Designup

Category: Project

  • Building Institutional Capacity for HPSR and Delivery Science- CIF is Europe region HUB

    General Overview

    The evidence-informed decision making in health still remains a major challenge. To strengthen institutional capacity in different countries around the globe the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR) launched the new program to strengthen the capacity of local teaching/research and policy institutions in six low- and middle- income countries in each WHO region, to embed high-quality training in HPSR, target both researchers and decision makers. The Knowledge to Policy (K2P) Center at American University of Beirut is lead mentor institution who will guide 6 mentee institutions around the world, Curatio International Foundation (CIF) acts as mentee institution for the European region.

    Purpose of the Program

    Strengthen the capacity of researchers and policymakers and their respective institutions to support evidence-informed decision-making in health.

     

    Expected outputs
    • Institutions that have the systems, processes and the right culture to support and facilitate evidence-informed decision-making in health in LMICs
    • Policymakers who recognize the role of evidence in informing different stages of the policymaking process and capacity to access, appraise and use evidence to inform decision-making in health
    • Researchers who understand the policymaking process and who have the skills and competencies to provide relevant, context-sensitive and timely HPSR and evidence to inform decision-making in health.

     

    Expected impact
    • A cadre of sustainable policymaking and research/knowledge institutions that champion the use of evidence in health policymaking, and that can serve as focal mentors to develop the capacity of other institutions within their respective countries and regions (i.e., ripple effect)
    • Strengthened evidence-informed decision-making in health in LMICs
    • Ultimately, by promoting the use of research, evidence, and data in policymaking and practice, the program will contribute to strengthening health systems, improving population health outcomes, reducing health care expenditures, and accelerating the attainment of the sustainable development goals (SDGs)
    • Establish and nurture critical links and collaborations between and researchers and policymakers

     

    Donors and Partners

    Lead partner: Knowledge to Policy (K2P) Center (American University of Beirut)
    Donor: WHO, the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR)

    Geographical Coverage

    Georgia and Europe Region (as defined by WHO).

     

    Project Timeline

    The project started in September 2018 and will run until May 2020.

  • Embedding Rapid Reviews in Health Systems Decision-Making (ERA)

    General Overview

    As a result of the constitutional amendments passed at the end of 2017, Georgia became a parliamentary republic. It increased the role of the legislature in policy development and supervision. As a result of these amendments, the Committee on Health and Social Affairs of Georgia has taken over more authority and powers to monitor the activities and policy implementation by the government, to regularly request reports maintained at the Ministry of Health and other agencies in order to analyze their performance and to develop recommendations. Consequently, the Committee has become more actively involved in reforming healthcare sector and in solving public policy issues.

    The platform – ERA / REM introduction in healthcare policy development – has been established to facilitate the ongoing process. The establishment of the platform is in line with the recent trends and provides for the possibility to promote evidence-based policy-making in the country.

    About the project

    Curatio International Foundation has been implementing the project initiated by the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR) since July 2018.

    The project aims at building capacities of evidence-based and sustainable decision-making in the field of healthcare policy development

    Project goals
    • Identification of pressing health policy topics/ issues
    • Introduction of evidence-based rapid evaluation methods
    • Preparation of REM evaluations on selected topical issues
    • Facilitation of evidence-based decision-making.
    Donors and Parents

    The project is financially supported by the World Health Organization and the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research. The project is implemented by Curatio International Foundation in cooperation with the Committee on Health and Social Affairs of the Parliament of Georgia. Technical support to the project is also provided by St. Micheal’s Hospital-Knowledge Translation Program (Canada), Makerere University (Uganda)

    Geographical Coverage

    Georgia

    Project Timeline

    The project has been implemented since July 2018 and will run until November 2019.

