01
Strengthening country capacity to translate evidence-based priorities into actionable health system reforms.
Overview
The FairChoices on the Path to UHC in Times of Change (2026–2030) project is a collaborative initiative hosted at Addis Ababa University through the Addis Center for Ethics and Priority Setting (ACEPS), in strategic partnership with the Bergen Center for Ethics and Priority Setting (BCEPS) at the University of Bergen and funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).
The project aims to improve the legitimacy, effectiveness, efficiency, and fairness of health priority setting in Ethiopia’s health sector. By connecting local institutions with global organizations, the project bridges national policy with international best practices, collaborating closely with regional, national, and international health agencies, the Ministry of Health (MoH), the School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University and other key national stakeholders to increase national ownership and utilization of evidence-informed priority setting tools.
To ensure robust institutional backing, alignment, and cross-sector coordination, the project is guided by a high-level Advisory Committee comprising senior representatives from key stakeholder institutions:
• Dr. Mebratu Massebo (Chairperson) – Chief of staff, Minister of Health's Office
• Dr. Muluken Argaw – Head, Strategic Affairs Lead Executive Office (SA-LEO), Ministry of Health
• Dr. Rahel Argaw – Chief Executive Director, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University
• Dr. Lemlem Beza – Vice Executive Dean for Research and Engagement, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University
• Professor Yemane Berhane – Representative, Addis Continental Institute of Public Health (ACIPH)
Project objectives
What we're working toward.
02
Building capacity through the training of PhD and Master's-level candidates to enhance the generation and use of economic and equity analyses in health policy desicion-making through formal training, supervision, mentoring and fieldwork.
03
Supporting the Ministry of Health (MoH) in institutionalizing a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Unit, including finalization of the national HTA roadmap, supporting its implementation, and establishing a dedicated FairChoices Unit within the MoH.
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Supporting the design and management of inclusive and participatory deliberative processes for health priority setting.
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Developing an Ethiopia-specific contextualized version of the FairChoices DCP Analytics Tool, alongside evidence-informed policy briefs, technical reports, and specialized short courses.
Team
The people behind the work.
Dr. Solomon Tessema Memirie
Program Director / Lead
Hiwot Aklilu Kebede
Program Coordinator
Belachew Etana Tolosa
Master's Program Coordinator
Robera Habtamu Kebu
Data Analyst
Getachew Petros Zewde
Project Accountant
Ermias Dessie
PhD Candidate
Roadmap
Activities and Timeline
1
Phase 1
Governance & Policy Engagement
Chartering the high-level Advisory Committee, formalizing institutional MoUs, and establishing coordination frameworks to drive alignment across domestic institutions and international partners.
2
Phase 2
Research & Baseline Diagnostic
Generating rigorous economic and health systems evidence, mapping data landscapes, and analyzing baseline Essential Health Care Packages (EHCPs) to support priority-setting decisions.
3
Phase 3
Capacity Building & Academic Integration
Delivering postgraduate scholarships and supervision for PhD and Master’s candidates, alongside specialized short courses on economic evaluation and HTA for policymakers and researchers.
4
Phase 4
Technical Support & Tool Localization
Contextualizing the Ethiopia-specific version of the FairChoices DCP Analytics Tool, supporting the institutionalization of the HTA and FairChoices units within the MoH, managing inclusive deliberative processes, and disseminating evidence globally through publications, policy briefs, and international networks.