The Implementation Science Collaboration on Urban Health in East Africa was born of an initial round table consultation hosted by the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) which identified critical nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) evidence gaps in the region. The Collaboration’s combination of policy advocacy and practical research influenced a regional Health Minister’s resolution (“ECSA/HMC/67/R3”). The resolution underscores the importance of evidence-based approaches that serve the specific needs of the urban poor. 

Within the national contexts of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, the stakeholder-engaged process accelerated advances related to policy, program and future research needs for children and adolescents in urban poor settings.