The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (the Alliance), hosted by the World Health Organization, is dedicated to strengthening health systems and addressing social determinants of health through evidence-based research. It works collaboratively with national policy-makers, researchers, and communities to generate impactful knowledge and promote research-informed health policies. The Alliance focuses on key areas where health policy and systems research can make unique contributions: reforming health systems to achieve universal health coverage, leveraging digital transformation for health improvement, tackling noncommunicable diseases, enhancing resilience in the face of climate change, and improving preparedness for health emergencies through systems thinking. The organization not only supports the creation of actionable insights but also works to build the capacities of national and regional institutions, ensuring that research contributes to real-world policy and implementation improvements. Through advocacy, partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives like the Systems Thinking Accelerator (SYSTAC), the Alliance aims to influence global health policy and foster equitable and sustainable health systems worldwide. Its mission is grounded in promoting health equity, enabling countries to make informed decisions, and addressing systemic challenges in policy and planning, especially in low-resource settings.

The Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research is inviting proposals for a grant focused on using participatory systems thinking methods to enhance national climate and health policy processes. This initiative will support two research teams from eligible countries—Islamic Republic of Iran, Mozambique, Nepal, or Uganda—to apply underutilized systems thinking approaches in national policy development. The goal is to improve coherence and effectiveness in addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change and public health. Key outputs include an analytic report, participatory workshops, and knowledge products such as policy briefs, infographics, or videos. The expected outcome is a demonstrable impact on a national climate-health policy process through applied systems thinking. The project also involves active collaboration with the Alliance and WHO, participation in cross-country learning forums, and contribution to a joint synthesis report. This grant builds on the Alliance’s long-standing work in systems thinking and WHO’s climate-resilient health systems framework, seeking to bridge the gap between policy planning and practical implementation. The project will run for eight months from May to December 2025 and is intended to strengthen local capacity, promote stakeholder engagement, and advance sustainable climate-health policy interventions in the supported countries.