Cross-border Vaccinations in the Horn of Africa

Tackling polio, as well as other viruses and diseases, in cross-border areas is necessary to keep them from spreading across countries, continents, and the globe. As the Core Group Polio Project (CGPP) has used its coordination model in countries to stop the virus for 16 years, this expertise can be adapted for new approaches, such as cross-border vaccination work. The challenges of working in unstable areas, where regional conflicts and terrorist activity are present, and with internationally displaced persons and migrant populations make this work particularly important to ensure all individuals have access to vital vaccinations. To ensure CGPP work can be conducted effectively, civil society partners collaborate with USAID Missions, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the CDC, Rotary International, and Ministries of Health. What CORE Group brings to this work is a community component. Bringing in the CGPP has helped expand vaccination activities to more remote and isolated areas in the Horn of Africa and elsewhere.

This case study was submitted as part of USAID's CLA Case Competition, held in August 2015. This collection of examples illustrate the diversity of ways collaborating, learning, and adapting approaches are being operationalized in the field. To view more CLA cases like this one, visit the CLA Case Competition page.