The Africa Research, Implementation Science, and Education (ARISE) Network, stands as a beacon of collaboration, uniting leading African institutions in a dynamic platform for groundbreaking research, transformative education, and sustainable partnerships across the region. Born out of a resounding call for enhanced public health capacity in Africa, ARISE emerged as a testament to the collective vision and dedication of its founders.
Cast your minds back to the vibrant atmosphere of the first ARISE meeting in June 2014 where representatives of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH), Africa Academy for Public Health (AAPH) and six African nations—Botswana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda—joined forces, igniting a spark of possibility that would soon blaze into a transformative movement. Through this initial meeting, key needs and areas of focus were identified within the broader global health agenda. Beginning with adolescent health and training, ARISE progressed with the intention to expand efforts to address emerging needs, such as nutrition, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, food systems, and climate change.
What began as a meeting soon evolved into a bold initiative, with ARISE emerging as a testament to the power of partnership and collective action. In the years that followed, a series of milestone meetings served to bolster collaboration, guiding the Network towards its shared vision.
• In January 2016, ARISE collaborators came together in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, setting the stage for what was to come. April of the same year saw a convening in Boston, USA, to further the aspirations of the budding ARISE Network. Building on these successes, meetings were held once again in Dar es Salaam and Boston in 2017.
• As the years passed, the footprint of ARISE expanded, traversing continents and bridging cultures. The Network convened in Dubai (2018 and 2019), Bahir Dar, Ethiopia (2018), and Johannesburg (2019) to pave the way for further growth, collaboration, and excellence.
• Since 2020, the Network has held annual gatherings in Dar es Salaam to celebrate achievements from the past year and plan for the next year of collaborations. Guided by the vision of HSPH and AAPH as convenors, and in partnership with long-time collaborators, the ARISE Network continues to thrive, drawing strength from its diverse membership.
The ARISE Network stands as a beacon of excellence, united by a shared commitment to advancing public health across Africa and beyond. Today, the Network is comprised of 22 member institutions spanning 10 sub-Saharan African countries, alongside esteemed partners from Germany and the USA:
• Botswana: University of Botswana and Botswana–Harvard Partnership
• Burkina Faso: Nouna Health Research Centre
• Ethiopia: Addis Continental Institute of Public Health and Haramaya University
• Germany: Heidelberg Institute of Global Health
• Ghana: University of Ghana
• Nigeria: University of Ibadan
• Rwanda: University of Global Health Equity and University of Rwanda
• Senegal: Institut Pasteur, Dakar
• South Africa: University of Cape Town, University of KwaZulu-Natal, and Africa Health Research Institute
• Tanzania: Africa Academy for Public Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science, University of Dodoma, Management and Development for Health, and Ifakara Health Institute
• Uganda: Makerere University School of Public Health and Mbarara University of Science and Technology
• USA: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Beyond these institutions, we engage in impactful collaborations across Africa. One standout initiative is the DASH project—Research Network for Design and Evaluation of Adolescent Health Interventions and Policies in sub-Saharan Africa. Supported by the Federal Ministry of Education, Germany, and Research Networks for Health Innovations in sub-Saharan Africa, this endeavor entails partnerships with Ministries of Health and Education in ARISE Network countries, as well as European allies like the Technical University of Munich. Our global reach extends further, encompassing esteemed partners in Europe, India, and China, such as Charite Universitatsmedizin in Berlin, Erasmus University in Rotterdam, the Center for Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences in Serbia, Tsinghua University in China, and the KEM Hospital Research Centre in India.
Together, the Network works tirelessly to advance implementation science in priority research areas and nurture the next generation of public health leaders across Africa. Through the power of South-South and North-South collaboration, ARISE fosters equitable partnerships, ensuring that expertise is shared, and voices are heard. The Network serves as a hub of knowledge, expertise, and innovation, pooling resources to tackle complex public health challenges head-on. From research methods to program design, implementation science to measurement and evaluation, ARISE embodies the spirit of collective action and shared purpose. But the impact of ARISE transcends borders. Beyond the shores of Africa, the Network has forged partnerships and collaborations, extending its reach to the global stage. Through initiatives like CHAN—the China-Harvard-Africa Network, ARISE continues to champion innovation and research, forging new pathways for collaboration between continents.
