Webinar: Health systems strengthening in fragile settings: experiences and perspectives of international non-governmental organisations

18 November 2025

This webinar has taken place – the recording will be available soon.

There’s lots on the study Maria mentioned in her presentation here – Health systems strengthening and resilience-building in fragile and conflict-affected settings – including the brief and the photo booklet she mentioned.

Health systems strengthening (HSS) is essential to ensure sustainable improvements to health outcomes, and it is at the heart of the nexus in the health sector, connecting emergency response to recovery and long-term development. However, HSS programming remains a challenge for implementing actors working in fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCAS) at the intersection of humanitarian and recovery phases, where HSS efforts are complicated by weak governance and fragmented response.

Building on the 2022 Action for Global Health brief on “what works” for HSS in FCAS [opens new tab], this webinar focuses on “how to” questions for HSS programming in FCAS, presenting operational, experiential perspectives from NGOs, and engaging in dialogue with practitioners from funding and implementing organisations.

The webinar will feature:

• A recent study by ReBUILD for Resilience (more on that here) providing insights of the experiences of HSS practitioners at global, regional and country levels. Through photos and stories, we will hear their reflections on the challenges and entry points for HSS programming at the intersection of humanitarian and recovery phases.
• Two presentations showcasing examples of HSS programming in fragile settings – from International Rescue Committee through the HeRON project in Northern Nigeria and Action Against Hunger in Somalia.
• A Q&A session will engage the audience to share experiences, lessons learned and recommendations on how NGOs can move from health systems support to HSS, in order to refine practical guidance and recommendations.

Participants are:

Mustafa Al-Soufi – BOND [opens new tab]
Mustafa will open the session.

Maria Bertone – ReBUILD for Resilience and Queen Margaret University
Maria is a health system researcher with more than 15 years’ experience working in fragile and conflict-affected settings. She is a Reader at Queen Margaret University where she is involved in a number of research projects, including ReBUILD and a UNHCR-funded project on refugee integration in national health systems. Maria is currently Chair of the Thematic Working Group on Health Systems in FCAS [opens new tab] of Health Systems Global.

Fatima Ibrahim Lawan – International Rescue Committee
Fatima is a medical doctor and a seasoned public health professional with more than eight years’ experience leading nutrition, health, and health systems strengthening programmes in Northeast Nigeria. She has served in senior leadership roles with the International Rescue Committee, including Team Lead for the USAID/FCDO HeRON program, where she oversaw a health system strengthening consortium advancing RMNCAH services, governance reforms, and community-centred health system resilience.

Noémie Kouider – ReBUILD for Resilience and International Rescue Committee
Noémie is the Global Practice Lead for Systems Strengthening at the International Rescue Committee. She brings more than 15 years’ experience in governance, health systems strengthening, and service delivery in fragile and conflict-affected settings, working with donors, governments, and implementing agencies. In her role, she leads IRC’s global strategy on systems strengthening, develops technical standards and tools, and supports country programmes worldwide. She also advises on policy and advocacy, research, and global partnerships, and represents IRC in international systems strengthening fora.

Jieun Lee – The George Institute for Global Health [opens new tab]
Jieun is a global health practitioner with more than 15 years’ experience in community-based and primary health care systems strengthening. She is Programme Manager for Commissioned Research and Policy and Advocacy Advisor (UK-focus) at The George Institute for Global Health. In a previous role at World Vision UK, she provided technical leadership for health projects in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Since 2022, Jieun has led a consortium of nine UK-based international organizations to draft a policy brief on Health Systems Strengthening in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings [opens new tab], which galvanised FCDO interest and resulted in co-hosting a policy roundtable. This identified needs that led to follow-on research co-conducted with ReBUILD and International Rescue Committee on operationalizing these principles, which will be presented during the webinar.

Katie Husselby – Action for Global Health [opens new tab]
Katie will reflect on what we have heard and close the session.