US Agency for International Development Global Health Initiative (USAID)

The Association for Minority Health Professions Schools, in partnership with the US Agency for International Development has for five years implemented the Global Health Initiative to strengthen the capacity and participation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in USAID international population and health programs. Specifically, the initiative worked to achieve the following objectives:

1. To increase the institutional capacity of HBCUs to work with USAID in providing technical assistance to field missions in the areas of reproductive health, population, and tuberculosis

2. To encourage the development of networking and mentoring among USAID Cooperating Agency (CA) partners with HBCUs in international health programs;

3. To increase HBCU fellowship opportunities among faculty and students in selected international health interventions.

The AMHPS successfully undertook numerous Faculty Leadership Development programs in alignment with these goals. Through leadership and capacity development programs, HBCU faculty were introduced to USAID programs designed to promote dissemination of best practices and lessons learned on tuberculosis management and current population and reproductive health topics. Training programs and workshops also focused on the design, implementation, management, and evaluation of USAID international health programs. Following participation in training programs, HBCU faculty have effectively incorporated lessons learned into their courses and research programs, thereby increasing the capacity of their host institution to provide technical expertise for USAID’s overseas missions.
 

Population and Reproductive Health capacity strengthening programs

• State of Technical Art (SOTA) meeting

• Global Health Council (GHC) Meeting

• International Reproductive Health Faculty Training, Accra, Ghana

• Training of Trainers on International Reproductive Health, Tanzania

• Seminar on Emerging Trends in International Reproductive Health and Family Planning, Washington, DC.
  Tuberculosis Faculty Development programs

• International Union Against Tuberculosis Lung Disease (IUATLD) Training Course, Arusha, Tanzania

• Training of trainers intensive course on TB Surveillance, Prevention, and Containment, University of Limpopo, Pretoria, South Africa.

Mentoring and Networking with HBCUs

By developing professional networks among HBCU faculty, we have increased individual and institutional capacity to participate in USAID-funded reproductive health programs. AMHPS members have partnered with a small number of Cooperating Agency Partners around technical issues of mutual concern. HBCU faculty have participated in research and dissemination activities in support of USAID’s Africa Bureau’s Strategic Objectives related to reproductive health and family planning.

• Consortium for Education, Training, Research and Action in International Health (ETRAINH)

• Review and Critique of grant applications from HBCU faculty