Dear IHD Colleagues,
Below is our monthly IHD update outlining recent happenings in the Division. We look forward to receiving any feedback you may wish to share with us.
FROM DIANA’S DESK
It was wonderful to see our chiefs of party (COPs) during the recent COP meeting in Bethesda, and as always, their participation enriched the agenda and our learning. One theme that I heard from multiple COPs was the importance of country focus ‒ expanding our vision beyond individual projects to the greater accomplishment and impact across all our projects in a country, regardless of donor or project type. There are many facets to this concept including coordination and collaboration across all projects in one country. It includes knowing what each other's projects are about, and being able to give an overview of all Abt is doing in that country. It might also include a shift in country backstopping support from the U.S. office (for example, portfolio managers assigned per country rather than per project), and a country focus for new business capture and partnering, which clearly requires involving the COPs and in-country teams. Finally, it includes knowing and interacting with diverse priority clients in a country. Country focus is a priority in our IHD two-year strategy. We made progress in FY15 with the initiation of country capture plans and teams, but we still have much to accomplish this fiscal year. Please take some time to discuss this priority with colleagues, and send me your thoughts on what country focus means to you, any progress you have seen, and recommendations for accelerating our progress. Please send to IHDFeedback@abtassoc.com. Thanks in advance.
Evidence to Action – Knowledge for Impact: COPs Gather in Bethesda June 8-11
Arriving from 35 countries, 70 participants gathered in Bethesda for the annual IHD and IEG (International Economic Growth) COP meeting. Besides sessions focused on internal processes, technical sessions were offered on the topics below.
1. What’s New in Health Systems Strengthening?
2. The Next Global Health Threat and How Abt Can Respond
3. Defining and Measuring Impact of Capacity Building and Systems Improvement Programs
4. Using Mobile Technology to Improve the Quality of Health Care: Live Demos of Evidence to Action
5. Improving Governance of Health Services through Improved Display and Use of Data
6. Stagnant Total Fertility Rate and Contraceptive Prevalence Rate: Ending the Plateau
7. The Future of Development Starts Here
8. Eliminating Preventable Childhood and Maternal Deaths
9. M&E for Impact
Visit AGI soon to view the presentations. Contact: natasha_sakolsky@abtassoc.com and susan_scribner@abtassoc.com.
Abt Salutes COP Awardees
· Congratulations to COP Innovation Awardee Olalekan Obademi, Health Financing and Governance Project, Nigeria, for GxAlert use in Nigeria. GxAlert software takes critical TB testing data from the GeneXpert machine and makes the information immediately available to health facilities to better treat patients. This innovation is now active in 27 countries.
· Likewise, congratulations to Impact Awardee Leulseged Ageze, Ethiopia Health Sector Financing Reform (HSFR/HFG). With technical support from HSFR/HFG, the government of Ethiopia piloted community-based health insurance (CBHI) in 13 districts in the three largest regions of Ethiopia, reaching 53% of the population. Given the success of the pilot, the project is now supporting the government to develop a strategy to scale up CBHI across the entire country.
Moving on from 20 Years in Central Asia
In Tajikistan, US Ambassador Susan M. Elliott and USAID Central Asia Deputy Mission Director David Brown, together with Tajikistan Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection (MOHSP) Navruz Jaffarov, co-chaired a conference devoted to the close-out of the USAID Quality Health Care Project (QHCP) implemented by Abt. The event highlighted the many impacts of QHCP, which covered maternal and child health, reproductive health, TB, and HIV, along with health care reform. Ambassador Elliott noted the achievements in improving health care in Tajikistan since 2010. For example, project technical assistance helped the MOHSP achieve international standards for health prevention, examination, diagnosis, and treatment techniques. Other project successes are improved quality control and management systems within the national TB laboratory network; increased outpatient TB treatment options; and a strong network of community activists advocating for TB prevention via patient support groups. The project developed comprehensive HIV service packages for key populations at risk in Tajikistan and helped integrate HIV and TB services.
In Kazakhstan, USAID celebrated the achievements of its HIV interventions in a joint event featuring both QHCP and the PSI-led USAID Dialogue on HIV and TB Project. In attendance were the Vice Minister of the MOH and Social Development and the Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy and a broad range of government, NGO, and international partners. QHCP, together with the Dialogue on HIV and TB Project, discussed the successes of their five-year HIV programs in Kazakhstan. QHCP contributed to increasing capacities of the health system to improve and expand evidence-based services to key populations by training 700 practicing medical specialists and contributing to the development of an innovative HIV training module for primary health care, and integration of the module into medical education. It also trained many peer-to-peer NGOs to improve outreach to those most at risk for HIV, and link them to the health care system. To ensure sustainability, the project trained 42 NGOs on social contracting, 18 of which went on to receive government funding totaling $1.3M to implement social projects. USAID had earlier participated in project close-out events for the other QHCP components including maternal and child health, reproductive health, and TB.
