Leadership, Management and Governance Project in West Africa: Quarterly Report January-March 2014

The project's two-year goal is to achieve this objective through workplace action-oriented training for health leaders and managers in key health system building blocks, and by developing the stewardship capacity of senior leaders through specialized training with long-term mentoring. LMG/West Africa has three main objectives towards this overall goal: Improved leadership, management, and governance practices; Strengthened organizational M&E capacity and regional HIS management and implementation oversight; and Strengthened capacity in internal and external communication and advocacy. The project will build the institutional capacity needed at WAHO to carry out regional health program stewardship effectively in close collaboration with USAID/West Africa implementing partners and direct investments to WAHO. During the reporting period of January 1 to March 31, 2014, the LMG/West Africa team continued to focus on strategic planning and stakeholder engagement activities to ensure the smooth and successful implementation of the project. The team refined the program description and collaborated with WAHO leadership and unit teams to identify priority activities within the project's mandate and results framework. LMG/West Africa developed and finalized all project documents during this reporting period, including the program description and PY1 workplan package, which was approved by USAID/West Africa on March 25, 2014. Prior to workplan approval, LMG/West Africa began providing technical support to WAHO for key activities, including substantial preparation for the Annual Health Ministers' Meeting, which took place in April 2014. The project also established a task force under the Division Soins de Santé Primaires (DSSP) to promote family planning (FP) and reproductive health (RH) priorities regionally. The project has worked closely with the new WAHO leadership team that arrived in 2014, providing support for their transition and ensuring a smooth handover of responsibilities. The LMG/West Africa team has been working closely with WAHO to develop and implement a communications strategy for 2013-2017, based on an assessment of the organization's key communications needs. The project has also helped develop and adopt an advocacy strategy for the period 2013-2015. Members of three WAHO workplace teams completed Management Sciences for Health's Leadership Development Program (LDP), and the project is now focusing on supporting governance and leadership practices within WAHO, reinforcing the management of the HIS as well as the M&E system, and advancing WAHO's overall capacities to achieve its strategic vision. The project's progress has been marked by several key achievements, including the development and approval of the program description and PY1 workplan package, the establishment of a task force to promote family planning and reproductive health priorities regionally, and the provision of technical support to WAHO for key activities. The project's continued focus on strategic planning and stakeholder engagement activities has ensured a smooth and successful implementation of the project, and the team remains committed to achieving the project's objectives and goals.