Bridging Health and Humanitarian Action Through Local Research and Development
The Coalition for Health Research and Development (CHReaD) joined leaders from governments, UN agencies, INGOs, and the private sector at the East African Regional Humanitarian Summit, hosted by EAHS Africa and the Kenya Red Cross Society. The discussions underscored a powerful truth: effective humanitarian response, whether to pandemics, natural disasters, or protracted crises, depends on innovation across multiple disciplines. From epidemiology and supply chain management to manufacturing, policy design, and community engagement, the solutions of tomorrow are shaped by how well we invest in research and development (R&D) today.
The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare what happens when these systems fail to work together. It also revealed what becomes possible when they do.
One powerful example comes from Kenya, where Uzima Water Filters has transformed access to safe drinking water while demonstrating the resilience that local innovation can build. The organization adapted South Korean water purification technology into locally assembled filters that now serve over 135,000 households. These filters remove protozoa and bacteria and are approved by the WHO.
When COVID-19 disrupted global supply chains in 2020, Uzima faced a choice: halt production or reinvent it. The team pivoted to source nearly all components locally, transforming a supply chain crisis into proof that decentralized manufacturing strengthens pandemic preparedness. What worked for water filters offers lessons for vaccines, medical equipment, and other critical humanitarian supplies.
The health impact is measurable. Families report fewer cases of dysentery and waterborne illness. Children miss fewer school days. Households save money previously spent on medical treatment and bottled water, amounting to thousands of dollars over the filter’s 10-year lifespan. At $35 to $39 per unit, the technology is accessible, yet policy barriers slow adoption. Non-profits face taxes on innovative products, governments rarely pre-purchase emergency supplies before crises hit, and incentives for local manufacturing remain absent.
These are not just obstacles for water filters. They are systemic gaps that weaken our collective ability to respond to any humanitarian emergency. When the next pandemic arrives, or the next drought, flood, or displacement crisis, communities with locally manufactured solutions and resilient supply chains will fare better than those dependent on distant factories and fragile global logistics.
The lesson is clear: pandemic preparedness and humanitarian response are not separate challenges. They require the same foundation of research and development that bridges disciplines, builds local capacity, and creates systems resilient enough to withstand the next crisis.
Engaging in conversations like the East African Regional Humanitarian Summit is part of multi-sectoral engagement, which is essential for building a shared voice on R&D. CHReaD’s participation reaffirms the coalition’s commitment to ensuring that humanitarian, health, and research communities work together to deliver evidence-driven, innovative responses for Africa’s future.
