Countdown to 2030

The main aim of the Countdown to 2030 programme is to strengthen collaboration between academics and various UN agencies to improve the monitoring and measurement of women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health.

The School of Public Health (SOPH) holds a series of sub-grants from UNICEF USA to support the health policy and systems-related work of the Countdown to 2030 programme, for the period 2017 to 2022. These include • Phase 1 activities – the Drivers Technical Working Group (Drivers TWG) and the British Medical

Journal (BMJ) series; and • Phase 2 activities – the Maternal and Newborn Health Exemplar project and the Data and

Analysis Centers for the Countdown country collaborations.

Co-chaired by the SOPH’s Prof Asha George, the Drivers TWG initially focused on four main work streams: digital health tools; quality improvement; adolescent health; and gender mainstreaming. Outputs related to this work have included • engagement on four journal supplements; • 20 journal articles; • six conference presentations; • representation on multiple UN technical working groups; • the establishment of one national community of practice in India; and • engagement in the WHO–UNICEF–Lancet Commission on ‘A future for the world’s children?’.

The Drivers TWG has also supported the revision of the health systems indicators in the Countdown 2030 profiles. For Phase 2 activities, the School is leading the Data and Analysis Center for Health Policy and Systems. This aims to provide technical guidance and tools that support the reviews of national plans and programmes / investment cases that address Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH-N) within the remit of the World Bank’s Global Financing Facility.

SOPH RESEARCHERS RATED By THE NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION (NRF)

During this reporting period, SOPH had nine NRF-rated researchers. One staff member was rated for the first time and three others improved or maintained their ratings. • B-rated researchers: Emeritus Prof David Sanders, Prof Helen Schneider and Prof Asha George. • C-rated researchers: Emeritus Prof Thandi Puoane, Prof Diane Cooper and Assoc Prof Zandile Mchiza. • Y-rated researchers: Dr Hanani Tabana, Assoc Prof Lucia Knight and Dr Marisa Casale. Our incoming Prof Olagoke Akintola is also a C-rated researcher. SOPH is also pleased to have a number of NRF-rated researchers amongst its extraordinary staff: • Prof Lucy Gilson is B-rated. • Prof Tanya Doherty and Prof Debra Jackson are C-rated researchers. • Assoc Prof Ehi Igumbhor is Y-rated.