Countries: Gambia, India, Liberia, Rwanda, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, DRC, Guinea, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Tanzania, Solomon Islands, Kiribati
Description:
Acknowledging that strong leadership and management practices is essential to increasing vaccination coverage, EPI LAMP was a nine-month certificate program (funded by Gavi) that aimed to improve leadership and management capacity among EPI program managers. In each country, teams of 4-6 MOH officials participated in a mix of asynchronous and synchronous learning, including application of skills to a pressing EPI performance challenge¹.
PHC levers:
Enabling factors: Political commitment & leadership (team-based design fostered engagement and collaboration between EPI and senior leadership in MOH); engagement of communities & other stakeholders (political advocacy module helped participants to develop and implement engagement strategies, improved confidence in engaging stakeholders at all levels; PHC workforce (resource management module contributed to improved ability to manage human resources).
Added Value:
Contribution to RI: Evaluation results indicate that the EPI LAMP program added value to EPI by strengthening the strategic problem solving and adaptive management capacities of not just EPI teams, but PHC leadership more broadly. Results from self-assessments and exit interviews indicated improvements in problem solving skills, enhanced attention to team dynamics, fostering of shared accountability for EPI program success, a greater appreciation of leadership, and opportunities for practical application of new knowledge and skills². Participation of other MOH leadership in the program also benefited EPI by giving those leaders increased visibility into the objectives and challenges faced by the immunization program.
Contribution to PHC: Evaluation of the program did not include measures of broader HS management capacity, however, many of the skills gained are broadly applicable beyond the immunization program and therefore may result in strengthened leadership and management in other programs. Participation of other MOH leaders in program also benefited EPI by giving leaders visibility into challenges and objectives of the immunization program.