Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #106333

Margaret Usher-Patel, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, 1211, Geneva 27, Switzerland, 41 22 791 4370, usherpatelm@who.int

Efforts to improve evidence-based policy and practice take place along a continuum of action, from the work of committed individuals in their local environments to the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies on a global scale. The Implementing Best Practices (IBP) Initiative is one of the few efforts designed to facilitate and accelerate the uptake of evidence-based practices into reproductive health service delivery programs at a global scale. IBP Consortium members are comprised of 22 agencies representing donors, providers and technical assistance partners from both developed and developing countries. The IBP Consortium adds value to the efforts of its member agencies by: Expanding the reach of each individual member; Creating tangible communities of practice that support the sharing of knowledge, expertise, successes and lessons learned; Advancing effective approaches to the introduction, adaptation and scale-up of best practices; Creating synergies among partners around knowledge management, performance improvement and change management techniques; Harmonizing approaches that can accelerate change and improve value for money spent; and Creating a knowledge-sharing culture among stakeholders at the global, regional and country levels. This presentation will describe the IBP Initiative in terms of its history, goals and objectives, recent activities and future plans. It will cover the structure and membership of the consortium, as well as its main mechanisms of action. In addition to informing APHA members about the IBP Initiative specifically, this overview presentation will provide the context for several subsequent presentations highlighting, in more detail, various aspects of IBP member activities.

Learning Objectives: