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GEGA's
GLOBAL AGENDA
A Global Equity Gauge :: A Global Network :: Capacity Development Tools :: Parliamentary Alliances
In addition to supporting and promoting the activities and goals of the 12 Gauges, GEGA is committed to supporting a Global Equity Agenda by creating a voice for the global advocacy arm of the alliance. Several activities are contributing to this goal: creation of a Global Gauge, a Global Network and Development of a Capacity Development Tool.
GEGA is currently in the process of identifying global advocacy issues that would be of interest to all of the Gauges, and will be coordinating with Gauges to develop the international/global dimension of GEGA. Such an activity would not only contribute to the global support of health equity issues and help sustain political pressure for those issues to be addressed, but also help GEGA create a network by cooperating with other large and small organizations, as well as those from the north and the south.
In order to maximize the impact of GEGA's activities and best pursue its broader goals, the organization is actively working in the broader global community, forging partnerships both within the health equity field and with complementary fields.
Despite the many pressures in all countries and involving various sectors to improve equity in both health outcomes and the provision of quality health services to their populations, in most countries, health and social sciences professionals do not have the capacity and tools to apply equity related concepts and concerns to their daily work, or to view current projects from an equity perspective.
Therefore, GEGA is encouraging the development of capacity
building tools and workshops within the Gauges, with the intention that
these tools can later be shared and promoted in the global environment.
Currently, both the Chile Gauge and the Cape Town Gauge offer training
courses through their affiliated institutions.
Topics addressed include:
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Introduction and background of inequity in health and health care
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How to measure inequity in health & health care
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Building & selecting indicators
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Quantitative & qualitative methods to measure inequity
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Practice using real data from national surveys to establish indicators
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Generating participation by stakeholders for equity in health
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Effective presentation of indicators to policy makers and the public
- Advocacy for Health
Parliamentary Alliances for Health Equity in Southern Africa
Until
now, direct parliamentary support to strengthen equity-sensitive decision-making
has been an ongoing activity only in the South African Gauge. Due to
the success of this approach and the opportunities presented by new
governmental administrations in some countries, other Gauges are taking
up this activity. The experiences of the South African Gauge suggest
that parliamentary support has several advantages as a strategic activity
for promoting equity: it supports capacity building for applying an
equity lens to policy; it helps to institutionalise equity considerations
in decision-making; it provides a relatively inexpensive, direct line
to decision-makers; it actively keeps equity issues on the political
agenda; and it builds positive and ongoing relationships with legislators.
Other benefits include support for good governance, transparency and
accountability, and representation of communities' interests in government.
Both Zambia and Nairobi plan to strengthen their ties with Parliamentary
Portfolio Committees on Health. Planning has begun, and initial activities
should begin within several months. 
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