March 12, 2026 (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in collaboration with regional and international partners, participated in a four-day regional training aimed at strengthening the integration of gender and equity in health emergency preparedness and response across Eastern and Southern Africa.
The Gender and Equity Integration in Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (GENPAR) training, held from March 9 to 12, 2026, brought together technical teams from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Secretariat and the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), as well as programme coordinators from 11 participating countries: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, and Zambia. The sessions were facilitated by gender and equity experts from the World Bank, IGAD, and ECSA-HC.
The training is part of the broader Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience Programme (HEPRRP), a World Bank-funded initiative to enhance the capacity of national and regional health systems to detect and respond to public health emergencies in the East and Southern Africa region.
Participants were equipped with tools to better integrate gender and equity considerations into epidemic preparedness and response frameworks, particularly within the scope of the International Health Regulations (2005). The training focused on improving understanding of how gender dynamics and social inequalities can influence access to healthcare and the effectiveness of emergency responses.
Speaking during the training, Dr. Mohamed Elduma, Head of the IGAD Health Unit, on behalf of the Director of Health and Social Development, emphasized the importance of the GENPAR toolkit in addressing longstanding gaps. He noted that the toolkit provides practical guidance for embedding gender and equity considerations into infectious disease preparedness strategies.
Sessions covered a range of technical areas, including integrating gender into human resources for health, strengthening gender-responsive field epidemiology and laboratory training programmes, and identifying disparities in disease surveillance systems. Additional discussions examined equitable access to laboratory services and the development of inclusive risk communication and community engagement strategies.
As part of the programme, participants also visited the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, where they assessed progress in incorporating gender and equity into operational procedures.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community, serve as regional coordinating institutions for the HEPRRP, supporting countries in building more inclusive and resilient health systems.
March 12, 2026 (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in collaboration with regional and international partners, participated in a four-day regional training aimed at strengthening the integration of gender and equity in health emergency preparedness and response across Eastern and Southern Africa.
The Gender and Equity Integration in Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (GENPAR) training, held from March 9 to 12, 2026, brought together technical teams from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Secretariat and the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), as well as programme coordinators from 11 participating countries: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, and Zambia. The sessions were facilitated by gender and equity experts from the World Bank, IGAD, and ECSA-HC.
The training is part of the broader Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience Programme (HEPRRP), a World Bank-funded initiative to enhance the capacity of national and regional health systems to detect and respond to public health emergencies in the East and Southern Africa region.
Participants were equipped with tools to better integrate gender and equity considerations into epidemic preparedness and response frameworks, particularly within the scope of the International Health Regulations (2005). The training focused on improving understanding of how gender dynamics and social inequalities can influence access to healthcare and the effectiveness of emergency responses.
Speaking during the training, Dr. Mohamed Elduma, Head of the IGAD Health Unit, on behalf of the Director of Health and Social Development, emphasized the importance of the GENPAR toolkit in addressing longstanding gaps. He noted that the toolkit provides practical guidance for embedding gender and equity considerations into infectious disease preparedness strategies.
Sessions covered a range of technical areas, including integrating gender into human resources for health, strengthening gender-responsive field epidemiology and laboratory training programmes, and identifying disparities in disease surveillance systems. Additional discussions examined equitable access to laboratory services and the development of inclusive risk communication and community engagement strategies.
As part of the programme, participants also visited the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, where they assessed progress in incorporating gender and equity into operational procedures.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community, serve as regional coordinating institutions for the HEPRRP, supporting countries in building more inclusive and resilient health systems.