engaging civil society_roma solomon_5.9.14
TRANSCRIPT
Global Health Practitioner ConferenceSilver Spring, 9 May 2014
Dr. Roma Solomon
Individuals and organizations independent of the government
Civil society includes…Activist groups
Civic groups
Clubs (sports, social, etc.)
CBOs & FBOs
Environmental groupsNGOs
PVOs
Policy institutions
Professional associations
Political parties
Social enterprises
Trade unions
Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs)
Academia
Charities
Cooperatives
Men’s /Women’s groups
Consumers
How are we perceived??Watch Dogs/Pet dogs?
Activists/Champions of rights? Fault finders?
How do we perceive ourselves?
• Backbenchers ?• Loud campaigners / Belligerent activists?• Champions of the underdog ?• Hesitant Do-gooders ?• Spies & fault finders?• Anti government ?
CredibleEqual partners with a supporting attitudeTechnically sound and armed with data
Action orientedInnovators
What should be our perception?
Why should Civil Society be engaged?
Civil Society is usually understood as the social arena that exists between the state and the individual or household *
Though it lacks the coercive or regulatory power of the state and the economic power of the market, it provides the
social power or influence of ordinarypeople.
This social power/capital is our USP
* WHO Discussion Paper Dec. 2001
Key features of civil society organizations
• Articulating citizens' interests and demands • Defending rights
• Providing goods and services directly.
Civil society & Government Expectations from each other?
• Is only the government expected to be accountable?• Mutual respect for each others’
experience and potential to make efforts, complementary• Ability to see eye to eye and recognizing
each others’ limitations
CSOs provides excellent laboratories for pioneering new methods and strategies in a
relatively efficacious and cost-effective manner.
They combine the spread and reach of government with depth and flexibility - the
ideal method for achieving development objectives.
Potential of civil society
Harnessing this Potential
An Example
The India Polio Programme
• Government – Prime implementers• WHO - Technical support & surveillance • Rotary International – Advocacy & Funding• Unicef & CORE– Communication & Social mobilization
The Polio Partnership
What was the need to engage civil society?
• Children were being missed
• Rumours were spreading
• Resistance was building up
Understanding of community needs• Communities were being
taken for granted • Communication was
prescriptive • Baggage of “We know what is
good for you” unloaded • Timing as per vaccinators’
convenience • It was NOT positioned as a
peoples program
• Community/leaders/institutions did not believe in the program
• It was not a priority for families• Suspicions about the vaccine• Trust deficit between government &
community
Identification of Barriers
Overcoming these Barriers
Lessons we Learnt!
• The key - Equal partnership!
• NO blame game
• Timely response – put out smaller fires before they spread
• Give facts
http://youtu.be/6wzatF6TiHI
Workers need to be equipped with
knowledge and the ability to transfer this knowledge to others
Knowledge leads to change in attitude
and behaviour
Capacities of front line staff were built
to analyse resistance and develop ‘Negotiation' approaches
Shift from instructive to negotiation approach
Identification and engagement of influencers –
children, priests, local healers,
barbers, ration shop owners,
film stars, cricketers, etc
• Strategies were tailor made for various audiences
• Special initiatives kept the program exciting & alive for implementers & caregivers
Involvement of religious & other community leaders
• Religious institutions engaged to handle communication with specific groups
• Each query was heard & responded to with facts
• Burning issues were tackled immediately
Religious scholars were able to counter negative propaganda against immunization based on their
interpretation of the Quran and Hadees
Importance of Data
• Data collection and compilation• Recording & documentation of successes and
failures.
All led to a strong MIS that supported planning and implementation of effective activities
27th March 2014Declaration of A Polio-Free India
Sharing lessons with other CORE Group Polio Project countries
Nigeria, S. Sudan, Angola, Ethiopia &
Horn of Africa
Support in communication strategies, disease surveillance, IEC material, M&E
systems, mHealth, etc
Using the Polio Legacy to improve Routine Immunisation
• Shoring up Routine Immunisation alongside
polio• Microplanning• Identifying High-risk groups and tracking
unimmunised children • Capacity building of frontline workers
Recognition at last!!Traditionally CSOs have provided services to the
underserved but are usually left out of policy making and planning.
GAVI formed a CSO Constituency Providing a seat on the Board not only gave
recognition but also paved the way to the engagement of CSOs in other health
programmes
GAVI’s Strategic Goal 2Strengthening health systems to deliver
immunisation
Under this goal, GAVI provided an umbrella grant to the Steering Committee of the GAVI
CSO constituency. CRS was nominated as the fund manager and
national level CSO platforms were formed in 23 countries for effective engagement in health
systems strengthening and immunisation.
WORKINGTOGETHER
WORKS!