Ingobyi Activity FY19 Quarter 3 Progress Report

The Activity aims to contribute to the reduction of infant and maternal mortality and incidence of malaria in Rwanda by improving the availability, quality, and utilization of RMNCH and malaria services with resilience and sustainability. The Ingobyi Activity partners with the Government of Rwanda (GOR) to build on the country's considerable achievements, guided by national health strategies, goals, objectives, and data. The Activity focuses on achieving shared understanding of patterns and systemic structures that underlie the health system and where and how to bring about measurable, sustainable improvements. The Ingobyi Activity is expected to deliver three Intermediate Results (IR) as outlined in its results framework. The Strategic Objective is to improve the utilization and quality of RMNCH and malaria services in a sustainable manner. The three IRs are: 1. Increased equitable access to RMNCH and malaria services in targeted districts. 2. Improved quality of high-impact RMNCH/malaria services along the continuum of care in targeted districts. 3. Strengthened performance of the health system at central and decentralized levels. To deliver these IRs, Ingobyi applies a strategic, results-oriented, and multi-pronged technical approach that addresses key bottlenecks and inspires the health system to respond to RMNCH and malaria prevention and treatment needs of the Rwanda population. The Activity works with the GOR to improve the resilience and sustainability of the health system. Implementation progress is reported for the period of April 1, 2019, to June 30, 2019. Key achievements include: * Increased availability of RMNCH and malaria services in targeted districts. * Improved provider skills in RMNCH and malaria services, including doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health workers. * Strengthened capacity at the national and decentralized levels to plan and manage RMNCH and malaria services. * Improved health-seeking behaviors for RMNCH and malaria services. * Institutionalized quality improvement approaches for RMNCH and malaria interventions. * Strengthened referral linkages for RMNCH and malaria services between and across different services and levels of service delivery. * Improved standardization of RMNCH and malaria services. * Strengthened capacity for district planning, reporting, and evaluation (M&E) frameworks. Implementation challenges and cross-cutting issues are also reported, including the need for continued support to strengthen the health system and address systemic bottlenecks. Lessons learned from the first quarter of the Activity are also highlighted, including the importance of building strong partnerships with the GOR and other stakeholders. The Ingobyi Activity has made significant progress in improving the quality of RMNCH and malaria services in Rwanda. The Activity continues to work with the GOR to build on the country's achievements and address the remaining challenges to achieve the desired outcomes.