Working Groups

CORE Group’s technical and cross-cutting Working Groups are led by chairs and co-chairs from our Member and Associate Organizations. They provide technical leadership and facilitate collaboration to advance the strategic development of standards, activities, and products that strengthen community-focused health programs and technical agendas.

Our Working Groups are: Systems for Health; Monitoring & Evaluation; Nutrition; Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health; Social & Behavior Change; Disability Inclusive Health Technical Advisory Group; Humanitarian & Emergency Health; One Health & Climate Health; Noncommunicable Diseases.

Vision

The Systems for Health Working Group seeks to promote people-centered, Community-Inclusive Systems for Health, which deliver expanding packages of health interventions tailored to specific contextual needs and opportunities, connecting social and health care structures, valuing prevention, health promotion, and the agency of communities to own their future.

We are interested in cross-cutting issues, which contribute to strengthening systems for health, such as:  

  • The full integration of community-based systems into national health systems and strategies
  • Community health human resources
  • Community management structures
  • Social capital
  • Civil society engagement
  • Social accountability and health systems’ responsiveness

A collaborative publication included in the BMJ Global Health Supplement on The Alma Ata Declaration at 40 now reflects our belief in the evidence-based concept of Community-Inclusive Systems for Health as an organizing platform to advance these issues. Join us as a member, find out what workstream you can contribute to (currently active Nov 2019), Social Accountability, Human Resources for Community Health / CHWs, Global Health Agenda Advocacy for Community-Inclusive Systems for Health, or mobilize to start a new workstream.

Co-Chairs

  • Kristen Mallory, Children International
  • Dr. Adugna Kebede, Action Against Hunger

Staff Representative

  • Kate Kabore, CORE Group

Vision

The Nutrition Working Group underscores the critical role of nutrition in maternal and child survival and health through dissemination of state-of-the-art information and approaches essential for quality nutrition programming.

Co-Chairs

  • Diana Allotey, Vitamin Angel Alliance Inc
  • Albertha Nyaku, Results for Development 

Staff Representative

  • Kate Kabore, CORE Group

Vision

The RMNCAH Working Group synthesizes current research, best practices, and country experiences to provide CORE Group partner organizations with technical updates in the areas of women and maternal health; newborn and child health; and family planning and reproductive health.

Co-Chairs

  • Feven Tassew Mekuria, CARE
  • Rondi Anderson, Project HOPE
  • Jimmy Nzau, EngenderHealth

Staff Representative

  • Dr. Brooke Farrenkopf, CORE Group

Vision

The SBC Working Group contributes to improved maternal and child health outcomes by strengthening the capacity of CORE members to design and implement effective social and behavioral change strategies while documenting and disseminating valuable experiences.

Co-Chairs

  • Lisa Sherburne, JSI
  • Barbara Muffoletto, CURAMERICAS
  • Joel Mercado, World Vision

Staff Representative

  • Kate Kabore, CORE Group

Vision

In 2018, CORE Group prioritized a Disability Inclusive Health agenda and established the Disability Inclusive Health Technical Advisory Group (TAG), based on requests from the global practitioner community, to address gaps in disability inclusivity in health programming and advocacy. The Disability Inclusive Health Technical Advisory Group is open to all CORE Group members and associates, as well as non-members NGOs, CSOs, academic institutions, national governments, UN, donors, and policy makers’ representatives committed to work toward “Leaving No One Behind” and “Health for All” along the continuum from humanitarian relief to development. The TAG is committed to include the voice and work of people living with disabilities and disabled people organizations in the TAG.

Disability-Inclusive Health TAG Objectives

  1. Promote learning on disability inclusive health and rehabilitation;
  2. Facilitate collaboration to promote disability inclusive health initiatives;
  3. Advocate for disability inclusive health policies; and
  4. Advocate for increased resources for disability inclusive health programming.

Co-Chairs

  • Hamza Alzahran, Special Olympics International 

Staff Representative

  • Lisa Hilmi, CORE Group

Click Here for the DIH TAG Member Database

Vision

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) account for over 60% of deaths worldwide and include but are not limited to cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, mental illness, and injuries. NCDs cause millions of preventable deaths, particularly in less developed nations, where 4 out of 5 of these deaths occur. Most of these people, particularly in developing countries, lack access to the preventative measures or lifesaving treatments proven to be effective against NCDs. We already have many effective solutions, but we need to put them into action. CORE Group’s NCD Interest Group works to convene those working to treat and prevent NCDs at the community level, to share resources, events, and vital information to improve their work.

Co-Chairs

Barbara L. Smith, MPH, CPDM, Project Hope

Staff Representative

  • Kate Kabore, CORE Group

Learn More (Working Group pages require free login.)

Vision

The Humanitarian & Emergency Health Working Group brings together practitioners and organizations working in emergency preparedness, humanitarian response, recovery, and fragile settings. As conflicts, climate-related disasters, disease outbreaks, and displacement increasingly affect vulnerable populations, the need for coordinated, community-centered health approaches across humanitarian and development efforts has never been greater. This Working Group will focus on strengthening preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience in crisis-affected contexts. Emphasis will be placed on community engagement, risk reduction, health system continuity, and cross-sector coordination before, during, and after emergencies to reduce vulnerability and improve health outcomes while advancing progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Staff Representatives

  • Lisa Hilmi, CORE Group
  • Kate Kabore, CORE Group

Vision

The One Health & Climate Working Group brings together practitioners and organizations working at the intersection of human, animal, environmental, and planetary health. As climate change and environmental degradation increasingly shape health outcomes, and as the majority of emerging infectious diseases originate from animal sources, the need for integrated, multi-sectoral approaches has never been greater. This working group will focus on prevention, preparedness, and response to health threats influenced by climate change, environmental conditions, and zoonotic transmission. Emphasis will be placed on community engagement, systems thinking, and cross-sector coordination before, during, and after outbreaks and climate-related health challenges.

Staff Representatives

  • Lisa Hilmi, CORE Group
  • Kate Kabore, CORE Group

Join Our Network

To get involved with these groups, join their listservs.

Photo Credit: Helen Keller International