Grant: Operating Grant: Programmatic Grants to tackle health and health equity

For over a century evidence has accumulated that demonstrates the dramatic impact that poverty, economic and gender inequality have on health and health equity. Compared with the magnitude of evidence of the problems created, though, far less is known about what to do about it. This research program will rigorously examine the effects on population health of differing social policy approaches taken around the world to address poverty, economic and gender inequity. In carrying out this work, researchers from North America, Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia will focus on substantive areas which have been set as priorities by all 192 UN member states through the Millennium Development Goals: infant (under one year old) and child mortality(under 5 years old), maternal mortality, and HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. Specifically, this research program will: 1) Examine how policies aimed at reducing poverty and gender inequality in high- and low-income countries impact major causes of illness and death in infants and children. 2) Examine how policies aimed at reducing poverty and gender inequality in high- and low-income countries impact major causes of illness and death in women under 50. 3) Examine how policies aimed at reducing poverty and gender inequality in high- and low-income countries impact HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and other major diseases. Moreover, as a clearer understanding of what works is not enough to improve health and health equity, translating research findings into practical policy change will be a critical element of this program. Leaders from UNICEF, Save the Children, CARE, the World Federation of Public Health Associations and other IGOs and NGOs will join the research program team to ensure effective knowledge mobilization of the evidence.