ARISE Network’s research initiatives
With a wealth of collective experience and expertise, the ARISE Network stands as a powerhouse in the realm of public health research, with a particular focus on maternal, neonatal, and child health, adolescent health and nutrition, infectious diseases, food systems, and climate change. Over the past decade, the Network has spearheaded numerous groundbreaking research projects in these critical areas, resulting in over 200 publications that illuminate the path towards improved health outcomes across the continent.
As the Network’s collaborations have progressed, adolescent health and nutrition have emerged as key areas of focus. Harnessing the power of innovation, ARISE has pioneered novel approaches to promote adolescent health and nutrition, leveraging both traditional and digital platforms. From school-based interventions to community programs, the Network has deployed a multifaceted approach to reach adolescents where they are, ensuring that no voice goes unheard.
The ARISE Network’s commitment to advancing adolescent health and nutrition is not merely theoretical; it is rooted in a robust portfolio of research initiatives that span continents and disciplines. These initiatives serve as testaments to the Network’s unwavering dedication to understanding, addressing, and ultimately improving the health and well-being of adolescents across Africa and beyond.
The ARISE Network Community-based Adolescent Health Study (2017-2020) was conducted across seven ARISE Network countries, and it sought to shed light on the burden of adolescent health problems and the factors that shape them. The resulting Special Issue on “Adolescent Health in Sub-Saharan Africa”, published in the Tropical Medicine and International Health Journal (2020), represents a milestone in our collective understanding of adolescent health dynamics in the region.
Building on this, the ARISE School Health and Nutrition Study (2020-2022) delved deeper into the nexus of nutrition, health, and education among adolescents. This comprehensive investigation, conducted within urban school settings in five sub-Saharan African countries, involved examining a demographic frequently overlooked in comparable studies: young adolescents aged 10 to15 years. Consequently, this study provided invaluable insights into the nutrition environments of adolescents, laying the groundwork for evidence-based interventions to promote health and well-being. The forthcoming Special Issue on “Improving nutrition and well-being of school-age children in the African context” in Maternal and Child Nutrition Journal promises to further amplify the impact of this vital research.
In parallel, the Adolescent Health and Wellbeing Longitudinal Study (2021-2024) charts new frontiers in community-based research, integrating digital methods and surveillance systems to capture real-time insights into adolescent health dynamics. So far, two papers published in the Lancet eClinicalMedicine serve as a blueprint for future research endeavors.
In response to the pressing global challenge of mental health disorders among young people, the ARISE Network, in collaboration with Being, a mental health initiative hosted by Grand Challenges Canada, embarked on a transformative journey to empower youth and foster supportive communities in Tanzania and Ghana (2022-2024). The project adopted a relational wellbeing approach, engaging diverse stakeholders including youth and marginalized groups to identify key mental health issues and solutions. Through rigorous reviews and consultations, the initiative seeks to broadly disseminate findings, fostering knowledge exchange and driving momentum towards improved mental health outcomes for young people in LMICs.
Even in the face of unprecedented challenges, the ARISE Network remains steadfast in its mission. The first ARISE Network COVID-19 Rapid Monitoring Survey (2020-2021), in collaboration with the Harvard Center for African Studies, provided critical insights into the impact of the pandemic on healthcare workers, adolescents, and adults across six urban and rural sites in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. The resulting Special Issue in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene serves as a vital resource for policymakers and practitioners grappling with the fallout of COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa. This was followed by a second multi-country survey (2022) involving adolescents, adults and healthcare providers. This survey provided important data on vaccine hesitancy and consequences of the pandemic to facilitate more effective and targeted interventions and provide decision-makers with data and tools to strengthen vaccination campaigns.
Beyond observational research, the ARISE Network is committed to translating evidence into tangible interventions through implementation science. Among these initiatives, ARISE-NUTRINT (2021-2024) takes center stage, spearheading interventions aimed at combating nutrition-related non-communicable diseases among Africa’s adolescents and youth. Similarly, the DASH study (2021-2025) aims to design and evaluate interventions and policies that directly impact the health and well-being of adolescents across sub-Saharan Africa. The MEGA trial (School Meals, Education, Gardens, and Micronutrient Supplementation study, 2020-2024) and the SAMIA trial (Scaling-up high-impact micronutrient supplementation interventions to improve adolescents’ nutrition and health in Tanzania and Burkina Faso, 2020-2024) represent bold steps towards improving adolescent nutrition status and health outcomes.
