CLA for National Leadership of Sustainable NTD Services in W. Africa

How can a USAID-funded program promote country leadership for sustainable delivery of health services that have been traditionally donor-driven? This question was at the center of the continuous learning activity organized by the USAID Act to End Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) West Program (Act | West). 

NTDs impact the lives of over a billion people globally and are prevalent in rural, low-income communities within low- and middle-income countries, exacerbating existing inequities and challenges. Act | West supports 11 countries in West and Central Africa to achieve elimination and control goals of five NTDs. One of the program’s objectives is to strengthen health systems and mainstream NTD services, which have been traditionally siloed and donor dependent, into government systems so that even once elimination or control targets are met, national NTD programs can continue providing critical services and sustain achievements. The Act | West team had made progress rallying political support around national NTD Sustainability Plans, but leadership and investment by countries for the implementation of these plans have lagged. 

Act | West designed and implemented a Pause & Reflect exercise to deepen understanding of barriers and identify solutions for promoting greater country leadership. The activity included an anonymous stakeholder survey, consultations, an internal learning workshop, a cross-country workshop open to counterparts and stakeholders, and debrief sessions. The exercise resulted in direct connections for counterparts, cross-country learning, and a clearer understanding of how Act | West can strategically support NTD programs to mainstream NTD services into national systems.