CEGENSA and Gates Foundation Deepen Collaboration in Gender and Health Advocacy
The impact of the partnership between the Gates Foundation and the Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy (CEGENSA), through the Gender Responsive Malaria Advocacy and Policy Project, over the last two years has been unparalleled.
At a recent courtesy call at UG, Programme Officer for Thematic Advocacy at the Gates Foundation, Fatima Riaz, expressed deep appreciation for the strong and evolving relationship with the University.
She commended the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Professor Nana Aba Appiah-Amfo and highlighted CEGENSA’s growing role in gender and health advocacy both across Africa and globally. “This is not a grant, this is a partnership that’s exclusively focused on how to strengthen CEGENSA to take a leading role on the continent and globally when it comes to gender and malaria,” said Ms. Riaz.
Programme Officer for Thematic Advocacy at the Gates Foundation, Fatima Riaz
She added that the Foundation is actively exploring ways to ‘scale up CEGENSA’s capacity and reach across the continent.’
In her welcome remarks, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo underscored the long-term value of the partnership and the importance of applying a gender lens to health and development challenges.
“It’s important that we look at various topics from the gender perspective because things happen to different people in different ways and we react differently. The society also sometimes reacts differently based on gender,” she said.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo making remarks during the meeting
Prof. Amfo also acknowledged the capacity that has been built through the partnership and expressed confidence in the growing expertise to benefit not only Ghana but the wider African continent.
Director of CEGENSA, Prof. Deborah Atobrah, reflected on the success of the project and how it has allowed the Centre to surpass its original goals. One of CEGENSA’s most notable milestones, she added, is its contribution to the 2024 World Malaria Report, which for the first time included a chapter on gender, an achievement in global health reporting.
Director of CEGENSA, Prof. Deborah Atobrah
Prof. Gordon Awandare, Pro Vice-Chancellor (ASA), emphasised the University’s strong track record in delivering impactful research and innovation. He referenced other successful collaborations with the Gates Foundation, such as projects on malaria surveillance and the GIISER project, which integrates genomics and immunology to improve pandemic preparedness. “We are ready for the scale-up,” he said.
Prof. Gordon Awandare, Pro Vice-Chancellor (ASA)
On his part, Provost of the College of Humanities, Prof. Joseph Yaro, echoed appreciation for the in-person engagement and the strong partnership built over time. He pledged the continuous support of the College for the smooth running of the project.
Prof. Akosua Adomako-Ampofo, the first Director of CEGENSA and an advisory committee member of the project, expressed her delight at the growth of the Centre over the years and the support it has received from past and present members of University Management. She was hopeful that the project will further enhance CEGENSA’s profile.
Prof. Irene Kretchy, Associate Professor of Social Behavioural Pharmacy at the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, who is also the Vice-Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and a CEGENSA Affiliate, expressed her excitement about the multi-disciplinary nature of the project. She intimated that, as a Health Scientist, the project has provided great insights into the contributions of other disciplines to the gender and health discourse.
Provost of the College of Humanities, Prof. Joseph Yaro
Research Fellow at CEGENSA, Dr. Abena Kyere and Dr. Benjamin Kwansa, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of African Studies, (CEGENSA Affiliate and project management member), took turns to share the invaluable insights they have gained while working on the project.
The meeting was moderated by the Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Elizier Taiba Ameyaw-Buronyah and had in attendance staff of the Public Affairs Directorate and the Vice-Chancellor’s Office.
