Functions of the Institute
The core function of the institute is to promote health policy & health systems research, training and application in Africa through the following ways:
- Research Function: Research in health policy & health systems is the major thrust of the Institute. Research using all types of scientific methodologies are being developed and embarked upon at the institute. All the research works are geared towards enhancing the knowledge and application of health policy for health systems strengthening in Africa.
- Training Function: The Institute currently runs the following:
- Public Service Functions: The Institute provides services to the public such as consultancies in the field of health policy & health systems, through provision of technical expertise eg., resource persons in public, organizational training programmes/workshop/meetings. The Institute also plays advisory role to government/other organization’s health programmes, projects and other health initiatives.
- Networking/Partnership Functions: The Institute builds a robust networking and partnership platform with experts, organizations, institutions, individuals interested in health policy & health systems. This networking includes researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, the media etc., within and outside of Africa.
- Research Dissemination Functions: The Institute develops mechanisms to disseminate health policy & health systems research findings and other vital information. This will be achieved through the establishment of a Journal of Health Policy, Health Systems & Knowledge Translation; as well as newsletters etc.
- Policy Making Functions: The Institute participates and plays a major role in health policymaking at local, national and international levels. The Institute promotes and advocates for the use of policy briefs and multi-stakeholder policy dialogues. The institute is a major platform where policy relevant evidence can be obtained for policy making in all aspects of the health sector.
- Workshops/Conferences: Apart from participating actively in conferences and workshops on health policy & health systems locally and internationally, the Institute organizes/hosts conferences and workshops. These could be yearly, or twice in a year as may be needed. The conferences/workshops will be used to promote the science of health policy & health systems locally and internationally.
- Policy Information Platform: This is a special initiative of the Alliance for Health Policy & Systems Research (World Health Organization) hosted by the Institute in Ebonyi State University. The Policy Information Platform is a “one stop shop” which is a comprehensive data base for both policy-relevant evidence both peer reviewed and grey literature.
- Fellowships and Awards: The Institute in collaboration with various national and international agencies executes fellowship programmes in Health Policy & Health Systems.
- Academic Exchange Programmes: As part of effort to further internationalize the activities of the Institute, a robust academic exchange programme has been developed and being executed. This has enabled exchange of international scholars, and visitation of international scholars either to conduct research or to train individuals in specialized areas in the health policy & health systems.
- Knowledge Translation & Brokering Functions:
- Academic Programme: The Institute will continue to explore new frontiers in the science of health policy & health systems and will develop innovative academic programmes that have relevance to the current global expectations in the field.
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