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Dear CORE Group Members,
Halfway through 2026, our community continues to demonstrate what is possible when people come together around a shared purpose. The global health landscape remains complex, but the CORE Group network stands strong, a trusted space where collaboration, learning, and meaningful connection drive progress forward.
This edition is filled with updates we are proud to share: member spotlights, programmatic highlights, upcoming events, and initiatives making a real difference at the community level. Each story is a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of our members, who are turning commitment into impact every day.
Looking ahead, we are energized by what the months ahead hold — new opportunities to deepen partnerships, amplify community-driven solutions, and continue building toward a more equitable world.
Warm regards,
Lisa Hilmi
Executive Director, CORE Group
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SAVE THE DATE
CORE GROUP CONNECT | HYBRID EVENT
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Save the date for Friday, November 6, 2026, for a full day of breakthrough conversations, meaningful connections, and celebration of the leaders reshaping global health, happening in Washington, DC, and hybrid.
CORE Group Connect brings our entire network together for technical deep-dives, inspiring conversations over dinner, and an awards ceremony celebrating the champions driving real impact in communities around the world. Whether you join us in person in DC or participate virtually, connect with peers, learn from innovators, and be part of something bigger than yourself.
More details coming soon. Mark your calendar!
| | INTRODUCING THE DR. HENRY PERRY GLOBAL CHAMPION IN COMMUNITY HEALTH AWARD | | |
CORE Group is proud to introduce a new annual recognition honoring one of community health's most dedicated champions. The Dr. Henry Perry Global Champion in Community Health Award will be presented annually alongside the Dory Storms Child Survival Award, celebrating individuals whose work reflects the values of equity, participation, and community-centered primary health care.
Dr. Perry's career spans more than five decades of transformative contributions — from pioneering the Census-Based, Impact-Oriented (CBIO) Approach to training the next generation of global health leaders. Today, he continues his work as a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and we are honored to celebrate his legacy while he is here to enjoy it.
"I am grateful to the many communities, colleagues, and organizations that have taught me so much and have shown what is possible when people work together for Health for All."
— Dr. Henry Perry
In the months ahead, CORE Group will share details on how to nominate individuals for both the Dr. Henry Perry Global Champion in Community Health Award and the Dory Storms Child Survival Award. We invite you to start thinking about the colleagues, partners, and community champions in your network whose work embodies the spirit of Health for All.
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CORE Group will be present at key global health forums this fall, including the UN General Assembly (September 8–22, 2026), the High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (HLM PPPR) (September 25, 2026), and the World Health Summit (October 11–13, 2026).
If you're interested in co-hosting or participating in a side event at any of these gatherings, we would love to hear from you. Contact Lisa Hilmi, Executive Director, at lhilmi@coregroup.org to explore partnership opportunities and amplify our collective voice on the global stage.
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81st UN General Assembly (UNGA 81)
Taking place September 8–22, 2026 in New York, the 81st session of the UN General Assembly will convene global leaders, policymakers, and civil society to address pressing health and development priorities on the world stage. The high-level General Debate begins September 22, offering a critical moment for advancing community health and global health security agendas.
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World Health Summit 2026
Taking place October 11–13, 2026 in Berlin, Germany, the World Health Summit 2026 will bring together global leaders, policymakers, scientists, and civil society under the theme "From Crisis to Resilience: Innovating for Health" to explore how innovation can build more equitable, resilient, and future-ready health systems.
CORE Group will be present and engaged. Are you attending? Complete this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdwMKxHIkcwztn5H7-OvO9ZNMBii9VOfZuwVeVmAhwd8cyFeQ/viewform?usp=header to let us know you'll be there, share your organization, and indicate if you're hosting a side event.
Stay tuned for details on the CORE Group Social Hour, an exclusive gathering that connects members from around the world.
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Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) 18th Annual Conference
Taking place February 25–28, 2027 in Lima, Peru, the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) will host its 18th Annual Conference under the theme "Transforming Global Health: Partnerships, Power, Leadership, and Technology in a Rapidly Changing World." This is a key gathering for global health academics, practitioners, and advocates committed to advancing equitable health outcomes worldwide.
Abstract submissions are now open!
We encourage CORE Group members to consider submitting and joining this important conversation.
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In April, CORE Group, in partnership with the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), joined the global community in celebrating World Immunization Week under this year's theme: "For every generation, vaccines work."
Over the past 50 years, vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives, protecting individuals, families, and communities from deadly diseases worldwide. Throughout the week, our network rallied to share immunization resources, counter vaccine hesitancy, and reinforce the life-saving power of vaccines in the communities they serve.
We are grateful to our partners and network for helping amplify this important message.
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In May, CORE Group and the Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness convened a global dialogue on the interconnected challenges of environmental change, infectious disease outbreaks, and the animal-human interface.
The discussion brought together experts from across sectors to examine emerging public health risks, share lessons learned, and identify priorities for strengthening preparedness and response efforts. Insights from the dialogue will inform a forthcoming recommendations and guidance paper.
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On June 9, 2026, CORE Group's Executive Director, Lisa Hilmi, participated in the United Nations Multi-Stakeholder Hearing on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response in New York, a critical preparatory step toward the High-Level Meeting taking place in September at the UN General Assembly.
