4318.0: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 - 8:45 PM

Abstract #8225

From technical assistance to institutionalization: The long and winding road

Ellen Eiseman, MPH, Ricardo Dios, MD, MHA, and Bruno Benavides, MD. Project 2000, Pathfinder International, 9 Galen Street, Suite 217, Watertown, MA 02472, 617-924-7200, rmorgan@pathfind.org

Project 2000, a five year collaboration between the Peruvian Ministry of Health (MOH) and USAID, aims to strengthen maternal, perinatal, and infant health services; develop initiatives for more effective management; and improve health care financing. After five years of creating and putting into place quality systems and processes, the project is entering a three year extension period focusing on institutionalizing what has been accomplished to date and determining what is still needed.

Project 2000 is developing a transition plan that details the process of what will happen over the next three years to transfer responsibility and “know how” to the MOH. The challenges for successful institutionalization include ensuring MOH political, financial, and organizational support and commitment to the institutionalization process; identifying the MOH’s readiness to take on responsibility for the processes and systems that are now in place; and securing participation at all levels from headquarters to the regions to the hospital or health center level.

The first step in the process–incorporating the MOH into the planning, development, and implementation of technical assistance activities at the Central and Regional levels–already has begun. The second step, transition, will have the MOH taking the lead in technical assistance. The third step will encompass the hand over of the project, whereby the MOH will oversee and carry out the project, and technical assistance efforts will be completed.

This presentation will look at the importance of the institutionalization process, progress to date, and recommendations for moving toward the final hand over.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1. Explain the importance of including an institutionalization component in development projects. 2. Describe at least three challenges to developing and implementing a successful transition plan and what can be done to address those challenges

Keywords: Quality Assurance,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA