EQUINET, the Regional Network on Equity in Health in Southern Africa, is a network of professionals, civil society members, policy makers, state officials and others within the region who have come together as an equity catalyst, to promote and realise shared values of equity and social justice in health.
EQUINET gathers people to overcome isolation, give voice and promote networking using bottom-up approaches built on shared values. We have come together in
a spirit of self determination and collective self reliance working through existing government, civil society, research and other mechanisms and institutions i
n the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and in southern and East Africa.
EQUINET is building a forum for dialogue, learning, sharing of information and experience and critical analysis. We do this to build knowledge and perspectiv
es, shape effective strategies, strengthen our voice nationally, regionally and globally and our strategic alliances to influence policy, politics and practice
towards health equity and social justice.
EQUINET's work covers a wide range of areas identified as priorities for health equity, within the political economy of health, health services and inputs to health, covered in the theme areas shown on this site. EQUINET is governed by a steering committee with representatives from fourteen institutions in southern Afr
ica and is co-ordinated at the Training and Research Support Centre Zimbabwe.
Contributions of Global Health Diplomacy to equitable health systems in east and southern Africa
How can African policymakers engage in global health diplomacy to achieve more equitable health systems and better population health? What factors have supported effective negotiation of African policy goals on health systems within health diplomacy?
In 2012 EQUINET is initiating a three year policy research programme to address these questions in east and southern Africa (ESA). Working with government officials in health and diplomacy, with technical institutions, civil society and other stakeholders in ESA countries, we will examine the role of health diplomacy in addressing selected challenges to health and equitable health systems and use the learning and evidence to inform African policy actors and stakeholders. Please read our Grants section for information on the calls for grant proposals.
EQUINET Regional Meeting on the Equity Watch and equity monitoring, Cape Town April 26-28 2012
An Equity Watch is a means of monitoring progress on health equity by gathering, organizing, analysing, reporting and reviewing evidence on equity in health. The aim is to assess the status and trends in a range of priority areas of health equity and to check progress on measures that promote health equity against commitments and goals. Reports have now been produced in five countries - Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya and Mozambique and further work is under discussion in Tanzania and Malawi, available on the EQUINET website. We are also producing in 2012 a regional equity analysis covering the 16 countries in EQUINET. The work has been done in association with the ECSA Health Community and in dialogue with WHO and UNICEF. On April 26 to 28th 2012 EQUINET will hold a regional workshop in Cape Town South Africa that will include training on equity analysis; review of the country equity watch work and follow up country and district work; and review of the draft regional equity analysis 2012. We hope to support input to the dialogue on ongoing country work on planning, monitoring and research on health equity, including in relation to the regional resolutions and the MDGs. If you are interested in this work or meeting please contact us at admin@equinetafrica.org
Call for Applicants for Regional Research grants on Global Health Diplomacy for equitable health systems in east and southern Africa
Call closes 4pm April 3rd 2012
This call is for applicants for grants for policy research into global health diplomacy , and particularly in relation to the manner in which African interests around equitable health systems are being advanced through health diplomacy.
Applicants are invited to indicate their capacities and proposals for implementing the work in ONE of the three areas below
1. On the reflection of African interests and issues around equitable health systems in the stages of motivating, negotiating, implementing, monitoring and reporting of the WHO Code on international Recruitment of health personnel;
2. On collaborations on access to essential drugs through south- south relationships with China, Brazil and India, particularly in relation to medicines production, distribution and regulation across countries within the ESA region, the alignment with and outcomes for national health systems, regional and global health diplomacy processes and the lessons learned for health diplomacy.
3. On the involvement of African actors in global health governance, particularly in relation to the participation, issues raised, outcomes and thus influence of African state and non-state actors on the decision making processes in the WHO and Global Fund, particularly on universal access to prevention, treatment and care for HIV and AIDS, and the lessons for health diplomacy.
EQUITY WATCH: Assessing progress towards equity in health, Kenya, 2011 KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme; Mustang Management Consultants; Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Training and Research Support Centre (2012) Themes: Equity in health, Monitoring equity and research to policy Country: Kenya URL:Kenya EW Dec2011 lfs.pdf
EQUINET Policy brief 28: Implementing the WHO Global code of Practice on the International Recruitment of health Personnel in Africa SEATINI; ACHEST; TARSC (2011) Themes: Values, policies and rights, Human resources for health Country: East and southern Africa region URL:Polbrief28 Code.pdf
EQUITY WATCH: Assessing progress towards equity in health, Uganda, 2011 Zikusooka CM; Loewenson R; Tumwine M; Mulumba M (2011) Themes: Equity in health, Values, policies and rights, Health equity in economic and trade policies, Equitable health services, Resource allocation and health financing, Monitoring equity and research to policy Country: Uganda URL:Uganda EW Nov2011 lfs.pdf
EQUINET Discussion Paper 88: Research to Support Strategic leadership in Global Health Diplomacy in east, central and southern Africa Loewenson R; Machemedze R; Manyau E (2011) Themes: URL:Diss 88 GHD Research.pdf
Equity Watch: assessing progress towards equity in health in Zimbabwe Training and Research Support Centre; Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (2011) Themes: Equity in health, Values, policies and rights, Equitable health services, Resource allocation and health financing, Monitoring equity and research to policy Country: Zimbabwe URL:Zimbabwe EW Nov2011 lfs.pdf
Policy Brief 26: Expansion of the private for-profit health sector in East and Southern Africa Doherty J (2011) Themes: Health equity in economic and trade policies, Public-private mix, Resource allocation and health financing Country: East and southern Africa region URL:Pol26 brief privatefin.pdf
Policy Brief 27: Constitutional provisions for the right to health in east and southern Africa Mulumba M; Kabanda D; Nassuna V; Loewenson R (2011) Themes: Equity in health, Values, policies and rights, Governance and participation in health Country: East and southern Africa region URL:Pol 27 constitution.pdf
Raising The Profile Of Participatory Action Research At The 2010 Global Symposium On Health Systems Research; MEDICC Review 13(3): 35-38 Loewenson R; Flores W; Shukla A; Kagis M; Baba A; Ashraf R; Mbwili-Muleya C; Kakde D (2011) Themes: Governance and participation in health, Monitoring equity and research to policy Country: East and southern Africa region URL:Medicc Review article on PAR.pdf
Equity Watch: Assessing Progress towards Equity in Health in Zambia University of Zambia Department of Economics; Ministry of Health Zambia; TARSC (2011) Themes: Equity in health, Monitoring equity and research to policy Country: Zambia URL:Zambia EW Aug 2011 web.pdf
EQUINET Discussion Paper 87: Expansion of the private health sector in east and southern Africa Doherty, J (2011) Themes: Resource allocation and health financing Country: East and southern Africa region URL:EQ Diss 87 Private HS.pdf