ExpandNet's Mission:

Many health technologies, services and community-based interventions have the potential to improve the lives of the poor. Yet rarely is this potential fully realized. Access to effective, quality services often remains limited, resulting in unnecessarily high rates of morbidity and mortality. ExpandNet is addressing this problem.

ExpandNet seeks to ensure that the benefits of interventions tested on a small scale are expanded to reach more people, more quickly and more sustainably. Activities focus on development of tools, provision of technical assistance, advocacy, and research on the science and practice of scaling up.

ExpandNet's Origins:

As a global network of public health professionals, ExpandNet was created in 2003 with leadership from WHO's Department of Reproductive Health and Research and the University of Michigan School of Public Health. The network grew out of the global implementation of the WHO-sponsored Strategic Approach to Strengthening Reproductive Health Policies and Programs which has been implemented in more than 30 countries. The emphasis of the Strategic Approach on explicitly linking participatory needs assessment and programmatic research with scaling up led to the creation of ExpandNet.

ExpandNet Members:

Members of the network are from international, governmental and non-governmental organizations, academic and research institutions, ministries of health, technical assistance and donor agencies who seek to advance the science and practice of scaling up. The founding members include public health professionals who have been active participants in scaling up initiatives in countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

More information about ExpandNet is available through the ExpandNet website at www.expandnet.net.