Abt has completed QHCP implementation in five countries: Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The Zdrav and Quality Projects implemented by Abt in the region over the past twenty years have made a notable impact in strengthening the health systems in the five countries. The team is helping USAID develop a legacy document, capturing the range of achievements and products. Abt continues to have an on-the-ground presence in Central Asia, as implementer of the USAID Defeat TB Project in Kyrgyzstan, and with an Asian Development Bank environmental project in Tajikistan. Contact: sara_feinstein@abtassoc.com.
Revenue Retention Improves Quality of Care at Addis Ababa Health Center
Over the past 15 years, the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health and USAID Ethiopia, through the Health Sector Financing Reform (HSFR) and HSFR-HFG projects, have broken new ground by increasing both the generation and retention of revenue at the health facility level, resulting in facility improvements that offer better access to quality health services for thousands of families. Prior to the health care financing reforms that began in 2010, lack of adequate resources, both financial and non-financial, was a major factor limiting access to health care in Ethiopia. Reforms allow health centers to retain revenue from user fees and use the money to improve service delivery. Meshualekia Health Center in Kirkos has seen dramatic improvements due to the financing reforms. As of December 2014, the facility had retained nearly 4.6M Ethiopian Birr (US$231,795) and used the money to transition from a basic service provider to the level of a model health center, recognized by the Addis Ababa City Health Bureau for its quality of care. Contact: hailu zelelew@abtassoc.com.
Exploring New Sources of Revenue for Health
As many developing nations transition from donor funding for health programs, they need to ensure that any resultant financing gaps are not covered by households paying out-of-pocket in a way that increases inequities in the health system. There is a need for low- and middle-income countries to increase the flow of equitable and sustainable domestic financing for health. A new HFG report, Domestic Innovative Financing for Health: Learning from Country Experience, highlights domestic innovative financing options that countries can consider using to generate additional resources for the health sector. The report provides a framework for analyzing the options and reviews country experience with each option. A brief, Exploring New Sources of Revenue for Health: Filling the Gap, highlights key questions and findings in the report. Contact: sharon nakhimovsky@abtassoc.com and carlos avila@abtassoc.com.
2015 Asia Regional Flagship Course: The Challenge of Universal Health Coverage
In April, HFG supported the delivery of the Asia Regional Flagship Course on Health Systems Strengthening and Sustainable Financing: The Challenge of Universal Health Coverage in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sponsored by the Asia Network for Capacity Building in Health Systems Strengthening (ANHSS), USAID, and the World Bank, the course was the second flagship course supported by USAID through HFG, following the 2014 course held in Bangkok. Seventy participants from 13 countries attended the workshop. Participants included officials from governments, non-profits, and donors. Key topics included financing, benefits packages, leveraging the private sector, and public hospital performance. Contact: chris lovelace@abtassoc.com.
SHOPS Celebrates Opening of Jordan Association of Family Planning and Protection (JAFPP) Clinic
On May 28, SHOPS Jordan, USAID, and JAFPP celebrated the opening of the JAFPP clinic in Mafraq. This clinic represents the completion of USAID’s work to increase access to family planning services through JAFPP clinics by purchasing, renovating, and/or equipping 23 clinics in 10 of the 12 governorates in the country. Mafraq is in northern Jordan, and with its proximity to the Syrian border, is home to many Syrian refugees. Lisa Childs, Acting Director of the USAID/Jordan Office of Population & Family Health attended the opening and thanked JAFPP for working to improve access to family planning and reproductive health services in the country. Contact robin_keeley@abtassoc.com.
HSS II Bridge Project in Jordan Facilitates Improved Delivery of Family Planning Services
The HSS II Bridge Project and the Jordan Ministry of Health staff launched the Family Planning (FP) Service Delivery Improvement Collaborative in December 2014 to overcome a decade of stagnation of contraceptive prevalence in Jordan. The collaborative helps health facility teams perform in-depth analyses of the systems and processes they use to deliver FP, make changes over defined action periods to obtain better results, and regularly share challenges and successes. By the end of March 2015, the participating teams reported numerous changes made in the organization and delivery of FP as part of integrated health service delivery. Noted were improved output indicators including the number of new FP clients reached, an increased number of different FP methods available at clinics, and an overall rise in couple years of protection of more than 40% across 24 participating health centers. Contact: sabry.hamza@hss.jo.
