Our Impact: 35 Years of transforming global health
This year, hera celebrates 35 years of dedication, innovation, and transformative change. From our humble beginnings in a small attic with a fax machine to a global cooperative working across more than 100 countries, our journey has been defined by one guiding principle: the right to health and development for all.
Over the past three and a half decades, hera has consistently worked at the intersection of health, development, and human rights, shaping policies, programmes, and strategies that leave lasting effects on communities worldwide.
Transforming health systems
Through rigorous monitoring and evaluation, we have helped strengthen health systems, improve service delivery, and ensure equitable access to care. Throughout our journey, hera has supported governments and organisations in strengthening vital health systems:
Health service delivery: We revitalised blood transfusion services and restructured Mongolia’s health system. We conducted several studies and evaluations on community health and primary health care (both for UNICEF) also conducted several evaluations on GAVI’s health system strengthening support in Burundi, Kenya and the DRC.
Global health financing: We advised on sector-wide budgets, and performance‑based financing. As an example, we supported analysis, reflections and dialogue between the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance in Namibia, for example, to strengthen efficiencies and health procurement reforms to achieve better value for money and improved service delivery at community level.
Improving access to medicines: We have worked extensively on improving access to medicines and health products through different types of support. Through the Southern Africa Regional Programme on Access to Medicines and Diagnostics (SARPAM), hera supported SADC in implementing its Pharmaceutical Business Plan, delivering key milestones such as regulatory harmonisation, pooled procurement strategies, TRIPS flexibilities workshops, and multi-stakeholder policy reform initiatives—ultimately improving availability, affordability, and quality of medicines across 14 Member States. This work is now being taken further in the EAC and through work on Pooled Procurement for the Global Fund. We have also developed and evaluated National Pharmaceutical Policies and Strategies, most recently in Rwanda.
Health governance: hera has been involved in several contracts that assess the global health architecture, from monitoring effective development cooperation for IHP+ to facilitating the reflection process by the EU and likeminded donors on the Lusaka Agenda (ongoing).
Expanding our reach: hera’s expertise has expanded into universal health coverage, social protection, socio-economic inequalities, gender equality, mental health and resilient humanitarian response, including evaluating water and sanitation, climate resilience in the Sahel, and emergency responses to natural disasters.
Advancing sustainable development through community‑centred initiatives
hera’s community‑focused methodology emphasises local leadership and meaningful inclusion:
We evaluated HIV testing and treatment studies in partnership with the Global Fund, highlighting community-led models in Ghana and Myanmar.
We developed RMNCAH social behaviour change communication tools using the human centred design approach for Enabel in Rwanda.
Working with UNICEF, we developed a dashboard tracking Community Health Workers across 16 countries in the MENA region, improving data‑driven decision making.
Leadership in human rights-based development
At the core of our mission is a rights-based approach: every individual deserves access to healthcare and development opportunities. We advocate for equality and social protection, particularly for vulnerable populations, ensuring that progress is inclusive and just. hera embeds human rights and social inclusion deeply into its services:
Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) is a key area we work in, conducting research and evaluations on access to SRH services for vulnerable populations to evaluating SRHR programmes for bilateral and multilateral agencies.
We recently conducted a study on gender inequality on midwifery for UNFPA in 2024-2025 based on primary data collected in 6 countries in Africa (Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Namibia, Senegal and Zambia).
We are currently conducting an evaluation on a large global mental health programme (Being Initiative) on behalf of Global Affairs Canada and the Botnar Foundation.
Our cooperative actively upholds UN Global Compact principles and the Women’s Empowerment Principles, championing human rights, environmental care, and corporate integrity.
As part of our commitments, has obtained B‑Corp certification and maintains ISO 9001:2015 quality standards, reinforcing our dedication to sustainability and ethical practices.
Our cooperative model means every voice matters—from founding scholars to local associates in the global south. Employees are shareholders, voices are heard, and culture is nurtured.
A global legacy
Through over 700 projects with diverse partners, including the UN, European Commission, GAVI, Civil Society Organisations and national governments, hera has left an indelible mark on both the global health and development sectors. Our multidisciplinary teams continue to deliver innovative solutions and evidence-based strategies that drive sustainable impact.
35 years in, our impact speaks for itself. From grassroots community initiatives to global policy shifts, hera’s journey has been one of partnership, purpose, and perseverance. As we stride into the next decade, we remain committed to making health and development a right—not a privilege.
Our journey has always been about more than projects. It’s about real-world practices, empowering people, and shaping a future where health and development are rights, not privileges. Here’s to the next 35 years.
Stay tuned for our next piece on how we see the health and development sector evolving in the future, and how hera will adjust to the rapidly changing landscape.