During the hearing, Lisa delivered a statement on behalf of the CORE Group network, calling on Member States to place communities at the center of pandemic preparedness. Her intervention emphasized the essential role of community health workers, community-based surveillance systems, and meaningful civil society engagement in any credible political declaration on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
CORE Group's participation reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that community-driven approaches and frontline health workers remain central to global health policy and pandemic response frameworks.
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CORE Group was proud to participate in the 2026 International SBCC Summit, which took place June 22–26 in Panama City, Panama.
As part of our engagement, CORE Group hosted an Auxiliary Event on Tuesday, June 23: "SBC at a Crossroads: Charting a Collective Path Forward." The session brought together regional and global SBC leaders to surface key themes from a global survey and listening sessions conducted through the CORE Group SBC Connect Initiative, and to co-create concrete actions to strengthen and align the SBC ecosystem for the future.
The session featured panel moderation by Lisa M. Hilmi, Executive Director of CORE Group, with panelists Gerda Binder, Senior Advisor for Gender Equality & Digital Technology, UNICEF Digital Impact Division, and Kenneth Mulondo, Consultant, African Society for Social & Behavior Change. Findings were presented by SBC Working Group Co-Chairs Joel Mercado, Sr. Technical Advisor, World Vision, and Barbara Muffoletto, Sr. Program Manager, Impact Global Health Alliance.
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CORE Group members in the DC, Virginia, and Maryland area now have free access to CORE Group's conference facilities and communal office space in the heart of Washington, DC, perfect for partner meetings, trainings, networking sessions, or collaborative workshops.
Picture your next breakthrough moment in our modern conference rooms, equipped for hybrid meetings and designed to foster the kind of meaningful collaboration that drives real change in global health.
Interested in booking? Contact Tambudzai Magwenzi at tambudzai@coregroup.org to check availability and reserve your date.
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On July 29, CORE Group hosted a powerful webinar bringing together more than 120 community health leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and global health experts from around the world.
The conversation opened and closed where it mattered most, with the voices of Community Health Workers. Mercyline Amadi Olala and John Wabwire Shikuku from Kenya grounded the discussion in the realities of outbreak response, followed by opening remarks from Lisa Hilmi, Executive Director of CORE Group. The session was moderated by Dr. Cecilliah Mbaka (CARE) with panelists Brigid Mukoya Waliuba (International Rescue Committee), Dr. Edwin Mbugua (Catholic Relief Services), Esther Elizabeth (Action Aid Initiative South Sudan), and Dr. Eskinder Wolka (International Institute for Primary Health Care-Ethiopia), who shared thoughtful insights on outbreak preparedness, trust, localization, and the critical role of CHWs in building resilient health systems.
The session reinforced a powerful message: when Community Health Workers are recognized, supported, and meaningfully engaged, communities and health systems are better prepared to prevent, detect, and respond to health threats.
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Pathfinder International: Advancing Women-Led Innovation for Health and Community Development in Kenya
This quarter, we are proud to spotlight Pathfinder International and the launch of Women&Co Kenya, a bold initiative bringing together women entrepreneurs, health innovators, investors, and community leaders to co-create solutions that strengthen health outcomes and drive sustainable community development.
Built on Pathfinder's decades of global health experience, Women&Co Kenya is grounded in the belief that women are essential drivers of health innovation. By elevating women's leadership and centering community voices, the initiative works at the intersection of health, climate resilience, and economic empowerment to create lasting change for families and communities across Kenya.
Congratulations to Pathfinder International and its partners on this exciting milestone!
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Concern Health Education Project (CHEP) | | | |
Concern Health Education Project (CHEP): Raising Awareness and Driving Vaccination Uptake Against Meningitis in Ghana
Concern Health Education Project (CHEP), a Ghana-based NGO, is being recognized for their impactful work in combating meningitis through community education, social mobilization, and vaccination advocacy. Their story was recently featured on Gavi's VaccinesWork platform, shining a spotlight on the critical role community organizations play in reaching vulnerable populations with life-saving health information.
Operating primarily in northern Ghana, a region designated as a meningitis zone, CHEP engages communities and schools to build awareness of meningitis symptoms and prevention, while working to ensure families do not default on routine vaccinations. Their efforts have directly contributed to increased vaccination uptake in the communities they serve.
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Children International: Strengthening Social Accountability and Primary Health Care Quality in the Dominican Republic
As part of ongoing efforts to improve community-driven health systems, Children International recently published a case study in the Global Health Science and Practice Journal examining how a comprehensive Community Score Card (CSC) monitoring and evaluation toolkit strengthened social accountability and improved the quality of primary health care services across 10 government-run clinic sites in the Dominican Republic.
Implemented between 2018 and 2023, the program brought together service users, health care providers, and community leaders through a structured facilitated dialogue process to identify challenges, develop action plans, and drive measurable improvements across four key indicators: quality of care, availability of medical staff, availability of medicines, and community participation. A particular emphasis was placed on meaningful youth leadership, with findings showing that youth who served as co-facilitators were far more effective at elevating issues important to young people. This work offers valuable lessons for community-centered approaches to health systems strengthening globally.
