Field Building Leadership Initiative: Advancing Ecohealth in Southeast Asia Hung Nguyen-Viet, Center for Public Health and Ecosystem Research (CENPHER), Hanoi School of Public

health, Hanoi, Vietnam &

Regional Core Group Members of FBLI: Pornpit Silkavute, Dinh Xuan Tung, Pattamaporn Kittayapong, Fang

Jing, Xu Jianchu, Wiku Adisasmito, Sonia Fèvre, Hein Mallee

Introduction Ecohealth is useful for addressing health and environmental issues in developing

countries, in particular in South East Asia (SEA) where agricultural intensification

processes have profound implications for ecosystems and health. However, using

the ecohealth approach to comprehensively tackle complex issues requires

individual, institutional and country capacity in understanding and applying this

approach within the context of the region. The newly developed program Field

Building Leadership Initiative: advancing ecohealth in SEA (FBLI) aims at building

the field of ecohealth by integrating research, training, policy and networking to focus

on solving human health problems associated with agricultural intensification in SEA

countries.

Components

FBLI vision A well-established field of ecohealth that is:

Sustainable (networking, diversified funding)

Institutionalized (joint MoUs, adopted curricula)

Influential in global processes that drive environmental and health policy and

practice

Supported by a strong community of practice that includes key researchers and

policy makers.

The ultimate impact is seen in more sustainable agricultural practices and livelihoods,

and in healthier people and environments.

Field Building Leadership Initiative:

Advancing Ecohealth in South East Asia

Knowledge translation

Objectives 1. Conduct ecohealth research to address human health problems related to

agricultural intensification.

2. Strengthen the capacity within SEA for ecohealth research and practice by ecohealth

training to build leadership and expertise in the ecohealth field.

3. Engage key policy makers – at local and national levels – to interact with the

ecohealth research teams, sites and communities

4. Facilitate networking-of-networks and knowledge sharing to mainstream ecohealth

approaches and foster the development of the ecohealth field in the region

Research

Using ecohealth approaches to manage ecosystems and health in the context of agricultural

intensification

Generate knowledge: links and interactions among agricultural practices, ecosystems, and health.

Develop practical and innovative solutions to address health and environment problems identified.

Engage with local policy makers during the early stage of the research process, and to inform them about

research findings.

Multi-institutional, inter-disciplinary team

Capacity building

Research

Capacity

Building

Knowledge

translation

New Generation

of Ecohealth

Field Builders

DEGREE

EDUCATION

Degree Programmes

In Ecohealth

(long-term training of field builders)

Training of the Trainers

(short-term training of

lecturers/advisors)

Future Leaders

Training in Ecohealth

(short-term training of

potential leaders)

Promote linkages between the research and

policy communities by establishing and

cultivating relationships, especially among

senior researchers and middle-level policy

makers

Build their capacity to translate research

evidence to inform and influence policy

decisions

Policy alliance groups are core vehicle

5 years: 2012-2017

Ecohealth is well-positioned to become a sustainable dynamic field in Southeast Asia.

Path-breaking research findings and practical solutions

A robust and critical mass of training materials and pedagogy, regional cases, best

practices, and regional short courses and degree programs.

Strong and enduring linkages among policy makers and researchers.

Planning and Outcomes

Partners

Coordinating Unit CENPHER - Hanoi School of Public Health

138 Giang Vo, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Vietnam

T: (+84) 4.62733162, F: (+84) 4.62733172

E: fbli@hsph.edu.vn

W: http://cenpher.hsph.edu.vn/FBLI http://ecohealthnetwork.org