About

 

Approach

Countries are constantly designing, implementing, and modifying their policies and programs. By targeting the social determinants of health, these reforms have the potential to influence health and health inequalities. PROSPERED researches the effect of these changes using impact evaluation methodology.

Comparisons are made across nations, within nations that have substantial policy variation at the provincial or state level, and in terms of program cost-effectiveness. To facilitate policy evaluation, PROSPERED researchers have built databases summarizing national laws and policies across most countries worldwide in twelve policy areas.

PROSPERED supports graduate and postdoctoral scholars working in impact evaluation with training and financial aid. The training committee is currently supervising fellows from McGill University in Montreal, Ifakara Health Institute in Ifakara, Tanzania, Indian Institute of Management - Bangalore, and Cayetano Heredia University in Lima.

PROSPERED also strives to put its research into practice through partnerships with non-governmental organizations and government institutions, both through sharing research and joint design of research initiatives.

The project is supported by a five-year grant from the CIHR, 2016-2021.

 

IMG_2667.JPG

History

PROSPERED is the continuation of the MACHEquity research project, which operated from 2011-2016 and was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). MACHEquity used the same methodological approach to investigate how social policies aimed at reducing poverty, income and gender inequality in high- and low-income countries affect:

  • Major causes of morbidity and mortality in children

  • Morbidity and mortality in women under 50

  • HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and other major diseases.

To date, the MACHEquity and PROSPERED projects have published 32 peer-reviewed articles, delivered over 30 conference presentations, and submitted four graduate theses based on the project’s work. 14 fellows have been or are currently being supported by the training program. 

GOALS

Produce rigorous research evaluating how policies and programs can affect the social determinants of health.

Promote the use and development of quasi-experimental methods for impact evaluation.

Explore innovative and effective ways to translate research findings into improved programs and policies.