Trip Report: Leadership, Management and Governance Project (LMG) in Ethiopia

The LMG Project's objective is to support health systems strengthening by addressing the gap in leadership, management, and governance capacity of policy makers, healthcare providers, and program managers to implement quality health services at all levels of the health system. The project's focus on governance functions is crucial because it provides the ultimate commitment to improving service delivery and fosters sustainability through accountability, transparency, and stewardship. The project's geographic focus is Ethiopia, and its objective is to support the country's health systems strengthening by addressing the gap in leadership, management, and governance capacity. The project's scope includes providing technical and management support to the MSH LMG Ethiopia Project, with a focus on End of Project communication strategy, plans, and products. The objective of the Short Term Technical Assistance is to provide overall management support, reviewing and updating the cost share plan, and providing technical support in the review of the communication plan and products for both in-country and global LMG End of Project events and communication materials. The project's major trip accomplishments include several meetings and discussions with key staff to review the current status of the project. The project activities are on track, with the pre-service and in-service training materials complete and undergoing the last stages of editing and proofreading. The MSH Country Communication Manager will provide technical support and further guidance. The project has a considerable cost share requirement of 20%, which could mean a $140,000.00 cost share requirement. The project has set up an e-learning forum for trainers, which is a positive step forward. However, the project will have to struggle to meet the cost share requirement, and the MSH head office will provide support to fill the gap. The project's recommendations include highlighting efforts to ensure continuity and sustainability of LMG training and strengthening, producing a Results Report as an End of Project product, setting up an End of Project work group, and meeting with the MSH head office contracts officer to review and address issues around cost share. The project team met with several key staff members, including Jemal Mohammed, Director of LMG/Ethiopia; Temesgen Workayehu, M &E and Learning Advisor; and Dereje Ayle, Capacity Building Advisor. The team also met with the MSH Country Communication Manager, who has 25% of her time assigned to LMG and has the skill and experience to make a significant contribution to the End of Project events planning and communication products. The project's geographic focus is Ethiopia, and its objective is to support the country's health systems strengthening by addressing the gap in leadership, management, and governance capacity. The project's scope includes providing technical and management support to the MSH LMG Ethiopia Project, with a focus on End of Project communication strategy, plans, and products.