Features Nigeria Evidence-based Health System Initiative (NEHSI) A collaborative initiative between the Government of Nigeria, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Research Matters An initiative co-funded by IDRC and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Research Matters supports the effective exchange and translation of sound and innovative research to a wide range of research-users. The Municipal Services Project, South Africa Listen to a host of issues covered by the Municipal Services Project -- in English, Sotho, Zulu, Xhosa and Afrikaans.

GEH examines health systems through a governance lens and, conversely, uses health as an entry point to approach challenges of governance - how power is exercised, how decisions are taken, how citizens have their say. The GEH program supports research to:

• Strenghten and monitor the capacity of governments to ensure equitable financing and delivery of priority public health and health care services, especially to marginalized and underserved populations
• Support informed and effective citizen demand and participation throughout the policy-to-practice process
• Increase the effectiveness of research-to-policy linkages in promoting the dual goals of health and social equity

In adopting a governance perspective to health systems research, GEH highlights the need to link technical and political knowledge.

If research on governance is to make a difference to people's lives, greater attention must be given to the nuts and bolts of the interactions among actors, institutions, processes, and tradititions in the exercise of power and in the making and implementation of policy decisions.

Visit Research Matters to see how the various pieces of GEH research can be brought together into one robust whole as well as the basic theories, approaches and applications of knowledge translation.