Training and Research Support Centre

Training and Research Support Centre (TARSC) provides training, research and support services to state and civil society organisations. TARSC is a learning and knowledge organization, with a particular focus on skills building and methods to support community based work, and with a commitment to long term capacity building in the public sector and in civil society.

Equity Watch work in east and Southern Africa TARSC is the cluster lead in EQUINET for monitoring and analysis of equity in health in the Equity Watch, working with technical institutions, governments and civil society in east and southern Africa. To date Equity Watch reports have been produced in five countries, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Uganda and Kenya. The reports assess progress in a number of dimensions of equity in heath. The reports are available on this website and at EQUINET http://www.equinetafrica.org. They raise areas for action to ensure redistributive health systems and in wider policies to address the social determinants of health

Global Health Diplomacy TARSC is a member of the Global Diplomacy Network, covering heath diplomacy issues globally, contributes to the Global Diplomacy Monitor and is a part of a consortium of institutions supporting work on global heath diplomacy in east and southern Africa. For mre information contact admin@tarsc.org or download publications at the Global Diplomacy Network http://www.ghd-net.org/ or EQUINET website http://www.equinetafrica.org

Barriers and facilitators to maternal and child health services TARSC and CCORE-UNICEF are implementing a community based assessment of the facilitators and barriers (perceived and measured) to access to maternal, neonatal and child health services in women and in children under five years in Zimbabwe. The programme will include capacity building of community based researchers.

Health literacy and Participatory Research on health worker- community interactions TARSC worked with HEPS Uganda and Lusaka District Health Team Zambia in 2011 to build health literacy capacities and to use participatory research approaches to strengthen communication between health workers and communities at primary care level. Reports of the activities are on this website under ‘publications’. We are currently reviewing basline and follow up assessments to assess how far the interventions have made measurable improvements in the functioning of health systems for both health workers and communities. The work is being done with support from Cordaid and under the umbrella of EQUINET.

Latest Activities

Supporting Global Health Diplomacy TARSC is working with SEATINI in EQUINET and the East, Central and Southern African Health Community to support a programme of research and information on Global Health Diplomacy. On this website you will find information on issues under current global negotiation or monitoring, including the the Code on International Recruitment of Health Workers, and on policy views on research priorities for global health diplomacy.

Latest TARSC Publications

Evidence from Participatory Research on Community Health Systems for HIV treatment and support in east and southern Africa
(January 2012)
Types of work: Participatory Action Research
Areas of work: HIV and AIDS
Country: Zimbabwe
URL: COBASYS_Synthesis Final Dec2011.pdf
Read more...

Latest EQUINET Publications

EQUINET Policy brief 28: Implementing the WHO Global code of Practice on the International Recruitment of health Personnel in Africa
SEATINI; ACHEST; TARSC (2011)
Themes: Values, policies and rights, Human resources for health
Country: East and southern Africa region
URL: Polbrief28 Code.pdf
Read more...
EQUITY WATCH: Assessing progress towards equity in health, Uganda, 2011
Zikusooka CM; Loewenson R; Tumwine M; Mulumba M (2011)
Themes: Equity in health, Values, policies and rights, Health equity in economic and trade policies, Equitable health services, Resource allocation and health financing, Monitoring equity and research to policy
Country: Uganda
URL: Uganda EW Nov2011 lfs.pdf
Read more...
EQUINET Discussion Paper 88: Research to Support Strategic leadership in Global Health Diplomacy in east, central and southern Africa
Loewenson R; Machemedze R; Manyau E (2011)
Themes:
URL: Diss 88 GHD Research.pdf
Read more...
Equity Watch: assessing progress towards equity in health in Zimbabwe
Training and Research Support Centre; Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (2011)
Themes: Equity in health, Values, policies and rights, Equitable health services, Resource allocation and health financing, Monitoring equity and research to policy
Country: Zimbabwe
URL: Zimbabwe EW Nov2011 lfs.pdf
Read more...
Policy Brief 26: Expansion of the private for-profit health sector in East and Southern Africa
Doherty J (2011)
Themes: Health equity in economic and trade policies, Public-private mix, Resource allocation and health financing
Country: East and southern Africa region
URL: Pol26 brief privatefin.pdf
Read more...
Policy Brief 27: Constitutional provisions for the right to health in east and southern Africa
Mulumba M; Kabanda D; Nassuna V; Loewenson R (2011)
Themes: Equity in health, Values, policies and rights, Governance and participation in health
Country: East and southern Africa region
URL: Pol 27 constitution.pdf
Read more...
Raising The Profile Of Participatory Action Research At The 2010 Global Symposium On Health Systems Research; MEDICC Review 13(3): 35-38
Loewenson R; Flores W; Shukla A; Kagis M; Baba A; Ashraf R; Mbwili-Muleya C; Kakde D (2011)
Themes: Governance and participation in health, Monitoring equity and research to policy
Country: East and southern Africa region
URL: Medicc Review article on PAR.pdf
Read more...
Equity Watch: Assessing Progress towards Equity in Health in Zambia
University of Zambia Department of Economics; Ministry of Health Zambia; TARSC (2011)
Themes: Equity in health, Monitoring equity and research to policy
Country: Zambia
URL: Zambia EW Aug 2011 web.pdf
Read more...
EQUINET Discussion Paper 87: Expansion of the private health sector in east and southern Africa
Doherty, J (2011)
Themes: Resource allocation and health financing
Country: East and southern Africa region
URL: EQ Diss 87 Private HS.pdf
Read more...
Policy Brief 25: Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits
SEATINI; TARSC (2011)
Themes: Health equity in economic and trade policies
Country: East and southern Africa region
URL: Polbrief25 PIP.pdf
Read more...

