Juliana A. Bol, PhD

Strengthening health systems to improve maternal and child health: an evaluation of the South Sudan Health Pooled Fund (HPF), South Sudan: The Health Pooled Fund (HPF) is the largest health systems strengthening program in South Sudan, financed with approximately £683 million between 2012 -to-date. HPF is implemented in 8 (out of 10) states in South Sudan in a geographically-focused aid-financing architecture, making it ideal to compare performance across difference contexts, and implementers (national and international NGOs). The research uses a district health information system (DHIS) database to assess trends in health facility utilization, variation across implementing partners using key maternal and child health indicators.

Ubumwe: Exploring Arts for Education and psychosocial support with refugee children and youth, Northern Uganda: Co-PI with Mary Menddenhall, Teachers College Ubumwe proposes to explore how the arts can be integrated in both formal education and broader community spaces to bolster psychosocial well-being, academic achievement, social cohesion, and peace among the refugee and host communities in the Kyangwali settlement in western Uganda. The long-term goal is to reimagine how schools, communities, and organizations can best meet the needs of youth whose lives have been disrupted by forced migration. The year-long pilot will develop culturally relevant arts education curricular materials in collaboration with students at Teachers College. The materials will be used by teachers in schools for refugee children to pilot-test their usability, acceptability and feasibility in meaningfully supporting children and youth in their schools and communities.

Tigray Voices of Change: A research-action project using visual and narrative storytelling to enhance the well- being of children affected by armed conflict in Ethiopia, Mekelle, Tigray Province, Ethiopia: The Care and Protection of Children (CPC) Learning Network proposes to undertake a research action project with the children and youth living in Mekelle, using a photo-based methodology to hear their voices and stories through photos that they have captured themselves. Research questions include; How do children and youth contextually define well-being?; What did the process of creating images and telling stories mean for the youth who participated?; Has their sense of safety and well-being changed over time?