Health systems are the common-pool resource on which all programs in the health sector including Maternal, Newborn, Adolescent and Child Health (MNCAH) programs draw. Across sub-Saharan Africa, health systems continue to face multiple, complex and urgent challenges in ensuring that service delivery is efficient, effective and equitable. This weakness affects the ability to implement and scale up effective interventions to improve MNCAH outcomes.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this initiative is to conduct multi-level capacity strengthening and networking at individual-, institutional- and country-level in West and Central Africa for leadership in Health Policy and Systems (HPS)and Maternal Newborn Child and Adolescent health (MNCAH) research and practice. This is to support context-relevant and effective policy and program decision-making and implementation for MNCAH improvements in West and Central Africa, and to monitor and evaluate the processes and impact of the program and its lessons.
Specific objectives are to:
- Strengthen health leadership capacity for research, innovation and change for decision-making and implementation of high quality, effective, efficient and equitable MNCAH programs and services which improve health outcomes in West and Central Africa.
- Strengthen HPS and MNCAH research capacities in West and Central Africa in order to generate evidence to support context-relevant and effective policy and program decision-making and implementation of quality, effective and efficient MNCAH services and outcomes in West and Central Africa.
- Strengthen researcher ability to work with decision-makers and implementers to identify relevant research agendas, and to generate, package and disseminate research information to support policy development and implementation in West and Central Africa.
- Support and develop multi-disciplinary multi-level leadership and research networks for HPS and MNCAH in West and Central Africa.
- Collaborate with the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) at the contextual level to promote the use of evidence for MNCAH programs and HPS strengthening for improved outcomes in West and Central Africa.
- Monitor and evaluate the processes and impact of the program and lessons for MNCAH improvements.