Health Policy and Systems Strengthening Program - Malawi Year One Quarter 1 Report

The program is implemented by Abt Associates, Inc. in partnership with Salephera Consulting, Ltd. and Prime Health Consulting and Services, and is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Cooperative Agreement AID-612-A-11-00002. The program's purpose is to strengthen the Malawi's healthcare system by providing technical support to the Ministry of Health (MOH) at national, zonal, and district levels. The program aims to achieve six results, including increased and coordinated advocacy for evidence-based policies, strengthened leadership and management capacity of the MOH, improved zonal supervision structures, improved leadership and management of human resources for health, improved management of district health services, and strengthened health financing mechanisms. During Quarter 1 of Year 1, the program team began project implementation, which included workplan compilation and review, stakeholder consultations, planning for activity implementation, recruitment and hiring, and laying the groundwork for successful in-country project implementation. The program team worked closely with the SSD-I project, local stakeholders, and USAID/Malawi to shape the Year 1 workplan according to local priorities and current MOH needs. The program team conducted extensive stakeholder consultations with key MOH counterparts and other stakeholders to ensure the project is supporting the most pressing health system needs and is being responsive to both USAID Malawi and the Government of Malawi. The consultations included courtesy calls with the Principal Secretary of the MOH, the Director of the SWAp, the National Malaria Control Program, the Director of the MOLGRD, and the Deputy Director of the MOH. The program team also planned for three key activities: performance-based incentives (PBI), development of a capacity building plan in support of the Malawi Health Sector Strategic Plan 2011-2016, and facilitating support by the USAID Regional Office for the HRH Strategic Plan review process. The PBI feasibility assessment is currently scheduled for February/March 2012, and the program team will leverage resources from the Health Systems 20/20 Project to inform the way forward for both the HPSS and SSD-E programs. The program team has produced a process to assess the feasibility of PBI activities in Malawi, which will help to inform the way forward for both the HPSS and SSD-E programs. The program team will also mobilize a Senior Capacity Building Advisor to develop a capacity building plan in support of the Malawi Health Sector Strategic Plan 2011-2016. The program team has been engaged with the MOH, Department of Human Resources, and USAID/Malawi to update the Malawi HRH Strategic Plan process. The program team has also planned a 2-3 day TDY to assess the situation and provide clear terms of reference and next steps for the HRH Strategic Plan review process. The program team will further engage the SWAp secretariat after workplan approval and will be in regular communication with them. The program team will also further engage the National Malaria Control Program, the MOLGRD, and the MOH after workplan approval. The program team has produced a revised workplan, which was submitted on January 11th, 2012, and is awaiting comments and approval from the AOTRs and USAID/Malawi technical leads. The program team is awaiting comments and approval of the revised workplan to proceed with activity implementation.