New partnership to expand health in Africa

By Henry Neondo


A new partnership between Peace Corps and Population Services International (PSI) this week has been launched to expand health opportunities in six pilot countries in Africa where both organizations have long-standing programmes. Efforts are already under way in Benin, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, and Mozambique.


“Our work with PSI will expand health programmes in five key African countries and give Peace Corps volunteers more tools in the fight against HIV and other global health challenges,” said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams (returned Peace Corps volunteer/Dominican Republic 1967-1970). “This partnership with PSI will increase the capacity of our organizations to work shoulder-to-shoulder with African communities on accessible health solutions.”


To concretize the partnership, the two organizations entered into a memorandum of understanding, MOU.


The MOU was developed based on existing successful collaboration.
In Benin, PSI has worked with Peace Corps volunteers since 2003, through funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to promote positive health messages through a group of trained peer educators.


Since 2003, Peace Corps volunteers have helped PSI/Benin reach more than 100,000 youths in 105 communities via their Amour et Vie programme. 

 “PSI has always considered the Peace Corps a close partner, and we are thrilled to expand our relationship with this Memorandum of Understanding,” says PSI President and CEO Karl Hofmann.  “This partnership truly leverages each organization’s strengths to create sustainable health impact and improve the well-being of countless communities.”


PSI works in more than 65 developing countries around the world to overcome some of the most pressing public health issues, including malaria, child survival, HIV prevention, maternal mortality and access to reproductive health services.br />

This partnership creates a system through which Peace Corps posts and local PSI offices can establish a working relationship designed to increase the capacity of both efforts at a grassroots level.  

Peace Corps volunteers live and work with the communities they serve. The volunteers associated with this collaboration will be able to share resources and techniques and the agencies will supplement each other’s work.