Research and Policy Advocacy
At Value Health Africa (VAHA), we believe that impactful health policy begins with evidence, and evidence begins with research.
In Africa, the journey toward robust healthcare systems is challenged by a limited research culture and a lack of capacity-building structures for emerging scholars. A 2012 study published in the BMC Medical Ethics Journal highlights that “health-related research in Africa still faces a lot of ethical hurdles,” which can only be addressed through harmonized capacity building—particularly the active promotion of young, university-level researchers in health research.
Our Mission in Research and Advocacy
Rooted in this understanding, VAHA is committed to strengthening health research systems in Africa. Our goal is twofold:
- To influence health policy reforms through high-quality, community-centered research.
- To reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by identifying and addressing the common risk factors affecting local communities.
We empower young researchers—especially women—to become active agents of change by mentoring them and integrating their efforts into meaningful community-based research initiatives.
We believe that “Knowledge is Power”—and that power should be in the hands of communities, researchers, and policymakers working together for healthier societies.
Our Key Strategies
🔍 Capacity Building
We conduct seminars, workshops, and conferences aimed at equipping young professionals and researchers with innovative tools and approaches to solve health challenges.
📊 Evidence-Based Data Collection
We champion the use of scientifically sound research methods to gather accurate data that can inform health advocacy, policy reforms, and intervention design.
📣 Awareness Raising
We engage academic institutions, community groups, and policymakers to promote the importance of need-based research, especially among students and emerging researchers.
Core Program Values
✅ Transparent & Ethical Research
We uphold integrity in all our research processes, ensuring transparency and adherence to ethical standards.
🌍 Community-Driven Field Research
Our approach centers on field-based research that reflects the real health needs and contexts of local populations.
👩🔬 Youth & Female Empowerment
We are dedicated to mentoring the next generation of researchers, with a special focus on promoting women’s participation and leadership in health research.
🤝 Building a Network of Community Researchers
VAHA is creating a continent-wide community of "citizen researchers" who are informed, engaged, and empowered to advocate for effective health policies.
📈 Promoting Access to Reliable Health Data
We work to improve the availability and use of quality data to support decision-making across all levels of the health sector.
Driving Change Through Knowledge
At VAHA, we are not just collecting data—we are building a movement. A movement of young, ethical, and community-rooted health advocates who are passionate about reshaping Africa’s healthcare future through knowledge, evidence, and action.