Partners In Health & PIH Engage (Spring 2025)

Project Background

Partners In Health (PIH) is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to providing high-quality healthcare to marginalized communities, addressing social determinants of health, and advocating for health equity. PIH Engage is its grassroots advocacy and fundraising network, mobilizing volunteers to support PIH’s mission through community organizing, education, and policy change efforts.  

PIH is a member of the EndTB campaign to combat tuberculosis (TB) through advocacy, treatment expansion, and awareness-building. As momentum builds, engaging incoming members of US Congress will be essential for advancing key policy initiatives, including the EndTB Act, the Paul Farmer Memorial Resolution (PMFR), and the Community Health Worker Access Act (CHWAA).

Definition of Opportunity

A Notre Dame student team will research and identify newly elected members of Congress with potential interest in TB advocacy, global health, and partnerships with institutions such as the NIH, CDC, USAID, and the Global Fund. John Green’s forthcoming book Tuberculosis is Everything and his advocacy, along with efforts from young activists (Nerdfighters), are increasing interest in TB activism, particularly among young people. His visit to Notre Dame on February 5, 2025, presents a strategic opportunity to expand engagement and advocacy efforts in legislative circles.

Definition of Success

• A detailed list of incoming members of Congress with relevant health and global development interests, including linkages with organizations such as NIH, CDC, Global Fund, and USAID.

• Develop bios and background information for use during PIH Engage’s Hill Day on April 9, 2025 equipping advocates with key details for meetings on Capitol Hill.

• A comprehensive Champion Scale assessment of targeted MoCs, with tailored engagement strategies to advance their commitment.

Meet the Team

Final Deliverables

U.S. Department of State (Spring 2025)

Project Background

The University of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs is collaborating with the U.S. Department of State on an initiative focused on global conflict prevention research. As part of the Academic Centers of Conflict Anticipation and Prevention (ACCAP) partnership, the Department’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) is engaging universities to provide supplemental research, analysis, and data to enhance its ability to anticipate, prevent, and respond to global conflict. 

The CSO leads the formulation and implementation of conflict prevention and stabilization strategies, policies, and programs for the State Department. This partnership will provide undergraduate and graduate students at the Keough School with access to key State Department research tools, including its Instability Monitoring and Analysis Platform, which officials use to monitor conflict risks and implement evidence-based policies.

Definition of Opportunity

The student team will conduct research on illicit gold mining and its implications for violent extremism and broader instability dynamics in Coastal West Africa (CWA) focusing on Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, and Togo. The project will explore the relationships between illicit mining activities, financial flows, and governance challenges to inform future policy interventions. The student research will fill a critical knowledge gap for the Africa team within CSO, providing evidence-based analysis to support future Global Fragility Act (GFA) programming in the State Department. This project aligns with the broader mission of conflict prevention by identifying strategies to mitigate instability and strengthen governance structures.

Definition of Success

The team will explore the implications of illicit gold mining on violent extremism and broader instability dynamics in 1-2 countries in Coastal West African countries ((Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, and Togo). The final product should help address the following questions: What can legal mining operations do to promote formalization of these activities?  What local and national governments do to promote formal, legal employment and ensure gold mining revenues benefit citizens?

Meet the Team

Final Deliverables