  • Project: HIV risk behavior among Men who have Sex with Men – Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Survey and Population Size Estimation

    Introduction and Overview

    Georgia is among the countries with low HIV/AIDS prevalence but with a high potential for the development of a widespread epidemic. From the early years of the epidemic injecting drug use was the major route for HIV transmission, however, for the last years, heterosexual transmission is prevailing ( 51.5% in 2016). According to the national HIV surveillance system, infections acquired through homosexual contact contributed to 16.8% of all newly registered cases in 2016.

    Curatio International Foundation continues implementation of Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Surveys among Key Affected Population Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), with the aim to measure HIV prevalence among, monitor risk behaviors, and generate evidence for advocacy and policy-making.

    The fifth wave of the study will also include Population Size Estimation.

     

    Country of Implementation

    Georgia (Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi)

     

    Organizations Involved

    Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Survey and Population Size Estimation will be conducted together with partner organization – Center for Information and Counseling on Reproductive Health Tanadgoma. The study is financially supported by the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health in the frame of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) grant.

     

    Project objectives and Contributions 

    The project aims to generate reliable information about MSM population size and define the population HIV and Hepatitis C risk behavior. The results of the study will be used to assess the national response to HIV/AIDS and to plan an adequate national program.

    Project objectives are:

    • Conducting supervision over behavior in MSM in three cities in Georgia: Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi; Biomarker testing on HIV infection, C hepatitis, and STI (syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea).
    • Assessment of the approximate size of the MMS population in 3 towns of Georgia (Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi) and calculation of the estimated size of MSMs across the country.

     

    The final documents:

    1. Bio-Behavioral Surveillance Survey in 2018
    2. Population Size Estimation, 2018

  • Technical Assistance for evaluation of transition readiness and preparation of Transition and Sustainability Plan for Global Fund-supported programs in Tajikistan

    Introduction and Overview

    In June 2018 CIF initiated a new project with the financial support of The Global Fund. The overall goal of the CIF assignment is to support the Country Coordination Mechanism of Tajikistan (CCM) in assessing country preparedness for Transition and developing the Transition and Sustainability Plan based on this assessment and key steps identified.

    Donors and Partners
    The Global Fund, Country Coordination Mechanism (CCM) of Tajikistan
    Project objectives and Contributions

    The following activities are planned to fulfill within the scope of the project frame:

    • In collaboration with the Tajikistan CCMs and Global Fund Secretariat, plan the key steps and dates in the process of the Transition Preparedness Assessment;
    • Undertake a comprehensive desk review of documents, literature, qualitative and quantitative data and research relevant to the national TB and HIV responses of Tajikistan;
    • Conduct a series of interviews and country dialogue with stakeholders and other actors in Tajikistan, and collect input for the HIV and TB Transition preparedness assessment;
    • Develop a Transition Preparedness Assessment report for Tajikistan based on the desk review and interviews;
    • Develop HIV and TB Transition Plan;
    • Develop HIV and TB Monitoring plan with a set of indicators to monitor Transition Plan implementation;
    • Conduct a workshop with the key HIV and TB stakeholders in Tajikistan on the finding of the Transition Preparedness Assessment and Transition Plan.

    By November 2018 CIF will deliver Transition Preparedness Assessment Report for HIV & TB and Draft Transition and Sustainability Plan for HIV & TB. The documents will be shared on CIF website by the end of the project.

  • Technical Assistance for the preparation of Transition and Sustainability Plan for HIV program in Philippines

    Introduction and Overview

    Since May 2018 Curatio International Foundation implements a technical assistance for the Philippines to prepare  Transition and Sustainability Plan for HIV program. The overall goal of the given assignment is to support the Department of Health and the Philippine National AIDS Council to develop the Transition and Financial Sustainability Plan based on the evaluation of remaining steps required to strengthen transition preparedness. The project is to complete by June 2018.

