of populations. CBOs/CSOs can contribute by providing insights, advocating for specific research priorities, and ensuring that societal needs are considered. Goodness Ogeyi OdeyThe Movement for Community-led DevelopmentTilitonse FoundationComic ReliefForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeGunjan VedaKate MogerNandita Thatte, DrPHAmanda Burgess Aïssata FallSothin Sambiri ZibaJenny HodgsonZambian Governance FoundationWest Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)

We are kicking off the Conference, "Knowledge, Power, and Change in Polycrisis: What can we learn from Bangladesh for the World", co-convened by CLEAR, Institute of Development Studies and BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC University with a brilliant start. The opening pleanary, Crisis and Knowledge: What Have We Learnt from Bangladesh, has a strong line up of key global leaders in the field of development practice, human rights, knowledge, and public policy, who will help us navigate the larger question of the role that knowledge plays in crisis and its aftermath. Knowledge generated during the pandemic-peak period focused on monitoring and mitigating the impact of crisis in the short term. Did these efforts last? What has changed in the way we produce knowledge to understand and manage crisis? What were the missed opportunities? What were the methodological innovations for gathering rapid and reliable data and good enough analysis? Join us on 03 March 2024; 4.00 pm – 5.45 pm. Register for the conference here 👇 https://lnkd.in/gn-DPMCz Find the agenda here 👇 https://lnkd.in/gTVJBd33

The year 2024 marks 30 years of South Africa’s democracy and therefore the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) hosted a seminar: The Road to Democracy - celebrating 30 years of democracy A seminar that was talking to the South Africas’ history on a timeline; four (4) sub-themes were discussed, that is, pre colonial history of South Africa, colonial/ apartheid history as well as post-apartheid history/ democracy history and heritage. The seminar speakers took us on a journey that was thought provoking, educational and inspiring,a journey South Africa has traversed since the advent of democracy, as well as a reflection on the progress made in regards to democracy heritage. I, personally learned a lot from the presentations and discussions that were conducted, subjects discussed that captivated me and inspired to learn more about were; - Greater inclusivity and social cohesion - Understanding where South Africa/We once was, where South Africa/we are now and where South Africa/we is/are going - Importance of teaching South African social history in schools and universities - Resolving issues like how South Africa’s history has been white washed and how African history facts have been intentionally omitted to drive false narratives. - Recognition of the First Persons (bushmen) to live in SA needs to be prioritised.

Today I was reminded of how you need to value yourself, what you believe in and what you do… An acquaintance passed away today, a heart attack on her way to work and in her fifties.She had been to multiple doctors with chest pain in the past year….😔😔😔 I have been struggling with the purpose of my studies: Evaluating the tool:Getting the green light for ethical health research. This is a toolkit for the management of conflict of interest (CoI) in scientific and health research within Research Ethics Committees and Science Granting Councils. How conflict is managed, helps to ensure that quality research may be conducted. Clinical decision-making, based on this sound quality research, may be enhanced. My purpose: To contribute knowledge of how this toolkit in CoI can be used within the African continent ❤️🙏🏼❤️ Clinical decision-making and public health care policies, requires CoI in research, to be managed appropriately🙏🏼 Rest in Peace my friend❤️🙏🏼❤️♾❤️🙏🏼❤️

𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨.𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐭 is a collaborative community connecting practitioners of deliberative democracy across the Global South. They recently published 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, a digital book capturing experiences from Southeast Asia, Subsaharan Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Read insights from practitioners talking to each other about challenges, barriers, and innovations in global deliberation: https://lnkd.in/eua7uiyf Extituto de Política Abierta

The current state of the environment has introduced new challenges for the industrialisation of Africa. What are the key ways to harness these challenges as opportunities? Looking forward to sharing my thoughts on strategies for Africa’s sustainable development.

*_The unity among African youth and the potential for positive transformation * ._ "Embracing Unity, Igniting Change: Join us at the 4th Pan African Youth Conference as we come together to celebrate our diversity, amplify our voices, and shape the future of Africa. This conference is a platform for African youth to connect, collaborate, and inspire one another towards a united and prosperous continent. Together, we can break barriers, bridge divides, and build a brighter tomorrow. Be part of the movement, be part of the change. See you at the conference!"