TIPS FOR DOCUMENTING IMPLEMENTATION STORIES

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the IBP Network and Knowledge SUCCESS have recently published a series of 15 stories highlighting organizations' experiences implementing High Impact Practices (HIPs) and WHO Guidelines and Tools in family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) programming from around the world. When documenting implementation stories, it is essential to consider several factors before getting started. This includes reading other stories for inspiration and ideas, identifying the story to be told, the audience, and the format. Developing a template for the story and creating a spreadsheet to track the required steps and timeline can also be helpful. Documenting implementation stories takes time, and it is crucial to build in a buffer around the expected publication date. The content to be included in the story should include a title that describes the who, what, and where of the story, as well as background and context information. The need for intervention should be clearly stated, along with the implementation story, impact, challenges, and lessons learned and recommendations. It is essential to be as specific as possible about what worked and what didn't, and to include unexpected details that can greatly affect a program. When publishing the story, it is crucial to copyedit the content to ensure it is concise and free of jargon and acronyms. Using photos to convey the message and show readers the context in which the story takes place can also be helpful. Considering multiple reviewers and allowing for differences between stories can also ensure the unique voice of each author shines through. Promoting and disseminating the story is also essential, and this can be done by publishing it on the organization's website, social media, LinkedIn, and other platforms. Circulating the story among communities of practice, colleagues, and various listservs can also help reach a wider audience. Translating the story into other languages and tailoring the content for different learning styles can also be beneficial. The use of free software, such as Canva, to create catchy visuals for social media can also be helpful. Publishing the story in multiple languages from the beginning can also increase its reach and impact. Documenting implementation stories and sharing experiences can have a powerful impact on family planning and reproductive health programs, and can help advance global efforts and improve lives. The WHO and the IBP Network and Knowledge SUCCESS have compiled a list of tips for documenting implementation stories, which can be used by others to write their own stories. These tips include reading other stories for inspiration and ideas, identifying the story to be told, the audience, and the format, and developing a template for the story and creating a spreadsheet to track the required steps and timeline. The use of photos and quotes from interviews can also make the story more engaging and help convey the message. Considering multiple reviewers and allowing for differences between stories can also ensure the unique voice of each author shines through. Promoting and disseminating the story is also essential, and this can be done by publishing it on the organization's website, social media, LinkedIn, and other platforms. Overall, documenting implementation stories is a crucial aspect of sharing country experiences, lessons learned, and recommendations in family planning. By following these tips and being flexible, creative, and having fun documenting and telling the story, organizations can help advance global efforts and improve lives.