The BCC Course You’ve Been Waiting For!
Always wondered how to promote healthy behaviors and shift social norms? IHD is pleased to launch a new Behavior Change Communication (BCC) eLearning Course to answer all your questions on the topic. This introductory-level course is divided into seven self-paced modules that walk you through IHD’s BCC methodology and provides examples, case studies, and quizzes along the way. Note that we are writing the course into proposals to offer our clients an ‘off the shelf’ capacity-building product that provides value for money. And, especially for our colleagues overseas, we have put the course on CDs for use without an internet connection. Contact gael_o’sullivan@abtassoc.com.
Gender Matters – IHD Shares Successes with USAID
IHD gender specialists Abigail Donner and Elana Fiekowsky shared with USAID how the President's Malaria Initiative Africa Indoor Residual Spraying (PMI AIRS) project is embracing USAID’s Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy through commitment from leadership, concrete objectives and actions, and changes implemented across all AIRS countries. At the May 14 brown bag, Abby and Elana described how the project is building country capacity to create sustainable, scalable change. PMI AIRS’ large-scale malaria vector control program works in 15 countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa and employs tens of thousands of seasonal workers. Contact: abigail_donner@abtassoc.com and elana_fiekowsky@abtassoc.com.
AIRS Chief of Party Retreat
The PMI AIRS Project held its annual COP retreat June 5-7 in Baltimore, MD. At the retreat COPs and home office project staff addressed cross-cutting issues, such as public-private partnerships, promoted south-to-south exchanges, worked on building strong teams, and shared lessons learned on cost efficiency, environmental compliance, and promoting the role of women in indoor residual spraying. Contact: laura_mccarty@abtassoc.com.
What Was the Buzz at the 2015 Society for International Development Conference?
At the May 27 event in Washington, IHD’s Jeanna Holtz, Kelley Laird, Elizabeth MacGregor-Skinner, Liz Nugent, and Lowrey Redmond heard lots of chatter on the importance of data, a need to focus on non-communicable disease, and noted the considerable presence of small businesses. Elizabeth and Jeanna moderated a lunch time discussion on Affordable Health Care and Chronic Diseases – Reconciling the Two. Abt was a platinum sponsor of the conference. Contact: liz_nugent@abtassoc.com.
Health Systems Support and Strengthening: What’s the Difference and Why does it Matter?
Everyone agrees that developing country health systems should be strengthened. The call arose recently in the wake of the Ebola epidemic. But everyone does not agree on what health system strengthening IS. Abt’s Grace Chee, together with Joe Naimoli of the USAID/Office of Health Systems, and April Harding of the World Bank, spoke on this topic May 20 at a public discussion hosted by the DC Health Systems Board. The discussion began with a presentation about how to differentiate between health system strengthening and support, followed by a donor perspective on the implications for development programming. Contact: grace_chee@abtassoc.com.
Regional IHD Staff at International Conference on Urban Health (ICUH)
IHD staff participated in the recent ICUH meeting in Dhaka in late May. Stepping in for Diana Silimperi, Oommen George from SHOPS India spoke on engaging urban slum communities at the opening plenary session on community-based prevention of NCDs, injury, and communicable diseases. Mursaleena Islam, based in Bangladesh, organized and moderated a session on urban health care financing in Bangladesh, and also presented at an USAID special session, using findings from IHD’s Health Finance and Governance project for both sessions. Kumar Vikrant from the Family Health Initiatives India project presented on institutionalizing quality of care in private hospitals through improvement in infection prevention practices and obstetric services by mentoring paramedics. ICUH closed with a strong response to increase focus on improving health of the urban poor. Contact: mursaleena_islam@abtassoc.com.
Implementation of IHD’s FY15-16 Strategic Plan
As discussed in the May IHD e-letter, in FY15 the Division made considerable progress against its two-year strategic plan ‒ we completed 36% of activities planned for FY15 and initiated or completed 75% of activities overall. The division hosted a webinar on June 1 to report out on details of the progress. Did you participate? If not, listen to the webinar available on AGI. During June, Division leadership will meet with portfolio managers and project directors, COPs, and US-based staff to review and refine the Division’s FY16 activities. The Division will post the final FY16 implementation plan to AGI by June 30, 2015. Contact: julie_doherty@abtassoc.com.