Next 10 publications

LINKS

Links

Occupational health and safety

International Labour Organisation
The International Labour Organization is the UN specialized agency which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights.

HIV and AIDS

Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division
HEARD conducts research on the socio-economic aspects of public health, especially the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It is based in South Africa at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, but its operations are international in scope.

Community and Public Health and Health Equity

Ifakara Health Institute
IFAKRA is a non profit, independent, district based health research and resource centre, generating new knowledge and relevant information regarding priority problems in health systems at district, national and international level through research, training and service support aiming at better health and community development. IHRDC is an independent, non-profit foundation in Tanzania under the leadership of the Ministry of Health. The Centre�s headquarters are based at Ifakara town and it has liason offices in Dar es Salaam, Morogoro town and Rufiji.

HEPS Uganda
HEPS-Uganda is a Health Consumers Organisation advocating for health rights and responsibilities. The organisation is a coalition of health consumers, health advocates, health practitioners, CSOs and CBOs. HEPS is concerned about bottlenecks that hinder access to quality healthcare for the majority of Ugandans. The position of the organisation is that more preventive and curative means are necessary and that they should be designed from a health consumers perspective.

Centre for Health Policy, South Africa
The Centre for Health Policy (CHP) in South Africa is a multi-disciplinary health policy research unit based in the School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. CHP is recognised by the South African Medical Research Council (MRC) as the Research Group in Health Policy. CHP is an independent, multi-disciplinary research organisation that seeks to contribute to excellence in health policy and health economics research, and to be a critical participant in health policy processes.

Centre for Health and Social Science Research (CHESSORE)
CHESSORE is a non-profit, civil society organization formed to undertake applied research to guide and help improve implementation of public health policies in Zambia. Since then, CHESSORE has formed strong links with community structures and parliamentarians with a view to promote equity policies in the Zambian health system.

International Society for Equity in Health
ISEqH promotes equity in health and health services internationally through education, research, publication, communication and charitable support.

The Community Working Group on Health
The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) was formed in early 1998 to take up health issues of common concern. The approximately twenty-five organizations in the CWGH include national membership organizations that have branches across the country, whilst others have areas specific membership such (as the residents associations). The CWGH began in 1998 a programme of work to disseminate information to and organize civic group members in health. It has carried out various community meetings on health, discussed and prepared policy inputs on health issues and carried out advocacy on these issues

Children, youth and women

Womens Dignity Project
The Women's Dignity Project (WDP) was established to prevent and manage obstetric fistula, enhance the dignity and rights of those living with fistula, and promote gender and health equity. We mobilize action to address fistula and advocate for the health and rights of the poor, within a human rights framework.

Economic policies, food security and nutrition

SEATINI
SEATINI is an African initiative to strengthen Africa's capacity to take a more effective part in the emerging global trading system and to better manage the process of Globalization. SEATINI is based in Zimbabwe and has offices in other countries in east and southern Africa.

Southern African Regional Poverty Network
SARPN provides a facility for raising the level and quality of public debate on poverty across the Southern African Development Community.

Other

Fahamu
Fahamu is committed to serving the needs of organisations and social movements that aspire to progressive social change and that promote and protect human rights. We believe that civil society organisations have a critical role to play in defending human rights, and that information and communications technologies can and should be harnessed for that cause. We are committed to enabling civil society organisations to use the internet to promote social justice.

Training and Research Support Centre

Training and Research Support Centre (TARSC) provides training, research and support services to state and civil society organisations. TARSC is a learning and knowledge organization, with a particular focus on skills building and methods to support community based work, and with a commitment to long term capacity building in the public sector and in civil society.

