engaging civil society_roma solomon_judith omondi-anyona_5.9.14

INVESTING IN CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS FOR SUSTAINED IMPACT

Presented by: Judith Omondi Anyona

Program manager GAVI CSO Project

GAVI CSO Constituency

Background of the GAVI CSO constituency project: The project is funded by Global Alliance for

Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) The Constituency draws membership from 300+

CSOs globally Their efforts are coordinated through a 20 member

Steering committee who are HSS, advocacy and Immunization champions and professionals.

The SC works with GAVI to ensure that CSOs are engaged and fully utilized

CRS was nominated by the SC to perform the role of a grants manager


GAVI CSO constituency Project Goal:

Promote involvement of CSOs in the health sector

GAVI CSO Project Objectives:(1) Facilitating organizations have established fully functioning civil society platforms to engage in immunization and health system strengthening processes(2) CSO platforms apply new knowledge and skills to engage in discussions around HSS-strengthening for immunization(3) CSO platforms work closely with governments and development partners on immunization issues(4) CSO platforms mobilize communities to participate in immunization activities through education and communication to create demand for vaccines


WHY IT IS NECESSARY TO INVOLVE CIVIL SOCIETY

ORGANIZATIONS?


CSOs allow for services to be expanded to full scale

CSOs are based in the community.

CSOs are trusted by the community and are able to influence health seeking behavior.

CSOs conduct community mobilization, service delivery & case follow up.

CSOs will remain in the community


There is a global recognition that CSOs must work in coordination with the government.

One major barrier is that some CSOs lack the systems and guidance to effectively advocate on behalf of the people that they serve.

They may lack coordination as a unified body.

This can change with focused capacity strengthening.


Investing in CSO

Capacity Building Needs of CSOs

How CRS responds

The CSO platform model implemented in 23 countries


FACILITATING ORGANIZATIO

N (F.O)

MEMBER ORGANIZATIO

N 1

MEMBER ORGANIZATIO

N 2

MEMBER ORGANIZATIO

N 3

MEMBER ORGANIZATIO

N4

MEMBER ORGANIZATIO

NX

The F.O is the Platform coordinator

and sub-grantee

CRS selects F.O through call for proposal

Proposals are reviewed, revised then approved

Approved F.Os are assessed and sub-granted

F.O invites other CSOs to form a platform

Capacity building process for CSO: Training needs and resource assessments to determine

areas of strengths and weaknesses. (technical and management)

An action plan is developed to target skills improvement Through trainings, site visits, mentorship, peer exchanges

and other methods of sharing, CSO platforms attain needed skills.

CRS country programs provide mentorship to build financial and program management systems

External experts are linked to local experts for coaching in advocacy, communication and variety of technical areas

CSOs carry out study visits to learn others’ best practices CSOs document and share their learning Skills assessment is repeated


Accomplishments to date


CSO platforms mobilize communities to participate in immunization activities

In the first year of the project, 5,314 health workers/volunteers were trained to deliver immunization services.

20,453 community volunteers and 15,142 health workers were trained in community mobilization activities.

More than 280 CSO stories promoting vaccination have been featured in the local media.


Facilitating Organizations have established functioning CSO platforms

14 national level platforms established; nine strengthened and in the process of establishing the platforms1050 civil society advocates have been trained in advocacy, social mobilization and project management. More than 300 CSO Platform members have been trained in health system strengthening application processes. CSOs linked to MoH, WHO and UNICEF


CSO platforms applying new knowledge and skills and engaging in discussions around HSS for immunization

12 CSO platforms have a seat on the appropriate decision making board.

CSO platforms have held 131 meetings with government and development partners to discuss immunization issues.

CSO platforms have carried out 134 advocacy campaigns and 142 educational events on health systems strengthening.


CSO platforms work closely with governments and development partners on immunization issues

CSOs and governments are now planning together.

Ten GAVI HSS proposals were submitted with CSO inputs.

13 of the 23 CSO platforms carried out joint immunization activities with government partners.

