H.E. Prof. Beyene Petros, Director General of the  Policy Studies Institute(PSI), held a productive discussion with representatives of the United Nations University (UNU)International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH) on August 20, 2024. The focus of this online meeting was to explore potential collaborations between PSI and UNU-IIGH with the aim of leveraging their respective strengths to address critical global health challenges.

        H.E. Prof. Beyene Petros, Director General of the  Policy Studies Institute(PSI)

H.E. Prof. Beyene had a productive discussion with the Director of the UNU-IIGH Capacity Building Program and explored potential areas of collaboration in the areas of capacity building, training and joint research. The Director highlighted UNU-IIGH's commitment to supporting African CDC, including plans for ministerial training. Considering Ethiopia's role as the seat of the African Union and the location of the African CDC in Addis Ababa, the Director expressed great interest in working closely with the Policy Studies Institute. He also highlighted UNU-IIGH's existing partnerships with Ethiopian health experts at Addis Ababa University, including Prof. Damen, Dr. Adamu, Dr. Melikesa and Dr. Mulatu, who are actively promoting links between UNU-IIGH and the Policy Studies Institute.

During the virtual discussion, H.E. Prof. Beyene explained the role and expertise of the Policy Studies Institute (PSI). He explained that PSI, which used to be under the Prime Minister's Office, is now under the Ministry of Planning and Development. The Institute has a strong network of African think tanks and focuses on developing and refining sectoral policies, recommending new policies and revising existing ones. PSI's work covers all areas of public policy, including development, health and education. With over 40 PhD researchers in 14 research departments, PSI conducts impact assessments of flagship projects and policies in Ethiopia.

H.E. Prof. Beyene highlighted the Institute's 25 years of experience in developing policy recommendations and working with governmental and non-governmental organizations. He emphasized PSI's growing local and international outreach and pointed out that despite government funding, the Institute actively seeks international grants to support its high quality research efforts.

H.E. Prof. Beyene emphasized PSI's commitment to excellence in research and referred to the success of its researchers in publishing their work in international journals. He also pointed out that the Institute advises international organizations such as the World Bank, with recommendations derived from the endline surveys being shared with the Bank and then forwarded to the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture.

H.E. Prof. Beyene further explained that PSI's dynamic researchers are actively involved in studying the current policies being implemented by the various ministries. To retain these talented researchers, the institute has introduced incentive programs. PSI is also recognized by global think-tank rating organizations and promotes researchers based on their publications.

H.E. Prof. Beyene pointed out that no single institution has all the expertise required and highlighted PSI's close collaboration with Addis Ababa University and other regional universities in Ethiopia. He emphasized PSI's commitment to finding and attracting competent minds.

H.E. Prof. Beyene expressed his excitement about the potential collaboration and stated that PSI would like to collaborate with UNU-IIGH and African CDC in policy making, consultancy and training on policy and document formulation. He emphasized the importance of countries in the Global South such as Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia working together to address common challenges, including health issues. He suggested holding joint conferences, workshops and training programs to further advance cooperation.

The United Nations University International Institute of Global Health (UNU-IIGH), based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is the UN-designated think tank for global health. Its mission is to bridge the gap between research and action and translate evidence into policy and tangible results. The UNU-IIGH acts as a hub linking UN Member States, academic institutions, agencies and programs. Established in 2005, the Institute plays a critical role in addressing global health inequalities by contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of health programs.

UNU-IIGH focuses on capacity building to equip local decision-makers and stakeholders with the skills and knowledge they need to effectively address global health challenges. This proactive approach is in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The UNU-IIGH's multifaceted approach includes policy analysis, the inclusion of gender and intersectionality perspectives, and the strengthening of capacity building initiatives. This comprehensive strategy underscores the Institute's commitment to advancing meaningful progress in global health and ultimately contributing to the broader UN agenda.

The UNU-IIGH's strategic plan for the period 2024 to 2028 is based on four key work packages: Gender Equality and Intersectionality, Power and Accountability, Digital Health Governance, and Climate Justice and Determinants of Health. Each package addresses a specific priority area that aims to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future.

The objectives of UNU-IIGH are to promote global health through a multi-pronged approach. This includes convening policy dialogs to develop recommendations and build consensus on key issues, translating and disseminating global guidelines to make them relevant for decision-makers at country level, and supporting implementation through expert advice and training. In addition, the UNU-IIGH aims to develop analytical tools for the development and evaluation of health programs, review evidence and generate new knowledge on gender and intersectionality in health, and strengthen capacity for decision-making at the local level through South-South learning and multi-stakeholder engagement. Finally, the Institute aims to develop knowledge products to inform global policy and best practices in health in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The discussion between H.E. Prof. Beyene and the UNU-IIGH highlighted the shared commitment to addressing global health challenges through collaborative efforts. The meeting served as a catalyst for exploring potential areas of partnership and leveraging the expertise and resources of both institutions to promote research, capacity building and policy development. The fruitful exchange of ideas promises to pave the way for future collaborations that will contribute to a healthier and more equitable world.