     

    Project objectives and Contributions

    Specific objectives of the assignment are following:

    • In collaboration with UNAIDS Philippines, plan the key steps and dates in the process of the Transition and Financial Sustainability Plan elaboration;
    • Ensure application of the participatory approach to ensure national ownership of the Transition and Financial Sustainability Plan;
    • Propose, facilitate and guide national counterparts and stakeholders on the most effective approach for the Transition and Financial Sustainability Plan development;
    • Provide technical support as appropriate during the FSP development process
    • Ensure production of the final FSP by the Technical Working Group (TWG) based on the validation exercise.
    CIF’s Deliverables:
    • Work Plan for Technical Working Group
    • TWG workshop: WHAT should be done?
    • TWG workshop: Transition and Financial Sustainability Plan Budget & Monitoring and Evaluation plan
    • Draft Transition and Financial Sustainability Plan

  • Hosting Health Systems Global Secretariat

    Introduction and Overview

    Health Systems Global (HSG) is the first international membership organization fully dedicated to promoting health systems research and knowledge translation.

    Starting from March 1st, 2015 Curatio International Foundation hosts the HSG secretariat, which was previously housed in the Center for Health and Infectious Disease Research at the University of Copenhagen.

    Dr. George Gotsadze, Director and President of Curatio International Foundation assumed the role of the Executive Director of Health Systems Global. He leads secretariat together with the communications team from  Institute of Development Study (Brighton, UK) and strives for the HSG to become a stronger society.

    CIF will hand over secretariat management to another LMIC country in 2020.

    HSG Financial Supporters Since 2015 

    Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research

    Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

    Canadian Institute for Health Research

    China Medical Board

    Doris Duke Charitable Foundation

    Global Affairs Canada

    Global Ideas Fund at CAF America

    International Development Research Centre, Canada

    Rockefeller Foundation

    Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

    Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency

    USAID

    Wellcome Trust

    Project Objectives and Contributions

    To connect health systems research and policy communities globally to contribute to the attainment of better health, equity, and well-being.

    About the Global Symposia

    Health Systems Global organizes a symposium every two years to bring together its members with the full range of players involved in health systems and policy research. There is currently no other international gathering that serves the needs of this community.

    The venue chosen for each meeting facilitates inclusion of participants from a specific part of the world and a focus on that region, although each is a global meeting in terms of content and representation. Each symposium is determined to:

    • Share new state-of-the-art evidence;
    • Review the progress and challenges towards implementation of the global agenda of priority research;
    • Identify and discuss the approaches to strengthen the scientific rigour of health systems research including concepts, frameworks, measures, and methods;
    • Facilitate greater research collaboration and learning communities across disciplines, sectors, initiatives, and countries.

    Previous global symposia were held in Montreux, 2010, Beijing 2012, Cape Town 2014, Vancouver 2016 and the fifth one will take place in Liverpool during October 8-12, 2018 and is expected to bring together around 3000 global participants.

    Detailed information about the 5th global symposium on the Health Systems Research is available on the website.

  • Closing Project: Tuberculosis Community Systems Strengthening in Georgia

    The Curatio International Foundation has fulfilled a Tuberculosis Community Systems Strengthening (TBCSS) Project in Georgia, funded by the Stop TB partnership in the frame of Challenge Facility for Civil Society (CFCS) round 7 program. The goal for the project was to strengthen community response that is integrated and a part of a comprehensive response to TB in Georgia.

    The Curatio International Foundation studied CSO engagement in patient-centered quality TB community care in the country and developed directory of civil society organizations (CSOs) and TB communities that have been enrolled in providing TB education, prevention, support, treatment adherence and care services among various target groups in recent past.

    Project revealed major challenges for community engagement in the TB response in Georgia:

    Limited funding opportunities for CSOs: Donor-funds are of limited scale; and the Government of Georgia has never funded TB CSOs for delivering TB services.

    Limited capacity of CSOs: The mapping of CSOs has demonstrated that CSOs, and particularly less experienced TB-specific community-based groups,  lack capacity for organizational management, fundraising, program financial management, leadership, etc.

    Uneven geographic distribution of CSOs: There are only few CSOs that are engaged in TB services and mostly they are operational in Tbilisi, the capital city. Community based system for TB is not developed in regions and the number of CSOs is not evenly distributed geographically.