But our work does not stop there. With projects like COMPASS (2022-2024), we are tackling the complex challenges of the double burden of malnutrition and food insecurity among young adolescents in Tanzania. Through a rigorous human-centered design process, we engage local stakeholders, including adolescents themselves, to co-create interventions that are not only effective but also culturally relevant, feasible, and sustainable in the long term.
At the heart of our research lies a commitment to impact. By providing critical information and tools to government and policymakers, we empower them to scale and sustain interventions and policies that support adolescents in crucial areas. Our recommendations, informed by robust evidence and guided by local context, offer strategic insights into strategy, cost, acceptability, and feasibility, ensuring that our efforts translate into meaningful change on the ground. But perhaps most importantly, the ARISE Network serves as a catalyst for collaboration and collective action. By bringing together researchers, decision-makers, and public health professionals from across the region, we create a vibrant ecosystem of knowledge exchange and partnership. Through our combined experience and expertise, we are able to tackle some of sub-Saharan Africa’s most pressing health challenges with ingenuity and resilience. Our impact extends far beyond the confines of academic journals; it reverberates through communities, shaping policies, and transforming lives. By bridging the gap between research and practice, we empower public health leaders to drive meaningful change and build a brighter future for generations to come.
ARISE Network’s training initiatives
The ARISE Network’s commitment to improving population health through enhanced capacity and effective programs extends beyond research to encompass a robust portfolio of training initiatives. These initiatives, forged in collaboration with leading academic institutions and HSPH, lay the groundwork for future impact by equipping public health leaders with the skills and knowledge they need to drive change.
At the forefront of our training efforts lies a commitment to innovation and sustainability. Through intensive short courses, multidisciplinary mentorship, and the development of competency-based degree programs, we empower leaders to translate evidence rapidly and effectively, bringing successful interventions to scale while nurturing self-sustaining training programs.
Training has been a priority of the ARISE network since its early days, with the first training program, the ARISE Network Monitoring and Evaluation Training Program, launched in 2017. With support from the McGoldrick Professional Development Program in Public Health, the Departments of Global Health and Population and Biostatistics at HSPH, under the leadership of Professors Marcello Pagano and Wafaie Fawzi, designed this training to build capacity in advanced research methods for assessing health outcomes and measuring and evaluating new and existing intervention programs. Seven researchers and lecturers from South Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria, Botswana, Ethiopia, and Rwanda participated in a one-week course at HSPH to develop critical research skills. Following the program, trainees adapted curricula to be taught in full course modules at their home institutions. This training approach has been integrated into many of our subsequent training initiatives, aiming to enhance the impact and sustainability of each program.
Today, a cornerstone of our training portfolio is the Research Training on Harnessing Data Science for Global Health Priorities in Africa (2021-2026), known as WASHA Takwimu (“Ignite Data” in Swahili). This transformative program, sponsored by the Fogarty International Center of the United States National Institutes of Health, aims to build data science research capacity across Africa. By hosting postdoctoral fellowships, faculty training, short courses, and seminars, as well as developing a master’s degree program in health data science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, WASHA Takwimu is poised to reach over 350 researchers, empowering them to harness the power of data for health systems strengthening and beyond.
In addition to WASHA Takwimu, ARISE partners have collaborated closely with HSPH to offer infectious disease research training programs in Tanzania and Ethiopia, as well as HIV implementation science research training in Tanzania. These programs, alongside initiatives like the HBNU Global Health Research Training Program, provide mentored research training opportunities to early-career global health researchers, strengthening collaborations and extending the reach of ARISE’s training efforts.
In response to the 2022 Call to Action by the Africa Centers for Disease Control to bolster the capacity of the public health workforce, the ARISE Network has taken decisive action. Recognizing the critical role of advanced training in addressing the health needs of the region, ARISE partners have conducted a comprehensive assessment of doctoral training needs in Africa. A resulting paper from this exercise now published in the Lancet Public Health provides an outline for advancing doctoral training, research, and practice capacity within and between universities across Africa.
