Across the five focus countries, over 990 Fellows are actively engaged in the LDM Network. Many of these leaders work on such pressing global health issues as HIV/AIDS, adolescent reproductive health, gender-based violence, and access to quality family planning services and improved maternal health care.
In 2008, IIE WCC received a renewal grant to continue the LDM program in a fourth phase. The focus of this current phase is to
- Continue strengthening the existing networks and providing ongoing learning opportunities for RH leaders;
- Expand the network by selecting and matching individuals to quality leadership development programs in country; and
- Provide capacity building in leadership development for key partners delivering organizational development or leadership development programs.
LDM recently launched a competitive research grant process to encourage Fellows to collaboratively contribute to documenting and expanding the unique cultural discourse on leadership and leadership development in each of the five LDM focal countries. These grants were designed to support research on specific questions about leadership, and more specifically leadership for systems and social change. In March, LDM awarded eight leadership development research projects across the five countries.
One of the 2009 LDM Research Grant teams will explore the change in women’s historical role from powerful warriors to passive victims in northern Nigeria, where Hausa woman today are characterized bya high fertility and mortality rates. Neither history nor religion can fully explain the traditional, conservative culture through which deprivation of women continues to spread poverty, illiteracy, and a general poor social and economic status. This study will enable us to better understand the conflicts and challenges experienced by women leaders in Western designed reproductive health leadership development programs, and why, despite funding from these programs, there has not been a significant change in the position of women. Findings will add great value to LDM as we seek to design in-country leadership development programs which respond to the needs and realities of both men and women leaders.
The LDM family developed a Wiki, which is open to anyone interested in sharing information and learning about leadership for international reproductive health. The main purpose of this space is to facilitate greater learning, action, and interaction among leaders in reproductive health. We encourage and look forward to your active participation.
http://www.socialtext.net/rh-leaders/index.cgi
