The ESTHER Ireland Partnerships Forum is an annual collaborative networking and learning event that highlights international health partnerships funded under the ESTHER Ireland programme. The event features a diverse range of presentations, workshops, and interactive sessions, offering valuable networking opportunities, best practice sharing, and critical discussions on key issues in Institutional Health Partnerships. The overarching goal of the Forum is to cultivate equitable and mutually beneficial partnerships that enhance health outcomes for all.
The 8th Partnership Forum will be a day-long event, bringing together our ESTHER Ireland institutional health partnerships and invited speakers to discuss and explore opportunities for strengthening and sustaining their partnerships and accomplishments. Register Now!
Event Title for 2023: Global Networking for Equitable Partnerships
The theme of the 8th aims to delve into the intricate interplay of power dynamics within partnerships, guided by the overarching theme of equitable collaboration.
One crucial aspect in the current Global Health discourse that ESTHER has been actively engaging with, is the concept of decolonisation. By acknowledging the historical legacy of colonialism and the prevailing power imbalances within the global health system, we can reassess our approaches to partnership, power dynamics, ownership, solidarity, appropriateness, and much more.
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Agenda of the Partnership Forum
In order to foster meaningful dialogue on aspects of this critical topic, the agenda for the Forum includes a keynote session, delivered by Christian Acemah Executive Secretary of the Uganda National Academy of Sciences (UNAS), that will explore the issue of Power in Partnerships. This session will include a panel discussion involving ESTHER partnerships.
Ruchi Junnarkar, Partnership and Localisation Advisor at Trócaire, will speak about their experience of providing funds directly to local organisations within the context of Localisation. This approach is a collective process that challenges the root causes of unequal global to local power dynamics, structures, and systems, including the legacies of racism and colonialism.
A co-presentation by Balwani Mbakaya, Prof of Public Health, University of Livingstonia, Moses Chimayi, General Manager St Johns Hospital Mzuzu and Jessie Chihana, Clinical Director and Gynaecologist, St Johns Hospital Mzuzu, will share experiences from the Gorey-Malawi Health Partnership. The team will be bringing a sculpture, One Head Does Not Lift a Roof, commissioned to illustrate the experience of working in partnership, to the Forum.
The agenda also includes a facilitated networking session, which will serve as an opportunity for health partnerships to connect and learn from each other. ESTHER Ireland staff will present on the findings of the evaluation of the effectiveness of ESTHER Ireland grants, and deliver a session on Communicating your Partnership.
Finally, the Grantees of the 2023 Small Grant Fund will be announced, as will the recipients of accreditation and re-accreditation for 2023 be presented with their Plaques at the Forum.
Overall, the 8th ESTHER Ireland Partnerships Forum promises to be an enriching and transformative event, propelling us towards creating more equitable and impactful health partnerships.
The 2023 Partnerships Forum – a hybrid event
The full event will be live streamed via the Irish Global Health Network YouTube channel
It is recommended to attend in-person if this is possible for you to take advantage of the networking opportunities that the Forum presents. The location for the in-person event will be the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), School of Population Health, Beaux Lane House, Lower Mercer Street, Dublin 2 and runs from 9 to 4pm. ESTHER Ireland acknowledges the support of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and their generous donation of the venue for the Partnerships Forum.
