Who are we?

The African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation is an initiative promoted by a network of African and international leaders in health and development who have gained first-hand experience in planning and implementing health and development programs in Africa and at international level. It is an independent "Think Tank and Network."

What is our Mission?

To promote evidence-based and technically sound policies and strategies that are owned and driven by African populations themselves..

What is our strategy?

To achieve our mission, ACHEST will strategically:

1. Forge alliances and partnerships with individuals and organisations within Africa and round the world;
2. Conduct policy and strategy oriented research focused on Africa's engagement with global partners in health, economic and social development;
3. Promote and advocate for the development of capacity of African professionals and institutions to pursue excellence and to engage as leaders and active change agents in their communities, countries and global arena
4. Develop and implement strategic communications with African and global leaders with targeted outreach to civil society, policy makers and professionals.

What added value do we bring?

This decade has witnessed a welcome burst of interest and a flurry of matching activities aimed at promoting equity and social justice and addressing the gross and embarrassing disparities that exist in the quality of life between human populations in our one globalised world.

Africa is a continent that has witnessed for the first time in history a collapse in life expectancy and is struggling and lagging behind in achieving the globally set targets enshrined in the MDGs.

However, there is now abundant evidence to show that past and current efforts at identifying and implementing solutions that are handed down from outside and are not rooted in the history and culture are not effective. Ownership of these solutions by African countries and populations has repeatedly failed to take root and as the result such solutions have not achieved their full potential and, in some cases, they have done more harm than good. The value added of ACHEST, at continental and country level, is to strategically promote and advocate the use of well grounded knowledge and evidence to strengthen Africa's professionals' and institutional capacity to provide transformational leadership to African communities, countries and the world; to apply constructive and targeted strategic communication at all levels to catalyse the needed behaviour change.

How are we governed?

ACHEST is incorporated and registered in the Republic of Uganda as not for profit organisation and applies internationally accepted governance principles. The management organs include: The Advisory Board, Expert Panels, and The Secretariat each of which has clearly defined roles.