Subject: IHD March 2015 eLetter
From: Diana Silimperi <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2015 17:56:11 +0000

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.

What Do A Jordanian Princess, USAID Mission Director, and Minister of Health Have in Common?

All three dignitaries, Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al-Hussein, USAID Mission Director Beth Paige, and Minister of Health H.E. Dr. Ali Hyasat, came together on March 1 to honor 24 health centers for achieving accreditation by Jordan’s Accreditation Council. For the past five years, Abt’s Health Systems Strengthening II project partnered with the Ministry of Health to prepare 120 health centers to meet accreditation standards for improved quality and cost-effective health care. The efforts resulted in the accreditation of 88 health centers to date. "This is an unprecedented achievement for the health sector in Jordan" remarked the MOH Secretary General. USAID Mission Director Beth Paige commented: “During my visits to accredited centers, I found remarkable enthusiasm and the commitment of health center staff to providing quality services to the extent that I would not hesitate to personally seek health care for myself or my family at these centers.” View video. Contact: [email-masked].

What is the Cost of Scaling Up the Health Workforce to Confront the Ebola Epidemic?

Abt’s José Gutierrez contributed to an advocacy paper released by the Frontline Health Workers’ Coalition (FHWC) on the cost of scaling up the health workforce in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea amid the Ebola epidemic. Based on the assumptions, data, and calculations in this paper, the overall cost of doubling the health workforce over five years in the three countries, and expanded coverage via a community health worker program, comes to approximately $573.4 million, or less than $115 million per year on average. The FHWC will use the recommendations in the paper to advocate for more human resources and health system investments in West Africa. Contact: [email-masked].

Thousands Receive HIV Counseling and Testing in Côte d’Ivoire

Since its launch in September 2014, the SHOPS-supported private sector HIV network in Côte d’Ivoire has already reached many people it was designed to serve. In the first five months, 4,465 persons received testing and counseling services for HIV, with 318 testing positive. The network also provided linkages to care, including HIV and maternal and child health services for 4,735 patients. To support the network, SHOPS conducts an ongoing demand-generation campaign that features health fairs for each clinic, integrating service delivery of HIV counseling, family planning, Ebola, malaria, and hypertension with HIV testing and vaccinations. Through these efforts, the network aims to increase the number of Ivoirians tested and initiated on antiretroviral therapy, leading to an improved ART response. Contact: [email-masked].

A Very Successful Project Transition in Georgia

While it is never happy to celebrate the closure of a project, IHD has cause to celebrate the end of the USAID Health System Strengthening Project (HSSP) in Georgia (2009-2015) which comes to a closure in September. For five years, HSSP has worked with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Affairs (MOHLSA) to support implementation of universal health coverage (UHC) by developing and managing the country’s health management and information systems platform. Concern existed on how the work would continue when the project ended. With no institutionalization of the technical assistance to operate, maintain, and further develop the information systems platform, UHC in Georgia was at risk. Recent news indicates that after long negotiations, the MOHLSA has agreed to hire the project’s system architects and programmers (all Georgians) to continue the critical work at hand. Kudos to COP Alexander Turdziladze and the HSSP staff for their amazing accomplishments over the past five years and our very best wishes for successful institutionalization and continued success. Contact: [email-masked] or [email-masked].

HFG Training Results in New M&E Policy for Ghana National Health Insurance Agency (NHIA)

Josef Tayag and Jeanna Holtz from the Health Finance and Governance (HFG) Project and the Ghana National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) recently hosted a training on the principles of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) for large public health insurance programs. Participants included directors, deputy directors, and senior managers of the NHIA, including the NHIA’s Chief Executive Officer, Sylvester Mensah, who led the training’s closing ceremony. The training resulted in the development of a new M&E policy for the NHIA, commitment by the NHIA to create a new community of practice for M&E, commitment from the NHIA to replicate the M&E training nationally, and detailed plans to assess the NHIA’s financial risks. See a video highlighting the training activities here. Contact: [email-masked].

Boosting Domestic Financing for Health

A recent HFG Project report, “Domestic Innovative Financing for Health: Learning from Country Experience,” highlights innovative domestic financing options, those originating from domestic sources that can generate additional resources for the health sector. The report assesses country experience with domestic financing options, both successes and failures, to increase global wisdom on selecting options and draws on lessons learned from several countries to increase the financing potential of national health systems. Contact:  [email-masked].

Abt Project Leader has Personal Motivation to Improve Chronic Disease Care

In honor of World Kidney Day on March 12, HealthRise Global Project Director Natasha Sakolsky shared her personal journey along the “continuum of care” for chronic kidney disease discussing parallels between her experience and the approach of the project she leads. Natasha’s positive experience with the health system serves as a personal reminder of what HealthRise is striving to achieve – access to quality chronic disease care. Contact: [email-masked].

