Applications closed, results will soon be published
Washington, D.C., 8 September, 2023 – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is issuing a call to identify and collect national, subnational, and local experiences of intersectoral action that have directly or indirectly contributed to health equity. The proposal submission period will be open from 8 September to 8 October 2023.
This call aims to reduce knowledge gaps and generate insights into intersectoral action experiences that contribute to health equity in the Americas region. Specifically, it aims to contribute to a better understanding and clarity regarding the types and drivers of intersectoral action needed to address social determinants in different scenarios as well as, the characteristics that intersectoral action should have to be sustainable over time, among others..
Intersectoral action is one of the five action lines defined by the Policy for recovering progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals with equity through action on the social determinants of health and intersectoral work, approved in 2022. Furthermore, intersectoriality, along with social participation, are considered a cross-cutting element in the work new PAHO department Social and Environmental Determinants for Health Equity (DHE).
Strengthening intersectoral action as a key strategy to address social determinants of health and promote greater health equity and well-being for the population, has also been adopted as a central area of action by the WHO Special Initiative on Social Determinants for Health Equity, supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. In the Americas, there are currently five countries where this Initiative is being developed under the coordination of the Health Promotion and Social Determinants (HP) Unit of PAHO.
Requirements
This call welcomes intersectoral action experiences developed at the national, subnational, and/or local level. Initiatives could have been led by any sector of government and/or level of government. The proposal can refer to an experience initiated by the health sector or other sectors. Moreover, experiences currently in progress or developed within the last 5 years are eligible.
There are no restrictions regarding the topics or issues addressed by the intersectoral action itself, but it is important that the analysis of the experience delves into the lessons learned in the following areas (minimum 2 - maximum 3):
- The role of the health sector in intersectoral action to address social determinants of health and promote health equity.
- The role of sectors, other than health, in addressing social determinants of health to promote equity and their relationship with health.
- Conditions that drive or facilitate intersectoral action to promote health equity.
- Predominant conceptions of health and health equity in the intersectoral action experience.
- Lessons and challenges related to the institutional framework for intersectoral action.
- Facilitators of the sustainability of intersectoral action.
- The role and characteristics of social participation in different stages of intersectoral action.
- Challenges in monitoring and evaluating intersectoral action.
- Any other area considered relevant by the authors/narrators of the intersectoral action experience. Please explain.
Academic institutions, NGOs, community organizations, civil society organizations, municipalities, government levels and sectors, , both from the health sector and other sectors, can participate. Proposals can be submitted jointly by more than one institution.
Authors of the experiences selected will be contacted to further develop and systematize the report on intersectoral action. Furthermore, the experiences selected will be presented at the Regional Meeting on Intersectoral Action and Health Equity to be held in November 2023 in La Havana, Cuba.
