GHM & HSG Guiding Research Special Series | Building Climate-Resilient Health Systems (Coming Soon)

Climate change is placing growing pressure on health systems around the world, but its impacts do not happen in isolation. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, climate risks intersect with water scarcity, conflict, instability and existing pressures on health services. How can health systems prepare for these challenges while continuing to meet the needs of communities today? And what will it take to move from identifying vulnerabilities to building systems that can adapt, respond and recover?

In this episode of Guiding Research, Amanda Quintana, climate and health technical specialist and researcher and co-chair of the Health Systems Global Thematic Working Group on Climate Resilient Sustainable Health Systems, speaks with Professor Mey Jurdi, Professor of Environmental Health at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the American University of Beirut.

Together, they explore what climate resilience means for health systems across the MENA region and why climate change must be understood alongside the wider environmental, social and political context. The discussion highlights the importance of strengthening primary healthcare, managing resources effectively, engaging communities and ensuring that research is translated into policy and action. Professor Jurdi also reflects on why preparing for the future must begin today, stressing that sustainable change requires more than individual projects or short-term responses — it requires resilient institutions, coordinated action and long-term vision.

In this episode

• Climate change and health systems in the MENA region
• Climate-resilient and sustainable primary healthcare
• Water scarcity, instability and interconnected health risks
• Community engagement and effective resource management
• Turning research and evidence into policy and action

This episode forms part of the Guiding Research podcast series, produced by Global Health Matters in collaboration with Health Systems Global (HSG). The series explores the themes of the Health Systems Research (HSR) 2026 Symposium and brings together leading voices in health policy and systems research.

🎧 Listen to the episode: Coming Soon

* HSG’s involvement in the production of these podcast episodes was supported by IDRC.