YADAM Foundation Convenes Multi-Stakeholder Co-creation Workshop to Shape Research Agenda for Maternal and Child Health in Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, January 9, 2026 – YADAM Foundation, in partnership with the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), successfully convened the ROOTS1000 Stakeholder Co-Creation Workshop at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Addis Ababa. The high-level gathering brought together senior government officials, academic researchers, implementing partners, and health financing experts to collaboratively design a groundbreaking research program targeting maternal, newborn, child health, and early childhood development (MNCH&D) outcomes during the critical first 1,000 days of life.[
A Strategic Dialogue for Evidence-Driven Impact
The workshop opened with a keynote address by H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, Founder and Chairman of YADAM Foundation, who emphasized the importance of locally contextualized research to transform health outcomes for mothers and children.
The ROOTS1000 initiative—Research on Opportunities for Optimal Thriving and Scalability in the First 1000 Days—is a multi-country research program operating across Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Pakistan, and Indonesia. The consortium brings together the YADAM Foundation, the International Institute of Social Studies, and Addis Ababa University, combining international expertise with deep local knowledge to address critical evidence gaps in MNCH&D interventions.
Collaborative Research Design
Structured as a collaborative design lab, the half-day workshop convened a multidisciplinary group of stakeholders representing the entire health ecosystem. Participants included senior officials from the Federal Ministry of Health spanning the Maternal & Child Health, Primary Health Care, and Community Engagement directorates, professors from Addis Ababa University’s College of Social Sciences and School of Public Health, researchers from Gondar University’s Center for Digital Health and Implementation Science, and experts from the Ethiopian Public Health Institute. The implementing partner perspective was represented by organizations including UNICEF, International Fund for Africa, and Medical Teams International, while critical insights on health financing were contributed by experts from the Ethiopian Health Insurance Service and the Addis Ababa Health Insurance Service.
Through two parallel breakout sessions, participants engaged in intensive discussions around eight interconnected Work Packages designed to identify, evaluate, and scale effective MNCH&D interventions. These Work Packages address evidence synthesis and gap mapping, health systems financing, integrated care, community-based approaches, early childhood development, cross-country learning, knowledge sharing, and project coordination.
The ROOTS1000 Stakeholder Co-Creation Workshop marks a critical milestone in Ethiopia’s journey toward evidence-based health system strengthening. By bringing together diverse expertise and centering the voices of those who will implement and benefit from the research, YADAM Foundation and its partners are laying the groundwork for transformative improvements in maternal and child health outcomes.
The initiative recognizes that the first 1,000 days of life represent a unique window of opportunity when investments yield the highest returns across health, cognitive, and socioeconomic dimensions. Through rigorous research, multi-sectoral collaboration, and community ownership, ROOTS1000 aims to ensure that every Ethiopian mother and child can thrive during this critical period.
Dr. Wuhibegzer Ferede, CEO of YADAM Foundation, provided closing remarks that underscored the organization’s commitment to translating research into actionable policy and practice.