Sharing Abt’s Non-communicable Disease (NCD), PATHS2 Nigeria, and India Experience with the World (Congress)

As part of the World Congress on Public Health in Kolkata, India, in February, Abt’s Deborah Klein-Walker presented on behalf of Abt’s HealthRise project to share the project’s experience in designing community-based NCD interventions through strategic multisectoral stakeholder engagement. After introducing HealthRise and its approach, Debbie highlighted the project’s results to date in engaging local stakeholders to inform its India program. Contact: HealthRise India Program Director [email-masked]. The Nigeria PATHS2 project also shared its innovation and partnership experience in health systems strengthening at the Congress during a special symposium, which included a case study of Kaduna State presented by Dr. Paul Dogo of the State Ministry of Health. Dr. Dogo, the PATHS2 leadership panelists, and more than 150 participants discussed strategies implemented to engage the community and government to nurture sustainability through ownership of initiatives. Contact: [email-masked]. Colleagues Vivek Sharma and Kuhu Maitra presented on involving men in family planning and engaging paramedical health care providers for improved quality of care respectively. Contact: [email-masked]  and [email-masked]. Congratulations all!

IHD Staff Respond to GHSP Editor Highlighting Benefit of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)

IHD’s Laurel Hatt, Minki Chatterji, Leslie Miles, Alison Comfort, and Francis Okello published an editorial entitled “A false dichotomy: RCTs and their contributions to evidence-based public health” in the journal Global Health Science and Practice (GHSP). The piece was a response to an editorial by GHSP Editor-in-Chief James Shelton that had argued that “Randomized controlled trials have limited utility for public health.”  Hatt and co-authors argued that RCTs and other rigorous impact evaluation methods have a critical role to play in public health, sharing several seminal examples including work done by the SHOPS Project.  They concluded that global public health should rely on those research methods that best answer the pressing questions at hand.  Shelton’s response to the response can also be viewed in the latest issue of GHSP. Contact:  [email-masked].

IHD – Journal Articles Galore!

·         PATHS2 Authors Publish in International Journal of Medical Informatics

Authors Larissa Jennings, Adetayo Omoni, Akunle Akerelec, Yisa Ibrahim, and Ekpenyong Ekanem published “Disparities in Mobile Phone Access and Maternal Health Service Utilization in Nigeria: A Population-Based Survey” in a recent issue of the International Journal of Medical Informatics. Contact: [email-masked] for a copy of the article.

·         PATHS2 Nigeria Publishes in BMC Health Services Research Journal

A paper by co-authors Ekechi Okereke, Jamilu Tukur (Bayero University Kano), Amina Aminu, Jean Butera, Bello Mohammed, Mustapha Tanko, Ibrahim Yisa, Benson Obonyo, and Mike Egboh entitled “An Innovation for Improving Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Service Delivery in Jigawa State, Northern Nigeria: A Qualitative Study of Stakeholders’ Perceptions about Clinical Mentoring” has been published online by the BMC Health Services Research Journal. Contact: [email-masked] for a copy of the paper.

·         SHOPS Ghana Work Published in Health Policy and Planning

The article, “Can mobile phone messages to drug sellers improve treatment of childhood diarrhoea? – A randomized controlled trial in Ghana” by authors Benjamin Woodman and Minki Chatterji was recently published in Health Policy and Planning.

·         SHOPS Manuscript Accepted in International Journal of Health Planning and Management

Congratulations to authors Thierry van Bastelaer, Ben Woodman, Minki Chatterji, and David Long on the recent acceptance of their SHOPS-related manuscript entitled: “Saving for Delivery through Technology: An Inquiry into an Electronic Commitment Savings Product for Maternal Healthcare in Kenya" for publication in an upcoming issue of the International Journal of Health Planning and Management. We look forward to seeing the paper online and in print!

·         SHOPS Contraception Access Study in Upcoming ICFP Supplement of International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics

The article “Regional trends in the use of short- and long-acting contraception accessed through the private and public sectors” by Jorge Ugaz, Jay Gribble, Minki Chatterji, and Susan Mitchell has been accepted for publication in the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) Supplement of the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics.

Need to Know More About Results-based Financing?

An increasing number of Requests for Proposals pursued by Abt involve the use of results-based financing (RBF) to improve access to, and quality of, health care services. Abt’s Affinity Group for RBF has prepared a guidance document which explains basic RBF concepts, lessons learned, best practices, and initial considerations for designing and implementing RBF schemes. Contact: [email-masked].

Build Your Communications Skills

Two new in-house training resources designed to help with communications will be available in late March/early April. The first, a short series of video modules focuses on ways to bring greater visibility to your project. The video complements information contained in Passport to Powerful Communications: Visibility for Abt's Real-World Impact distributed at last year’s Chief of Party meeting. The second, a seven-module e-learning series on improving behavior change communication skills, consists of seven 45-minute modules.  While both products are designed for staff of all levels and positions primarily in the field, the e-learning resource is also recommended for use by US-based staff. Contact: [email-masked].

Fast Approaching – End of Abt’s Fiscal Year – March 27!

