Gender and social inclusion are vital pillars for sustainable development, especially in public infrastructure projects that have far-reaching impacts on communities. Recognizing this, the Ministry of Public Works in Mozambique embarked on an ambitious mission to develop a Gender and Social Inclusion Strategy aimed at fostering equality and reducing harm within the sector. hera aided in the development of the sector’s gender strategy, and the supporting action plan to implement it.

Since 2020, the hera consortium—comprised of hera, the International Centre for Reproductive Health-Kenya (ICRH-K), and the Aga Khan University (AKU)—has had the privilege of walking alongside the DESIP programme (Delivering Sustainable and Equitable Increases in Family Planning) in Kenya as an independent monitoring and evaluation partner. Appointed by FCDO during the early days of DESIP’s rollout, our role has been to provide third-party monitoring, process evaluation, and facilitate learning throughout the life of the programme.

Now, as DESIP concludes its six-year journey, we’re proud to reflect on what this partnership has achieved—and what it has taught us.

In a milestone achievement for global health policy, Rwanda has successfully launched its National Pharmacy Policy (2024-2029), marking a transformative step toward strengthening pharmaceutical governance and aligning with the country’s ambitious Vision 2050 goals. This comprehensive policy, developed by hera through a participatory and evidence-based process, not only addresses systemic gaps in the pharmaceutical sector but also positions Rwanda as a regional leader in innovative and inclusive health reforms. 

Community health systems are the backbone of equitable healthcare delivery, especially in regions where vulnerable populations, including children, face significant health challenges. Recognizing the critical need to strengthen these systems, the UNICEF Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional Office, with support from hera, commissioned a mapping of community health resources, policies, and infrastructure across 12 countries in the MENA region. The resulting findings are set to guide policymakers, donors, and civil society organisations in making strategic, informed decisions that will shape the future of community health in the region. 

At hera, we recently had the opportunity to lead an in-depth evaluation of UNICEF Mexico’s 2020-2025 Country Programme Document (CPD) (Evaluación del Programa de País 2020-2025 de UNICEF en México). This comprehensive assessment covered the programme’s implementation from 2020 to mid-2024, focusing on its four programmatic areas, their execution at federal and subnational levels, and their financial aspects. The evaluation was guided by the criteria of relevance, effectiveness, coherence, and sustainability, ensuring a well-rounded analysis of the programme’s achievements.

The Sahel region stands at the crossroads of climate change and gender inequality, where the escalating climate crisis disproportionately impacts adolescent girls and young women in their diversity. Recognizing the urgent need for a gendered analysis of these challenges, Plan International West and Central Africa Office commissioned hera to conduct a pioneering study on the gendered impact of climate change on adolescent girls’ rights in the Sahel. This research, conducted with an intersectional feminist approach over two phases, engaged 25 young women as co-researchers and 5 mentors, ensuring that the voices and lived experiences of adolescent girls and young women were at the heart of the study.

In recent years, Kenya has made significant strides in reducing childhood morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases. A key contributor to this progress has been the Gavi Health System Strengthening (HSS) support grant, which aimed to enhance immunization systems across the country. In 2024, hera, in collaboration with ICRH-Kenya, was commissioned by UNICEF to conduct a summative evaluation of the Gavi HSS programme to assess its relevance, effectiveness, and impact. 

The Lusaka Agenda of December 2023 marked a pivotal moment, outlining five critical shifts in health systems to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and strengthen primary health care (PHC). In response to this agenda, hera undertook a project that mapped potential pathways for advancing these priorities, offering actionable insights for global health policy reform. 

The P4H Network aims to expand healthcare access, reduce financial burdens, and protect against catastrophic health costs. To measure and communicate its impact, a comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation framework and tools were developed, including the innovative Critical Milestone Timelines tool.

In 2023, Malawi and Mozambique faced a double blow of natural disasters and public health crises. The devastation caused by Cyclone Freddy, coupled with a severe cholera outbreak, left communities grappling with loss, destruction, and a lack of basic services. In response, UNICEF activated its Level 2 Corporate Emergency Activation Procedure (CEAP) to address the urgent needs of those affected. A recent evaluation by hera sheds light on the effectiveness and impact of UNICEF’s response to these concurrent emergencies, offering critical insights for future humanitarian efforts.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing humanitarian crises, overwhelming healthcare systems and disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. To understand the impact on humanitarian health responses, the WHO Global Health Cluster commissioned hera to conduct a comprehensive assessment.

hera was contracted to assess the UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP).

With the goal of better integrating sexual and reproductive health and rights services (SRHR) into humanitarian responses, and improving access to services for vulnerable populations, hera led a consortium to develop a handbook for East and Southern Africa. The project aimed to create standardised tools for assessing vulnerability and its impact on SRHR service delivery.

Announcing Erick Baganizi as hera’s newest Associate Partner.

We are very happy to announce that Giorgia Lattanzi has joined hera as partner following our latest General Assembly of April 2024.

In 2023, hera was contracted to develop and test social and behaviour change communication tools and strategies to enhance community awareness and participation in MNASRH services in Rwanda.

As we commemorate March 8th as International Women's Day, the UN theme "Invest in women: Accelerate progress" serves as a timely reminder of the indispensable role of gender equality in delivering prosperity and ensuring a healthy planet for future generations.

Read our latest post on the evaluation of the Norway-India Partnership Initiative (NIPI). Learn about the efforts of NIPI in providing support and fostering innovation in maternal, neonatal, and child health in India.

The 2nd Milestone Scorecard presents an important roadmap for future action. The insights provided in this data collection round show what’s working and provides crucial insights for shaping policies and health strategies, guiding us towards a future where sexual and reproductive health rights and services are accessible and upheld for all

On World AIDS Day, we at hera-right to health and development stand together with the global community in the fight against HIV. Embracing this year's theme, "Let Communities Lead," we recognize the transformative impact of community involvement in overcoming the challenges of HIV.

In 2023 hera was selected to undertake a critical review of the "Partnering for Transformational Change: Strengthening Liberia’s Surgical Health System" project. This initiative, implemented by Mercy Ships and funded by Norad, was established against the backdrop of Liberia's challenging healthcare environment, particularly in its surgical health system.

This report evaluates Kenya's DESIP program, which boosts family planning access in 12 counties. It explores the program's impact on reducing unmet needs and fertility rates, especially for marginalized groups.

Explore hera's comprehensive, learning-focused evaluation of UNICEF's response to the 2022-2023 Ebola crisis in Uganda. Learn how the evaluation aims to inform future public health strategies

hera's experts assess community health systems in the Middle East and North Africa for UNICEF. This project aims to improve healthcare access in a region facing conflict and strengthen its response to health threats.

UNICEF's Level 2 (L2) emergency response was carried out in collaboration with the National Bureau of Risk and Disaster Management and focused on 10 districts in three priority regions in the South of Madagascar. A hera team was selected to evaluate the L2 response with a dual objective of learning and accountability.