Building Abt’s Rep Cap and Serving Our Public Health and Research Community
In support of the National Public Health Information Coalition, Beth Brennan reviewed abstracts submitted for oral presentation for the 2015 National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media to be held in Atlanta, GA in August 2015. Reviewing abstracts is a great way for IHD staff to get more involved and become more visible in the public health and research arena. Reach out to the membership organizations you are involved with! Contact: beth_brennan@abtassoc.com.
Development and Dissemination Grant (D&D) Season is Here!
The Daniel McGillis Development and Dissemination Grant (D&D) program is Abt’s internal competition for funding the publication of more refereed journal articles by Abt staff. Applications are due on August 3, 2015. Funding will start in early October. Attend a Bidder’s Conference on Friday, June 26 at 2PM EST and Tuesday, June 30 at 8am EST for more info (there are plans to audiotape the meeting for field staff). The primary goal of the grant program is to provide funding and mentoring to help staff (associate and below) to publish in refereed journals. Most candidates propose journal articles based on their dissertation or a completed project report. If the journal article is to be based on a completed project report, this report must be submitted to the client prior to August 3, 2015. Interested applicants should start planning now! Contact: minki_chatterji@abtassoc.com.
IHD Resource Guide and Orientation for New Hires
IHD leadership is excited to announce the availability of a new resource booklet for new hires that provides information about the division. In the guide employees will learn how the division is structured, find a list of key contacts and current projects, as well as information about reputation capital, business development, security, professional development training, “how to” tips about getting things done at Abt, and much more. The resource guide will be updated periodically and will be available soon on AGI. An orientation for new US-based IHD staff will be held each quarter to delve deeper into these topics and answer questions. The first session is scheduled for June 24 in Bethesda. Future sessions will be opened up for non-US staff ‒ stay tuned for an update. Contact: rebecca_pastika@abtassoc.com.
Upcoming Conferences: Abstract Due Dates, Notification Dates, and Acceptances
If you plan to submit an abstract or have an abstract accepted, please notify Liz Nugent and Elizabeth Magnusson.
International Council of Nurses International Conference (June 19-23, Seoul, Korea) – 1 abstract submitted, 1 accepted
International Health Economics Association (July 12-1, Milan, Italy) – 14 abstracts submitted, 11 accepted, 3 waitlisted
International AIDS Society Conference (July 19-22, Vancouver, Canada) – 1 abstract accepted
Global Maternal Newborn Health Conference (October 18-21, Mexico City, Mexico) – 5 abstracts submitted
American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (October 25-29, 2015, Philadelphia, PA) – 6 abstracts submitted
American Public Health Association (October 31-November 4, 2015, Chicago, IL) – 16 abstracts submitted, 11 accepted, 1 waitlisted
International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa - ICASA (November 8-13, 2015, Tunis, Tunisia) – 1 abstract submitted
American Evaluation Association Conference (November 9-14, Chicago, IL) – 1 abstract submitted
International Conference on Family Planning (November 9-12, 2015, Nusa Dua, Indonesia) – 16 abstracts submitted
Welcomes, Goodbyes – A Sampling
Welcome: Ashley Thomas (AIRS)
Goodbye: Robert Bonardi
Looking to Hire
The below positions are currently available in the U.S. All IHD openings can be found at: www.abtassociates.com/careers.
- Senior Associate / Technical Director, Req 24201 – Posted 5/15/15
- Principal Associate / Portfolio Manager, Req 15321 – Posted 5/5/15
· Associate Finance and Contract Analyst, Req 22641 – Posted 4/14/15
SAVE THE DATE!
June 24 – IHD New Employee Orientation, Bethesda
July 15 – IHD Global Staff Meeting
Aug 19 – IHD Quarterly Report-out
HR MATTERS: FROM CLARISSA PETERSON
FY16 Performance Goals – By now you should have completed a very important part of the PREP process by being rated by your supervisors on your FY15 performance. The first phase of your FY16 PREP is establishing performance goals with your supervisors and entering them into Performance Goals section on (ATLAS). If you have not established your FY16 performance goals, this is a reminder to work with your supervisor to complete the goals by Friday, June 26. Do not forget the online resources located on AGI on the Performance Review (PREP) page, within the Documents section under “Setting Goals.” An additional resource available to both supervisors and employees are the Mind tools, which contain helpful tips on setting meaningful goals. Please reach out to your manager or the HRServiceCenter@abtassoc.com with any questions.
Sent to ALL IHD US & Field, MAG, Corp Comm, JLipton@stratusconsulting.com