Webinar Series

On May 30th, 2024, the East, Central, and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), in collaboration with Knowledge SUCCESS, hosted a vital webinar addressing the rising rates of teenage pregnancies in the region. The webinar featured expert insights from professionals in Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia, focusing on policy and programmatic interventions aimed at curbing adolescent fertility rates.

The panel discussed several critical themes:

• Regional Policies and Health Outcomes: Dr. Marwa Majaliwa emphasized the importance of integrating comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and gender-based violence interventions within adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health (AYSRH) policies. However, he highlighted gaps in the implementation of these policies, calling for a multi-sectoral approach to create targeted, budgeted interventions.
• Barriers to Contraception Access: Dr. Chris Barasa explored the social and cultural barriers that prevent teens from accessing contraceptive services. He advocated for tailored, population-based approaches to effectively address these issues, stressing the need for empathetic, knowledgeable healthcare providers.
• Youth-Friendly Services: Youth advocate Miranda Ziba highlighted the need for non-judgmental, accessible contraceptive services. She emphasized community involvement and innovative strategies like weekend clinics to ensure adolescents have the support they need.
• Role of Educational Institutions: Dr. Choolwe Jacobs underscored the importance of schools in providing reproductive health education and services. She called for inclusive policies that foster open dialogue and partnerships with nearby health centers.

The webinar concluded with a Q&A session, where panelists discussed the importance of political commitment, the need for effective communication of research findings, and the role of young people in shaping policies.

For a detailed account of the discussions and recommendations, you can access the full report here.

Event Recap: A Milestone Gathering on Child Protection

On November 29, 2023, we marked a significant stride in our collective journey towards safeguarding children’s rights and well-being. In a remarkable virtual event via Zoom, we brought together participants for an insightful webinar on “Action & impact: Using data to end violence against children in Africa”. This event was co-hosted by the East, Central, and Southern Africa Health Community and Together for Girls under the Implementation Science Collaborative’s Evidence to Policy series.

Key Highlights:

• The webinar emphasized data-driven strategies and collaborative efforts to combat violence against children in low-resource settings.
• We delved into informative presentations by implementing partners from Kenya and Namibia, which threw light on practical, on-ground child protection initiatives.
• Government representatives from Kenya, Namibia, and Zambia shared their perspectives, highlighting national strategies and efforts in preventing and addressing child violence.
• The discussions also opened dialogues on challenges and opportunities in child protection, stressing the need for sustainable efforts and resources.

Impactful Takeaways:

• Our discussions reinforced the importance of using Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS) data to inform and guide child protection strategies.
• The necessity of government-led initiatives and adherence to international and national legal frameworks was a key point.
• The role of multi-sectoral collaboration in ensuring effective child protection was emphasized.

 Looking Forward: As we conclude this enlightening session, we are inspired to carry forward the insights and lessons learned. Our commitment to enhancing multi-sectoral collaboration, mobilizing resources, and continuously adapting our strategies based on data and emerging trends remains steadfast.

A Heartfelt Thank You: We extend our deepest gratitude to all the speakers, government officials, and every one of the 120 registrants who made this webinar a success. Your engagement and contributions are invaluable in our shared mission to create a safer world for children.

Stay tuned for more insights and updates on our ongoing efforts in child protection. Together, we can make a lasting difference!

On Thursday, November 11th, 2021 from 9:00-10:00 AM EST, the first webinar in a series entitled: Accelerating Evidence to Use in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Policy and Programming was held. This webinar series is supported by the HEARD Project, managed by University Research Co., LLC. and co-hosted by the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy Center for Innovation in Mental Health (CIMH) and East, Central, and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC).

The Implementation Science Collaborative’s MHPSS Webinar Series advances evidence-to-use priorities to inform policy and practice in low- and middle-income countries. The webinar featured a discussion on the use of pilot and formative research in the design and adaptation of community-based psychosocial interventions, especially in response to COVID-19. It highlighted case studies of promising approaches, lessons learned, best practices, and expert panel perspectives from the work of Heartland Alliance International, HIAS, and War Child in Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, and Jordan. We look forward to your participation! Click here to view the full webinar >