LMG/West Africa Trip Report : Jeanne Hamon

The project's overall goal is to achieve this through workplace action-oriented training for health leaders and managers in key system building blocks, and by developing the stewardship capacity of senior leaders through specialized training and mentoring, supported over the long term. LMG/West Africa has three main objectives towards this overall goal: Improved leadership, management and governance practices, Strengthened organizational M&E capacity and regional Health Information System (HIS) management and implementation oversight, and Strengthened capacity in internal and external communication and advocacy. The project is building 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. The project's support to WAHO includes strengthening partnerships and building coordination, holding consultations at the highest levels of health governance through regional meetings such as the WAHO Health Partners' Forum and Assembly of Health Ministers. These events facilitate information sharing and decision making for regional programs and actions that improve the health of the population of the region. During the January-March 2015 period, the project officer, Jeanne Hamon, provided management and technical support to LMG/West Africa's Senior Technical Advisor (STA) to advance key activities in the project's workplan. The objectives of the scope of work for the entire period included co-facilitating technical coaching sessions with the two WAHO teams participating in the LDP+, ensuring that teams are progressing towards their performance targets by the 3rd and 4th LDP+ workshops, and participating in individual phone calls with the WAHO state focal points to assist the STA in establishing needs' profiles for each of them. The project officer co-facilitated technical coaching sessions with the two WAHO teams participating in the LDP+, ensuring that teams are progressing towards their performance targets by the 3rd and 4th LDP+ workshops. The technical coaching sessions included reviewing the necessary steps for finalizing the work climate questionnaire, reviewing feedback from team members on the 1st draft of the questionnaire, and developing definitions for key terminology used in the questionnaire. The project officer also assisted the STA in establishing needs' profiles for each of the WAHO state focal points, which informed the LDP+ participants' selection process. The project officer also participated in individual phone calls with the WAHO state focal points and assisted the STA in establishing needs' profiles for each of them. The needs' profiles informed the LDP+ participants' selection process and helped to identify the skills and knowledge gaps of the WAHO state focal points. The project officer also assisted in the preparation of the governance profile for WAHO and selected member states, developed governance tools for the WAHO context, and helped prepare the 3-day Governance Academy curriculum for WAHO senior management. The project officer also assisted in the recruitment and management of a human resources and organizational development consultant, a Health Information System (HIS) consultant, and a consultant to identify and secure private sector funding to respond to the region's most pressing health priorities. The project officer also assisted the WAHO Professional Officers for Communication and Advocacy in implementing the advocacy plan and communication strategy and supported the review of the annual action plan. The project officer's efforts during the January-March 2015 period contributed to the advancement of key activities in the project's workplan, including the co-facilitation of technical coaching sessions with the two WAHO teams participating in the LDP+, the establishment of needs' profiles for each of the WAHO state focal points, and the preparation of the governance profile for WAHO and selected member states. The project officer's technical support and management expertise helped to strengthen the organizational capacity of WAHO and improve the health of the population of the region.