A New Paper on Health and State-building 

A new paper by Save the Children UK and the Health and Fragile States Network, entitled 'The Role of the Health Sector in Wider State-building',  has just been published.  This paper was commissioned by Save UK, in collaboration with the Network.  It builds on previous Network papers on health sector reconstruction and statebuilding, and post-conflict health sectors and transitional funding. 

 Using Epidemiology in Conflict

A website for policy-makers and practioners on the use of epidemiology in conflict settings is now available. It oulines why epidemiological tools, such as surveys and surveillance systems, are important in conflict settings, and provides some guidance on how to commission and manage them.  It also describes basic epidemiological concepts, including the use of indicators, and how to design and implement surveys and surveillance systems.

PREVIOUS NEWS 

Health and Statebuilding Roundtable

A Network Roundtable was held on December 10, 2009 at DfID on the role of health and statebuilding. Participants were also given a chance to discuss, and give input into the upcoming World Development Report 2011 on Fragile States.

Launches of the Good Practice Report and the Eldis Dossier on Health and Fragile States

In June 2009, the Good Practice Report and the Eldis Dossier on Health and Fragile States were launched.  The first launch was held at the Institute of Development Studies, Brighton on Jun 2, 2009 where the discussion focused on 'why engage in fragile states'. The second launch was held at the London International Development Centre, on Jun 18th, and focused on issues around health and governance.   

Network Papers 

Two papers were commissioned by the Health and Fragile States Network to further expand the evidence-base. The first is on health sector reconstruction and statebuilding, and the second focuses on funding for the health sector in post-conflict settings. Both are now available on the Network's website. 

The first paper investigates the role of the health sector in statebuilding activities, examining how service delivery, institution building and governance capacity may contribute to statebuilding. Case studies exploring these dynamics were done in Nigeria and Sierra Leone.  The executive summary and full paper are now available. 

The second paper examines the myth and reality of transitional funding gaps in countries emerging from war.  It systematically investigates funding for the health sector in six post-conflict settings, and includes an in-depth case study of Liberia.  The executive summary and full paper are now available. 

World Conference on Humanitarian Studies, February 2009

Network members attended the World Conference on Humanitarian Studies in Groningen, Netherlands, Feb 4-7th, 2009.  Papers and presentations on early recovery and health, and humanitarian space are now available.