Building a foundation for gender and social inclusion in Mozambique’s public works sector 
Human rights, Health hera Human rights, Health hera

Building a foundation for gender and social inclusion in Mozambique’s public works sector 

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.

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Delivering on equity and impact: Reflections on six years of supporting family planning in Kenya 
Human rights, Health, Development hera Human rights, Health, Development hera

Delivering on equity and impact: Reflections on six years of supporting family planning in Kenya 

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.

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Mapping the Future of Community Health in the MENA Region
Human rights, Health hera Human rights, Health hera

Mapping the Future of Community Health in the MENA Region

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. 

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Bridging health system gaps: Key findings from Kenya’s Gavi HSS Evaluation
Human rights, Health hera Human rights, Health hera

Bridging health system gaps: Key findings from Kenya’s Gavi HSS Evaluation

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. 

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Mapping the future of global health governance: Insights from the Lusaka Agenda
Human rights, Health hera Human rights, Health hera

Mapping the future of global health governance: Insights from the Lusaka Agenda

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. 

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Evaluation of UNICEF’s Response to the L2 Cholera and Floods Emergency in Malawi and Mozambique
Human rights, Health hera Human rights, Health hera

Evaluation of UNICEF’s Response to the L2 Cholera and Floods Emergency in Malawi and Mozambique

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.

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Developing vulnerability assessment tools for sexual and reproductive health and rights services in humanitarian settings  
Human rights, Health hera Human rights, Health hera

Developing vulnerability assessment tools for sexual and reproductive health and rights services in humanitarian settings  

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.

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