What role can NGOs play as “learning labs” for public policy in the Majority World?

How can Community Health Workers (CHWs) help scale locally-led health programs?

And why are leadership succession plans so vital for founder-led organisations?

In this episode of Philanthropod, host Anubha Rawat sits down with Jennifer Schechter (Co-Founder & CEO) and Emily Benson (Chief Partnerships Officer) of Integrate Health. Founded in Togo in 2004 with a focus on HIV healthcare, Integrate Health has since expanded to partner with the Togolese and Guinean governments to improve access to quality primary care by integrating CHWs into national systems. Holding over 700 community meetings each year, Integrate Health uses community-led data and digital tools to strengthen health outcomes. They collect 13,000 household surveys and track 150,000+ CHW visits annually, creating a vital feedback loop for continuous improvement - from maternal health to child mortality to vaccine delivery.

Throughout the episode, Anubha, Jennifer and Emily discuss the role that NGOs can play as “learning labs” for governments. Often facilitated by philanthropic funding, NGOs can take more risks, test ideas and generate evidence in ways governments can't. In turn, this provides evidence-based models that governments can adopt, ensuring long-term sustainability in line with national health policies.

The episode also explores the importance of leadership transitions in founder-led NFPs. After two decades as CEO, Jennifer will step back to join the Board in December 2025 and Emily will step in as CEO. This has been a deliberate and strategic decision to demonstrate both Integrate Health’s organisational resilience but also commitment to employee growth.

👉 Learn more about Integrate Health here: integratehealth.org

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