WHGI Global Program
Best Practices Scale Up
Implementing locally led population, reproductive health, & gender equity programs
The William H. Gates Sr. Institute (WHGI) Global Program on Best Practices Scale Up supports locally led and resourced sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) programs that integrate demand generation, service delivery, and advocacy interventions tailored to local contexts.
The program prioritizes under-resourced and marginalized communities through a “business unusual” approach to scaling high-impact practices in partnership with more than 200 regional and country-based partners.
WHGI emphasizes long-term sustainability by supporting governments to own, finance, and implement the rapid and equitable scale-up of high-impact practices. Technical assistance is provided through locally based experts and partners, with support that gradually shifts from intensive engagement to lighter-touch coaching over time.
Contact Us ↗
Connect with WHGI's faculty and staff today to learn more or get involved with this Global Program.
Featured Institute Experts
Executive Director & Principal Investigator, TCI
Kojo Lokko brings an ideal combination of skills and experience with over twenty years of work in family planning, expertise in scaling up programs especially in reproductive health, building private/public sector partnerships, and producing results using social marketing approaches. He has a demonstrated track record in managing large, multi-faceted global programs involving demand generation, supply chain management, service delivery, advocacy with governments and donor engagement.
Executive Director & Principal Investigator, TCI
Kojo Lokko brings an ideal combination of skills and experience with over twenty years of work in family planning, expertise in scaling up programs especially in reproductive health, building private/public sector partnerships, and producing results using social marketing approaches. He has a demonstrated track record in managing large, multi-faceted global programs involving demand generation, supply chain management, service delivery, advocacy with governments and donor engagement.
Senior Technical Advisor
Ian Salas joined the faculty of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in July 2015 as an Assistant Scientist at the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health and a Research Economist at the Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health. Prior to this, he was a David E. Bell Research Fellow at the Center for Population and Development Studies at Harvard University.
Senior Technical Advisor
Ian Salas joined the faculty of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in July 2015 as an Assistant Scientist at the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health and a Research Economist at the Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health. Prior to this, he was a David E. Bell Research Fellow at the Center for Population and Development Studies at Harvard University.
Communications & Marketing Senior Advisor
Kim Martin is an accomplished writer/editor and public affairs specialist with 20+ years’ experience at Johns Hopkins. She is also a digital content strategist and has led the development of several websites, while also producing interactive content for the web. She is currently the Communications and Marketing Senior Advisor for The Challenge Initiative, a $170-million program based at the William H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health within the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Communications & Marketing Senior Advisor
Kim Martin is an accomplished writer/editor and public affairs specialist with 20+ years’ experience at Johns Hopkins. She is also a digital content strategist and has led the development of several websites, while also producing interactive content for the web. She is currently the Communications and Marketing Senior Advisor for The Challenge Initiative, a $170-million program based at the William H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health within the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Senior Program Officer II
Victor Igharo is a Senior Program Officer II and Nigeria Team Lead for The Challenge Initiative (TCI) at WHGI. He is a seasoned global health leader and social impact expert helping to translate research into high-impact strategies, policies, and programs that deliver systems-level change at scale through inclusive development models and innovative financing. Prior to his current role, he served as Associate Director-Technical with Axios Foundation Nigeria where he managed the new business and strategic program development portfolio.
Senior Program Officer II
Victor Igharo is a Senior Program Officer II and Nigeria Team Lead for The Challenge Initiative (TCI) at WHGI. He is a seasoned global health leader and social impact expert helping to translate research into high-impact strategies, policies, and programs that deliver systems-level change at scale through inclusive development models and innovative financing. Prior to his current role, he served as Associate Director-Technical with Axios Foundation Nigeria where he managed the new business and strategic program development portfolio.
Senior Program Officer II
Kate Graham is the Senior Program Officer II for The Challenge Initiative (TCI), a Gates Foundation and Bayer AG-funded business unusual approach to providing lifesaving reproductive health and family planning solutions to underserved poor communities in urban areas. Kate provides strategic, technical, and programmatic support to India and Philippine in-country teams to deliver effective and sustainable AYSRH and family planning interventions.
Senior Program Officer II
Kate Graham is the Senior Program Officer II for The Challenge Initiative (TCI), a Gates Foundation and Bayer AG-funded business unusual approach to providing lifesaving reproductive health and family planning solutions to underserved poor communities in urban areas. Kate provides strategic, technical, and programmatic support to India and Philippine in-country teams to deliver effective and sustainable AYSRH and family planning interventions.
Senior Research Data Analyst
Jessica Mirano is a Master of Public Health graduate from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where she earned certificates in biostatistics and epidemiology, and in adolescent health. As part of her program, she interned with UNICEF Belize to provide technical support in setting up a national school-based menstrual health survey.
Senior Research Data Analyst
Jessica Mirano is a Master of Public Health graduate from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health where she earned certificates in biostatistics and epidemiology, and in adolescent health. As part of her program, she interned with UNICEF Belize to provide technical support in setting up a national school-based menstrual health survey.
Senior Grants and Contracts Analyst
Bethany is a Senior Grants and Contracts Analyst for The Challenge Initiative. She has worked in the financial industry for over 10 years. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Colorado Technical University. Her prior work experience was working for Campbell County Government, as a Grants Specialist. She enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors during her free time.
Senior Grants and Contracts Analyst
Bethany is a Senior Grants and Contracts Analyst for The Challenge Initiative. She has worked in the financial industry for over 10 years. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Colorado Technical University. Her prior work experience was working for Campbell County Government, as a Grants Specialist. She enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors during her free time.
Advancing Sustainable Progress: Guiding Local Governments Towards Self-Sustained Health Systems
Empowering Sustainable Progress
In addition, we emphasize the importance of providing coaching in leadership, program management, and coordination. Furthermore, cost-efficient self-assessment tools designed for monitoring progress and facilitating necessary adjustments are deemed indispensable.
Transitioning Capacity
By coaching local governments to effectively transfer capacity, we ensure that the improvements in urban health systems become self-sustaining after the conclusion of technical assistance, often referred to as "graduation." This strategic approach to scaling best practices paves the way for the realization of locally-owned and lasting SRHR and gender equity programs, aligning seamlessly with our overarching Mission.
Platforms Within This Global Program ↗
International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP)
The Challenge Initiative (TCI)
Reproductive Health Centers of Excellence
Related Posts
How TCI Helped Develop a Nigerian MNCH Week Into a Family Planning Platform
Strengthening Family Planning Supply Chains in Bhubaneswar, India