Additionally, CSO partners attended 31 regional and international HSS events to shape the direction of HSS strategyGAVI CSO Constituency

CSOs now have a role at each level of the health sector

Community level: CSOs advocate for vaccine uptake at the community level and share grassroots data with the MOH.

Sub-national level: CSO have provincial level platforms to capture the voices of those who live in hard-to-reach areas

National level: CSOs meet with MOH and key development partners and support them in the GAVI HSS application process.

Global level: CSO build relationships with GAVI structures including the GAVI CSO Constituency Steering Committee, and regional and international forums.


The Ghana experience in CSO COALITION formation and coordination

Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health represents 500+ partners from every part of the country


GCNH represents 500+ partners from every part of the country To create space for CSOs to work together as a

team to be able to negotiate with government on health issues

To ease the burden of coordination that government and development partners were facing

To create streamlined funding and communication channels

To provide the evidence for advocacy from the grass root for policy level engagement

Key accomplishments: National and Global level: Permanent seat on ICC, CCM,

Partners meetings and recognition by the Ministry of Health

Submitted the HSS proposals jointly developed with GHS with a defined role and earmarked funds for CSOs

They organized annual CSO health forum for all CSOs and other health partners at national and regional levels.

Members reached 100 hard to reach communities with immunization and maternal Health services in Central and Volta

Coordinate joint monitoring of health facilities by Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Services and other development partners

Capacity building of members in proposal development, advocacy, etc

Hosted the various platform for a study visit

Community level Members reached 100 hard to

reach communities with immunization and maternal Health services in Central and Volta

Partners trained 222 community volunteers and 308 TAs as agents of immunisation

29,437 youth were reached with HIV prevention interventions in 2013

29,365 were reached with stigma reduction activities


Conclusion:

There is a role for INGOs in strengthening the capacity of in country CSO partners

CSOs are making an impact in increasing immunization to underserved populations

CSO platforms have shown that with a collective voice it is possible to influence policy

With strengthen capacity, the CSOs can be accountable and produce results

CSOs have the technical capacity to contribute to HSS and other areas of child health services

What next for CSOs: CSO need to utilize the developed skills to

influence the health sector Collaborate more with stakeholders and

ensure that the relationship is working properly

Continue to hold consultations and provide feedback to stakeholders to shape their strategies to ensure that both local and global advocacy

issues are represented to improve stakeholders knowledge of what

actually happens at ground level and the real impact of the work done; and

to better align stakeholders actions with community needs.

Finally:

Voices of country platforms:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vpI2eaaFxE&feature=player_embedded

Thank you for your time and commitment to improving health outcomes in the developing world.

For more information contact Judith Omondi at [email protected]


mailto:[email protected]

Questions (10 mins round table discussion)

1. How can we work better with Civil Society?

2. Who is already working well with Civil Society?

3. How can I/my organization work better with Civil Society?

Current implementing countries

Phase 2

1. Chad 2. Guinea 3. Haiti 4. India5. Liberia 6. Malawi 7. Nigeria 8. Pakistan

and 9. Uganda

Phase 3

1. Bangladesh 2. Benin3. Cameroon 4. Madagascar 5. Mali 6. Sierra Leone 7. Togo8. South Sudan

and 9. Zambia


Phase 1 (graduated)

1. Burkina Faso

2. DRC3. Ethiopia4. Ghana5. Kenya

CRS management support to F.O at two levels CRS Global Management Unit

Launches requests for proposals from in-country Facilitating Organization

Coordinates the proposal review process

Manage communication with the donor and CSO constituency

Coordinate technical assistance (global trainings, webinars, fact sheets, linkage to consultants)

Linking FO to stakeholders at various levels

Reporting Supports project performance

to achieve set indicators

CRS at Country Program level Conducts assessments for

the FO(organizational and financial capacity) Develops corrective plans

and mentors FO towards this Disburses, monitors and

reports on in-country grants Monitors FO workplan

implementation Provides M& E support using

Indicator Performance Tracking Tool

Supports FO at various high level meetings

engaging civil society_roma solomon_judith omondi-anyona_5.9.14

Health & Medicine