Social Science Partnership in Development (Phase III) (360G-Wellcome-079252_Z_06_Z)

This proposal requests a third phase of Wellcome Support to the Social Research Center. The third phase is intended to consolidate the success of the previous two phases. The program activities will retain but modify the previous components of training programs and research internships and will include two additional components of institutional support and regional partnerships for health equity. I. Training Program and Research Internships · Further development of the Research Training Program to achieve better recognition of health equity as a development challenge in the Arab region. · More effective support for trainees to develop a research project addressing health equity concern in their country. · Training internships to be allocated to researchers working in the area of health equity. II. Development of Research Capacity of a Select Number of Institutions In response to the shortcomings in both teaching and performance of educational and research institutions, two types of institutional support are planned. a. Improvement of teaching skills and curriculum in relevant departments of major universities in the region. b. Supporting the research capacity and performance of promising research units in the region. III. Partnership for Health Equity Regional networking and partnerships to build a critical mass of researchers and to consolidate knowledge on health equity: - Support better documentation of the magnitude of health inequities and the burden of ill health born by different social groups. - Increase understanding of the nature of social factors and the mechanism of their contribution to health. - Encourage the adoption of policies and programs aiming to reduce inequities.