Strengthening the ecosystem for health policy and systems research for health systems strengthening in Asia

Co-Creation Series

Health Policy and Research Institutions (HSPRIs) from the Asia region began co-creation of a shared vision and action plan for a more responsive and robust ecosystem to facilitate continuous health systems strengthening during a series of virtual convenings in summer of 2021. These virtual convenings engaged HPSRIs and learning platforms to identify what types of institutions and functions are needed at the country, regional, and global levels to support policymakers and implementers to design and advance evidence-informed health policies over the course of 6 sessions. Read more below. To access the recordings of the sessions, please visit the Resources tab.

Shared Vision

Session Summaries

Session 1 (May 27)

Session 1 consisted of a panel discussion focusing on the following question: What challenges are HPSRIs and governments facing in the areas of HPSR and what specific needs do they have to strengthen the generation the generation and translation of HSS evidence into practice?

Session 2 (June 8)

Session 2 focused on how existing learning platforms, networks, and/or leading regional institutes can respond to the needs of HSPRIs and government actors discussed in the first sessions.

Session 3 (June 15)

Session 3 consisted of two parts. The first part will synthesize existing evidence on opportunities for learning platforms/programs to meet HPSRI and country needs. The second part will introduce participants to the principles of co-creation and development of a shared vision.

Session 4 (June 22)

Session 5 (June 24)

Session 6 (June 29)

Sessions 4-6 used the content generated in the first three sessions to advance the shared vision and co-create collaboration models and action plans to realize that vision.

The goal of this event is to engage HPSRIs and learning platforms in dialogue to identify what types of institutions and functions are needed at the country, regional, and global levels to support policymakers and implementers to design and advance evidence-informed health policies.

Facilitation Team Bios

Read the full facilitator bios here.

Dr. Abdul Ghaffar


Executive Director, The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (the Alliance), World Health Organization (WHO) .

Dr. Ghaffar helps to shape HPSR through developing and testing innovative models in both research and implementation of programmes for health systems strengthening and enhancing the use of evidence in decision-making

Aku Kwamie


Technical Officer, The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (the Alliance), World Health Organization (WHO)


Aku Kwamie is a health systems researcher. Her work has focused on applying complexity theory to health systems governance, management and leadership. She leads the Alliance’s portfolios on systems thinking and capacity strengthening for the conduct of HPSR.


Jean-Jacques Frere, MD., MPH

Senior Governance Advisor USAID, Asia Bureau

Jean-Jacques Frere, MD., MPH is a Senior Health Governance Advisor at the Bureau for Asia at USAID. Prior to joining USAID, he spent 15 years at the World Bank carrying out analytical work and designing and managing large projects with a particular focus on fragile and conflict states in the Middle East, South Asia and in Sub- Saharan Africa.

Sweta Saxena

Health Systems Advisor, USAID, Asia Bureau

Sweta Saxena is a Health Systems Advisor at the Bureau for Asia at USAID. She has over a decade of experience in global health development, research, policy, and practice. Prior to supporting the Asia Regional health portfolio, she worked within USAID's Office of Health Systems and consulted for UN Women, Global Health Strategies, and the British Council.

Dr. Leizel Lagrada-Rombaua

Senior Fellow, Results for Development

Dr. Leizel Lagrada-Rombaua is a Senior Fellow at Results for Development and the president and owner of GECC Developmental Services OPC. Her areas of work cover health systems reforms, focusing on health financing and health service delivery; policy analysis and health systems research; quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation; and collaborative learning.


Dr. Nathan Blanchet

Accelerator Project Director and Senior Program Director, Results for Development

Dr. Nathan Blanchet is a health systems specialist with over 20 years of experience advancing global health through research, teaching and nonprofit program leadership. As a senior program director at Results for Development, Dr. Blanchet serves as project director for the Health Systems Strengthening Accelerator, a global initiative to partner with countries to build resilient high-performing health systems.


Amanda Folsom


Senior Program Director, Results for Development

Amanda Folsom is a Senior Program Director and Practice Lead for Collaborative Learning at Results for Development. She leads Collaborative Learning under the Health Systems Strengthening Accelerator and has spent a decade supporting the Joint Learning Network as a technical facilitator and previously as network coordinator.


Kavita Hatipoglu


Senior Program Officer, Results for Development

Kavita Hatipoglu is a Senior Program Officer at Results for Development where she has led engagements using the collaborative learning approach across sectors. She is currently supporting the Health Systems Strengthening Accelerator and the co-creation series, as well as the Partnership for Evidence and Equity in Responsive Social Systems (PEERSS).


Leah List


Senior Program Associate, Results for Development

Leah List is a program associate at Results for Development (R4D) where she provides programmatic and administrative support. During her time at R4D, she has supported collaborative learning networks like the Joint Learning Network and the Learning Network for countries in Transition along with the Health Systems Strengthening Accelerator.

Dany Chhan

Senior Operations Associate at Results for the Development

Dany Chhan is a Senior Operations Associate at Results for Development. She currently supports the Health Systems Strengthening Accelerator project and Primary Health Care Performance Initiative.