Consequently, we are now collaborating on the development of a groundbreaking initiative: the ARISE Doctoral Training Program, designed to cultivate a new generation of advanced public health researchers and practitioners in Africa. This proposed program will address key recommendations that emerged from our assessment. These include introducing and expanding competency-based education and standard accreditation, accelerating the use of information technology at universities, increasing financing for capacity building, promoting interprofessional education, strengthening connections between academic, practice, and research partners, and implementing ongoing tracking, monitoring, and sharing of best practices and lessons learned. Through rigorous training activities, tailored to address the unique challenges of pandemics, climate change, food systems, and adolescent health, the program will equip participants with the skills and expertise they need to drive meaningful change in their communities and beyond. By harnessing the collective strengths of ARISE partners and leveraging existing collaborations, the program will provide a robust foundation for advanced research and practice, paving the way for a brighter, healthier future for all.
Our commitment to training extends far beyond the confines of individual programs. Through the inclusion of degree program development in our training initiatives, we ensure sustained capacity building in the region. From the Master of Public Health in Implementation Science developed through the HIS-Tanzania program to ongoing efforts to develop a doctoral program in Implementation Science at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania, we are laying the groundwork for a new generation of public health researchers and practitioners in Africa.
At the heart of our training efforts lies a commitment to collaboration and mentorship. Alumni of ARISE programs are encouraged to contribute to curriculum development, lead training efforts, and mentor junior colleagues, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth. By harnessing the collective experiences of our alumni, we can tailor our training efforts to meet the evolving needs of early-career public health researchers, ensuring that our programs remain relevant, effective, and sustainable in the long term.
Aspirations for the future
Our aspirations are expansive and critical. Through cutting-edge research, capacity building, and sustainable partnerships, we aim to generate groundbreaking knowledge and translate evidence into tangible actions that significantly enhance the health and lives of women, children, adolescents, and their families throughout the region.
Conducting inclusive and contextual research is at the core of our mission. We are committed to producing scientifically rigorous research that addresses the pressing health and nutrition challenges facing adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Our research endeavors bridge crucial knowledge gaps, ensuring findings are directly applicable to real-world scenarios and influence policymaking, thereby yielding tangible benefits for adolescents.
In our pursuit of impactful outcomes, we extend research beyond cross-sectional analyses to include longitudinal, population-based studies and develop evidence-based interventions, tools, and resources seamlessly adopted by healthcare providers, educators, and community organizations. Our comprehensive approach to stakeholder engagement and dissemination encompasses publishing in peer-reviewed journals, drafting policy briefs, conducting capacity-building workshops, and leveraging social media platforms to expand our reach.
Our capacity-building initiatives empower local researchers and cultivate a robust research infrastructure throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Through targeted training programs, fellowships, and exchange initiatives, we bridge early- and mid-career researchers with seasoned experts, fostering cross-cultural learning and collaboration. By organizing symposia, conferences, and workshops, we provide dynamic platforms for researchers to showcase their work, engage in intellectual exchange, and spark new collaborative efforts.
Establishing robust and enduring partnerships is essential for our sustained impact. We proactively engage with interdisciplinary researchers and policymakers, ensuring our findings directly inform health and nutrition policies and programs targeting adolescents. By forging connections and collaborating with local organizations and communities, we address unique needs and concerns, enhancing our potential to secure consistent and diversified funding and drive substantial enhancements in public health and socio-economic progress across the region over the long term.
As we look to the future, the ARISE Network remains steadfast in its commitment to growing public health capacity and improving health across the region. Through our collaborative training initiatives, we are empowering leaders to drive meaningful change. As we stand on the precipice of possibility, let us celebrate the spirit of ARISE - a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and unwavering dedication. Together, we embark on a journey towards a brighter, healthier future for all!
While we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the ARISE Network and envision the future, we recognize the unwavering dedication of ARISE collaborators, which has been the cornerstone of our success. Yet, none of this would be possible without the invaluable support and input from our partners, stakeholders, and donors. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our donors, including the National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Center, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Botnar Foundation, the Izumi Foundation, the Motsepe Presidential Research Accelerator Fund for Africa, the European Union, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research-Germany, and the UNICEF New York Office. Moreover, we are profoundly thankful for the involvement of various Ministries in the countries where we work, who provide ongoing input and support tailored to the needs of their populations. Finally, our journey would not have been possible without the engagement and participation of numerous stakeholders and communities in our research and capacity-building initiatives.