Equity Watch work in east and Southern Africa TARSC is the cluster lead in EQUINET for monitoring and analysis of equity in health in the Equity Watch, working with technical institutions, governments and civil society in east and southern Africa. To date Equity Watch reports have been produced in five countries, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Uganda and Kenya. The reports assess progress in a number of dimensions of equity in heath. The reports are available on this website and at EQUINET http://www.equinetafrica.org. They raise areas for action to ensure redistributive health systems and in wider policies to address the social determinants of health

Global Health Diplomacy TARSC is a member of the Global Diplomacy Network, covering heath diplomacy issues globally, contributes to the Global Diplomacy Monitor and is a part of a consortium of institutions supporting work on global heath diplomacy in east and southern Africa. For mre information contact admin@tarsc.org or download publications at the Global Diplomacy Network http://www.ghd-net.org/ or EQUINET website http://www.equinetafrica.org

Barriers and facilitators to maternal and child health services TARSC and CCORE-UNICEF are implementing a community based assessment of the facilitators and barriers (perceived and measured) to access to maternal, neonatal and child health services in women and in children under five years in Zimbabwe. The programme will include capacity building of community based researchers.

Health literacy and Participatory Research on health worker- community interactions TARSC worked with HEPS Uganda and Lusaka District Health Team Zambia in 2011 to build health literacy capacities and to use participatory research approaches to strengthen communication between health workers and communities at primary care level. Reports of the activities are on this website under ‘publications’. We are currently reviewing basline and follow up assessments to assess how far the interventions have made measurable improvements in the functioning of health systems for both health workers and communities. The work is being done with support from Cordaid and under the umbrella of EQUINET.

Latest Activities

Supporting Global Health Diplomacy TARSC is working with SEATINI in EQUINET and the East, Central and Southern African Health Community to support a programme of research and information on Global Health Diplomacy. On this website you will find information on issues under current global negotiation or monitoring, including the the Code on International Recruitment of Health Workers, and on policy views on research priorities for global health diplomacy.

Latest TARSC Publications

Evidence from Participatory Research on Community Health Systems for HIV treatment and support in east and southern Africa
(January 2012)
Types of work: Participatory Action Research
Areas of work: HIV and AIDS
Country: Zimbabwe
URL: COBASYS_Synthesis Final Dec2011.pdf
Read more...

Latest EQUINET Publications

EQUINET Policy brief 28: Implementing the WHO Global code of Practice on the International Recruitment of health Personnel in Africa
SEATINI; ACHEST; TARSC (2011)
Themes: Values, policies and rights, Human resources for health
Country: East and southern Africa region
URL: Polbrief28 Code.pdf
Read more...
EQUITY WATCH: Assessing progress towards equity in health, Uganda, 2011
Zikusooka CM; Loewenson R; Tumwine M; Mulumba M (2011)
Themes: Equity in health, Values, policies and rights, Health equity in economic and trade policies, Equitable health services, Resource allocation and health financing, Monitoring equity and research to policy
Country: Uganda
URL: Uganda EW Nov2011 lfs.pdf
Read more...
EQUINET Discussion Paper 88: Research to Support Strategic leadership in Global Health Diplomacy in east, central and southern Africa
Loewenson R; Machemedze R; Manyau E (2011)
Themes:
URL: Diss 88 GHD Research.pdf
Read more...
Equity Watch: assessing progress towards equity in health in Zimbabwe
Training and Research Support Centre; Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (2011)
Themes: Equity in health, Values, policies and rights, Equitable health services, Resource allocation and health financing, Monitoring equity and research to policy
Country: Zimbabwe
URL: Zimbabwe EW Nov2011 lfs.pdf
Read more...
Policy Brief 26: Expansion of the private for-profit health sector in East and Southern Africa
Doherty J (2011)
Themes: Health equity in economic and trade policies, Public-private mix, Resource allocation and health financing
Country: East and southern Africa region
URL: Pol26 brief privatefin.pdf
Read more...
Policy Brief 27: Constitutional provisions for the right to health in east and southern Africa
Mulumba M; Kabanda D; Nassuna V; Loewenson R (2011)
Themes: Equity in health, Values, policies and rights, Governance and participation in health
Country: East and southern Africa region
URL: Pol 27 constitution.pdf
Read more...
Raising The Profile Of Participatory Action Research At The 2010 Global Symposium On Health Systems Research; MEDICC Review 13(3): 35-38
Loewenson R; Flores W; Shukla A; Kagis M; Baba A; Ashraf R; Mbwili-Muleya C; Kakde D (2011)
Themes: Governance and participation in health, Monitoring equity and research to policy
Country: East and southern Africa region
URL: Medicc Review article on PAR.pdf
Read more...
Equity Watch: Assessing Progress towards Equity in Health in Zambia
University of Zambia Department of Economics; Ministry of Health Zambia; TARSC (2011)
Themes: Equity in health, Monitoring equity and research to policy
Country: Zambia
URL: Zambia EW Aug 2011 web.pdf
Read more...
EQUINET Discussion Paper 87: Expansion of the private health sector in east and southern Africa
Doherty, J (2011)
Themes: Resource allocation and health financing
Country: East and southern Africa region
URL: EQ Diss 87 Private HS.pdf
Read more...
Policy Brief 25: Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits
SEATINI; TARSC (2011)
Themes: Health equity in economic and trade policies
Country: East and southern Africa region
URL: Polbrief25 PIP.pdf
Read more...

Next 10 publications