LEAL INSTITUTE Sarl
Motivation behind establishing this institute
The global health community has, over the years, taken varied positions and made decisions that are essentially reflective of the mindset of academics in High-Income-Countries (HICs). In doing so, the global health community has neglected and ignored the voices and perspectives of policy and decision-makers, especially in LMICs.
This has resulted in a prevailing mindset, which, over the years, has turned out to be one of the biggest adversaries/obstacles against needed improvements in global health. The prevailing mindset is one that gives greater credibility to some people and institutions but not others, and recognizes the complexity of some people’s systems and realities but not others.
LEAL INSTITUTE Sarl
Our Mandate & Core Mission
The name LEAL captures the institute’s three-part mandate: Learn, Advocate, and Leverage.
01. Learn
Learning from the people and policymakers in the Global South about their real, on-the-ground problems.
02. Advocate
Advocating with LMIC policymakers using robust, high-quality evidence so they can make informed, lasting decisions.
03. Leverage
Leveraging local talent and potential to nurture character and confidence, enabling them to lead national and global debates.
Our Leadership
Bridging global health policy expertise with innovative operational strategy.
Professer Abdul Gafur
- CEO
Professor Ghaffar is a health policy entrepreneur and a respected leader in global health. His services to the Health Policy and Systems Research Community were recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.
Lubna Ghaffar
- Partner and Manager
Lubna Ghaffar is a business entrepreneur, who has an innovative mind and always finds new ways to solve problems.
Professer Abdul Gafur
- CEO
Professor Ghaffar is a health policy entrepreneur and a respected leader in global health. His services to the Health Policy and Systems Research Community were recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.
How We Fulfill Our Mission
Our Pillars of Action
To bridge the gap between global decision-makers and local realities, the LEAL Institute operates across four core strategic pillars. Through rigorous analytical research, collaborative leadership programs, and cultural insights, we systematically dismantle the barriers preventing local knowledge from shaping the global health agenda.
01. High-Quality Analytical Work & Publishing
To drive systemic change, LEAL Institute conducts, commissions, and produces high-quality analytical work focusing on the policy and political topics currently hindering health system performance. By publishing these priority findings in prestigious academic journals, we aim to transform prevailing mindsets and directly influence global health policy and practice.
02. Emerging Leaders & Tacit Knowledge
We actively engage with and mentor emerging leaders, supporting them in the generation and strategic use of local knowledge. Crucially, our programs emphasize the power and potential of Tacit Knowledge—the invaluable insights deeply embedded in lived experience and practice, as distinct from codified academic data.
03. Art & History for Sustainable Solutions
True progress requires a deeper perspective. LEAL Institute uniquely incorporates the study of art and history to better understand the long-standing, complex challenges of population health. By analyzing these cultural and historical contexts, we work to uncover sustainable, locally tailored solutions.
INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP
Grounded in Decades of
Global Health Experience
LEAL Institute is guided by world-class expertise in health policy and systems research. Our leadership brings over 35 years of dedicated experience from international organizations, academic bodies, and regional initiatives, fostering a new generation of talent built on character, confidence, and local empowerment.