MOMENTUM Integrated Health Resilience Sudan PY2 Q1 Performance Report

MIHR is a global United States Agency for International Development (USAID) cooperative agreement designed to strengthen quality voluntary family planning and reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (FP/RMNCAH) service delivery in fragile settings. The project advances global knowledge on strengthening FP/RMNCAH service delivery and building resilience in fragile settings. MIHR's goal in Sudan is to increase the capacity of Sudanese institutions to plan sustainably and manage and maintain quality MNH and WASH services. The project works with key stakeholders to achieve three intermediate results: IR1, IR2, and IR3. IR1 aims to improve access to and use of evidence-based, quality MNH and WASH services. IR2 focuses on strengthening the capacity of host country institutions at locality and state level to deliver quality MNH and WASH services. IR3 involves adaptive learning and use of evidence in MNH and WASH programming. In January 2021, MIHR received a project description for a health system strengthening (HSS) initiative in Sudan to improve the quality of MNH services at the state and locality levels, including upgrading facilities for emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC). In June 2021, MIHR received a revised project description that integrated water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) to improve rural WASH service delivery sustainability in South Kordofan. This quarter, USAID approved MIHR's PY2 work plan with minimal changes. The State Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) and line ministries approved the project's technical agreement after several rounds of questions and answers and submitted it to the Federal level for signature. At the State HAC's request, MIHR developed a mini proposal describing MIHR workplan activities to accompany the technical agreement. Additionally, MIHR replaced two localities in eastern South Kordofan (Abujabeiha and Alliri) with two localities in western South Kordofan (Dilling and Habila) in response to an increase in intertribal conflict that has severely restricted access to the Abujabeiha and Alliri localities. MIHR visited Dilling and Habila to meet with community leaders and other key stakeholders (health facility in-charges, INGO staff) to introduce them to the MIHR initiative and visit potential project sites. Using the same criteria applied in PY1, MIHR selected 5 health facilities (1 hospital and 4 PHCCs) in each locality in consultation with stakeholders, thereby maintaining the total number of MIHR-supported health facilities and localities as in PY1. A key achievement in Q1 was the award of a fixed amount service contract to the South Kordofan Midwife Association to support the implementation of MIHR's activities in the region. The contract will enable the association to provide technical assistance and capacity building to health facilities and community health workers in the region. MIHR's collaboration with other multi-sectoral partners is crucial to building resilience and ensuring measurement, dissemination, and use of evidence-based practices. The project's adaptive management approach enables ongoing learning, collaboration, and adaptation to ensure that the project remains responsive to the needs of the target population. In terms of implementation progress, MIHR has made significant strides in the first quarter of PY2. The project has established a strong presence in the region, with a team of experienced staff and partners working together to achieve the project's objectives. The project has also made significant progress in terms of capacity building, with a focus on strengthening the capacity of health facilities and community health workers to deliver quality MNH and WASH services. Overall, MIHR's efforts in Sudan are focused on improving the quality of MNH and WASH services, strengthening the capacity of health facilities and community health workers, and building resilience in fragile settings. The project's adaptive management approach and collaboration with other multi-sectoral partners will enable ongoing learning, collaboration, and adaptation to ensure that the project remains responsive to the needs of the target population.