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Mphatso Zathu Foundation: Empowering Adolescent Girls Through Rights-Based Sexual and Reproductive Health Education
Mphatso Zathu Foundation has launched an Adolescent Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights Facilitator's Manual, a practical guide designed to support structured, rights-based learning in school-based Girls Clubs. The manual equips facilitators with the tools to lead informed discussions, build confidence, and empower adolescent girls with accurate knowledge about their health, dignity, and rights, creating safer spaces for young women to learn and thrive.
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With a global network of over 300+ members, CORE Group is proud to champion the collective efforts driving progress in global health. We are continually inspired by the dedication, innovation, and impact of our members, and remain committed to elevating their voices and expanding their reach.
To explore the transformative work of our members and learn how they are advancing health equity worldwide, visit the link below.
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Small Grants for Scaled Impact |
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This quarter, the Small Grants for Scaled Impact (SGSI) program officially expanded to Malawi, welcoming three new civil society organization partners and bringing the total number of active partners to seven across Kenya, Ethiopia, and Malawi. The new partners are focused on reaching underserved populations with critical SRMNCAH services, including adolescent girls, women with disabilities, and refugee women and newborns.
Field results from Kenya and Ethiopia tell a powerful story of impact- this quarter alone, subgrantees identified and referred 3,099 zero-dose and under-vaccinated children, reached 30,000 pastoralist households with MNCAH services, and connected with 450,000 people through local TV and radio.
On June 18, CORE Group also hosted a virtual Grants Management Training bringing together 39 participants from all seven partner organizations, including five Executive Directors, for peer learning and capacity building.
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The CORE Group team working on ZIP, Gavi's Humanitarian Partnerships had an exciting quarter with two significant publications highlighting the program's impact.
CORE Group published a blog post on Gavi's VaccinesWork digital magazine titled "When Health Services Come Together, People Show Up." Led by CORE Group and supported by implementing partners in Cameroon and South Sudan, the post explores how integrating vaccination with other essential health services, including nutrition support, vitamin A supplementation, deworming, and disability referrals, has driven community demand and strengthened trust in conflict-affected areas. The findings show that families are more likely to seek out vaccination when multiple needs can be addressed in a single visit.
Additionally, the first ZIP peer-reviewed manuscript was published in BMJ Global Health, titled "Complementary role of humanitarian civil society organizations in bridging gaps in immunisation programming in conflict and crisis-affected settings: the REACH Project experience." Led by IRC REACH and supported by CORE Group, the paper demonstrates how humanitarian civil society organizations can effectively complement government immunization efforts through context-specific, conflict-sensitive approaches — particularly in fragile settings where national programs face geographic, functional, or security limitations.
These publications mark a meaningful milestone for the ZIP program and the communities it serves. Read the full blog post here and the BMJ Global Health article here
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CORE Group Partners Project |
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The CORE Group Partners Project (CGPP), funded by the U.S. Department of State, is a multi-country, multi-partner initiative that works with national and subnational Ministries of Health and Agriculture to strengthen country-led health security and health systems. Across 15 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, CGPP advances four thematic areas: Polio Eradication, Global Health Security, Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN), and Malaria Prevention and Control.
Through partnerships with governments, civil society, faith-based organizations, and community networks, CGPP strengthens immunization systems, disease surveillance, outbreak preparedness, detection, and response, essential MCHN services, and malaria prevention in high-risk, hard-to-reach, and border communities. The project currently operates in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Peru.
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Become a CORE Group Member!
By becoming a CORE Group member, you will:
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Expand your network in international health by collaborating with our Community Health Network, which has over 15,000 participants around the world
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Strengthen your technical capacities and skills by participating in our Mentorship Program and by staying current on the best tools, resources, and innovations through our working group channels, webinars, and newsletters
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Influence the rapidly evolving global and country-level health issues by participating in leadership opportunities as a CORE Group Technical Working Group or Interest Group co-chair
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We're Hiring!
CORE Group is seeking qualified professionals for the following opportunity:
CGPP Consultant Roster: Outbreak Preparedness, Readiness and Response, Polio Eradication, Maternal and Child Health
Location: Eastern DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi, or other designated high-risk countries
How to Apply: Send a CV and brief cover letter to info@thecgpp.org with the subject line: Outbreak Consultant Roster Application — [Country]
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New Disability Advocacy Training Resources from Kupenda for the Children
CORE Group Pitch Challenge winner Kupenda for the Children, in collaboration with Kuhenza, has released three new open-source training guides to support disability advocacy, reduce stigma, and strengthen disability-inclusive programming.
Drawing on more than 27 years of experience, the resources provide practical tools for educators, advocates, nonprofits, and organizations working to advance inclusion for children and youth with disabilities and their caregivers.
Explore the free training guides and Kupenda's growing library of open-source disability advocacy resources.
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CORE Group Members: Share Your Job Openings
Members can now submit job openings to be featured on the CORE Group website, reaching qualified professionals across our network.
To submit, email Tambudzai Magwenzi at tambudzai@coregroup.org with the subject line: Job Posting Submission.
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