It’s time for cleaning house!  Have you completed outstanding expense reports? Is your time sheet in good standing? Have you cleared travel and tuition advances off the books? And for management, reviewed project projections, tracked down all subcontractor invoices? Plus all other related tasks? If you need help regarding timesheets, expense reports, and travel advances, please work with your designated project timekeeper and/or F&A to resolve any issues. The following staff in Bethesda are also available to help: Jackie Madron and Christina Ramey for Travel Advances and Amex and Christina Ramey, Rhonda Jackson, Phuong Chao, Naomi Riley, and Jackie Madron for subaccounts. And don’t forget you can only carry over 80 hours of unused vacation time. Please do your part to help IHD end the fiscal year with a clean slate!

Performance Review Evaluation Plan (PREP) Kicks Off March 23

PREP 2015 will open on March 23 and close on May 13.  PREP, which includes goal setting, regular feedback, and recognition of staff progress, all contribute to the success of our work.  We will use ATLAS to document our performance evaluations. Look for further emails from HR and IHD management on the PREP process, trainings, and interim deadlines for this year.  [email-masked].

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.

World Social Marketing Conference (April 19-20, Sydney, Australia) – 1 abstract submitted, 1 accepted + 1 special session

Population Association of America (April 30-May 2, 2015, San Diego, CA) – 7 abstracts submitted, 4 accepted

International Health Economics Association (July 12-15, 2015, Milan, Italy) – 14 abstracts submitted, 11 accepted, 3 waitlisted

Global Maternal Newborn Health Conference (October 18-21, Mexico City, Mexico) – call for abstracts opens soon

American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (October 25-29, 2015, Philadelphia, PA) – abstracts due April 8

American Public Health Association (October 31-November 4, 2015, Chicago, IL) – 14 abstracts submitted

International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa - ICASA (November 8-13, 2015, Tunis, Tunisia) – call for abstracts and registration open

International Conference on Family Planning (November 9-12, 2015, Nusa Dua, Indonesia) – abstracts due May 1, 2015

Welcomes, Goodbyes – A Sampling

Welcome: Rachael Stepka (HFG), Samantha Lint (SHOPS)

Goodbye: Ian Carr, Slavea Chankova, Carlos Tchinda

Looking to Hire

The below positions are currently available in the U.S. All IHD openings can be found at: www.abtassociates.com/careers.

Associate / Technical Project Officer (Nigeria Focus), Req 17601 – Posted 2/4/15

Business Development Manager, International Health – Req 17741 – Posted 1/12/15

Principal Associate / Portfolio Manager, Req 15321 – Posted 11/25/14

SAVE THE DATE!

March 18 – IHD Townhall

April 22 – IHD Global Staff Meeting (9:00am EST)

June 8-12 – IHD Chief of Party Conference

HR MATTERS: FROM CLARISSA PETERSON

We have asked Clarissa to contribute to our monthly e-newsletter to make sure that all IHD is informed of new HR initiatives and tools that can help us in our daily work.

HR Launches Internal Mobility Program – One of the areas of improvement that staff have provided feedback on is the topic of internal mobility. Professionals join Abt Associates not just because of our goal of making an impact but also because of our sector diversification and the ability to work across divisions and departments.  We recognize that this is an area of improvement for the company, so we have put together a cross-functional team, led by Yvonne Abel, of division, department, and EAC reps. This team has created a framework and process for how staff can be made aware of cross-division opportunities for positions ranging from a few weeks to a few months. To let us know of your interests, please complete the Career Profile on Atlas. Remember, charge time is included! Diana Silimperi and Chris Spera (US Health) have volunteered to be the first divisions to participate in a pilot to create opportunities for staff. Likewise, Mary Harper has provided short-term opportunities for IT staff to transfer and work on special assignments in the Client Technology Center and in Human Resources.

FROM DIANA’S DESK

A Call to Action: Making In-country Collaboration a Priority – We have been discussing the importance of in-country collaboration for the last two years, with some progress made. We now share office space in more countries offices than previously, and a small number of projects are holding regular meetings across all IHD projects, sharing technically and leveraging their work for more rapid progress and impact. But systematic collaboration to maximize our technical impact, optimize our efficiency, expand our reputational capital and strengthen client relations – is not our norm. This note is a call to action to you all.

Below are five key steps in-country teams can take to reap the benefits of this collaboration. If you have further suggestions, feel free to drop me a line describing your actions and successes at a country level.

1.       COPs across all IHD projects in a country, regardless of client, meet on a regular basis, but at least three times a year, to exchange project information, discuss clients and stakeholders, jointly solve problems, and share new business intelligence.

2.       Hold joint, full staff exchanges across all projects at least twice a year, sharing your technical work and identifying how you can learn from each other, share methods and materials, and maximize measurable impact.

3.       When a new country project begins, take the time to introduce them to your staff, share your project's objectives and work plans as well as learning about theirs.

4.       Map your geographies and interventions, so you can see, describe, and measure our impact.

5.       Collectively share new business intelligence together and with the US country capture team.

In the US, we will also do our part. We are starting to move toward country support teams, but in the meantime we will be initiating country-level collaboration meetings across projects. We have already begun country capture teams. If you have questions as to who your country capture lead is, please contact [email-masked]. If you have general questions regarding country coordination, please contact [email-masked] or [email-masked].

I look forward to hearing from you!

Sent to ALL IHD US & Field & MAG