    Within the project we had number of significant achievements addressing the challenges:

    1. TB Georgia Coalition (TBGC) was registered as a non-profit, nongovernmental organization on October 30, 2017. That has generated new expectations among member organizations and increased their motivation to become more active in the field.
    2. Member organizations of TBGC have benefited from each training organized under the CFCS Rd7 grant. CSOs representatives underwent intensive training on organizational management and leadership; program management cycles; program planning and budgeting, communication and presentation skills.
    3. The Patients’ Union for the first time ever received funding under the Global Fund TB grant and was contracted as a sub-sub recipient organization in a consortium with the community-based organization (CBO) – New Vector. The Memorandum of Understanding between the National Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases and local CBO – New Vector and the Patient Union, has been signed on November 9, 2017, with the aim to improve treatment adherence for TB patients.
    4. Visibility of TB CSOs has increased through CFCS mapping and assessment results dissemination at the Country Coordination Mechanism (CCM) meeting, and national consultation meetings.

    Since its establishment TBGC participated in several high level meetings and actively has been engaged in the discussions on critical issues regarding patient centered TB care in Georgia. Significant progresses has been made in this direction, however, involvement of civil society and TB communities in the national TB program is in its initial stage.

    TB CSO directory document is available here.

  • Assessing impact of donor co-financing and transition policies on TB Commodity Procurement

    Introduction and Overview

    Curatio International Foundation recently started implementation of the project entitled: Assessing impact of donor co-financing and transition policies on TB Commodity Procurement. The project is financially supported by Stop TB partnership and UNOPS, initiated by Global Drug Facility (GDF).

    The assignment will last 10 months and aims to assess positive and negative implications of The Global Fund’s (TGF) Sustainability, Transition and Co-Financing Policy (STCP) that may have on TB commodity procurement practices on a country level in EECA region.

    Based on the goal of the assignment the project has the following objectives:

    • Develop a methodological approach necessary for systematically documenting and assessing challenges and opportunities related to the TB commodity procurement practices arising from TGF’s STCP;
    • Using the methodological approach and standard tools, systematically assess and document experiences related to TB commodity procurement practices during and after the transition in the countries that have graduated from TGF support or are already implementing STCP and paying for parts of TB commodity purchase.
    Expected Results

    After the successful completion of the project scientific article describing the key findings from the all assessed EECA region countries will be published in peer reviewed international journal.

    The project findings will support countries to be aware of existing gaps and take appropriate actions for change.

  • Empowering civil society for engagement in and monitoring the decision making in health sector in Georgia

    Introduction and Overview

    The project aims to strengthen CSOs working on Health Systems to participate in the decision-making process, to assume watchdog functions, monitor enforcement of policies and advocate for better health for all. The project is funded by Open Society Foundation through proactive cooperation with Open Society Georgian Foundation.

    Organisations Involved

    Open Society Foundation (via OSGF); More than 20 local organizations, including Civil Society, Media, and Academy.

    Expected Results and Their Application

    To strengthening local CSOs to enable them to participate in the decision-making process, to assume watchdog functions, to monitor enforcement of policies and to advocate for better health for all regardless of the ability to pay.

    1. To conduct mapping exercise to a) identify NGOs/CSO organizations working in the health sector as well as organizations working on transparency, human rights and budget monitoring issues in Georgia, b) explore existing potentials of health‐related civil society organizations; d) explore their interest in participating in the proposed project;

    2. To strengthen health‐related civil society organizations to uncover and challenge nondemocratic, non‐transparent and non‐accountable policy decisions in health sector through training on a range of topics related to health policy cycle, health budget development processing Georgia and principles of budget monitoring, current landscape for overall health care system in Georgia, as well as landscape of pharmaceutical market etc.

    3. To strengthen networking, coordination, and communication among civil society organizations and community groups.

  • Network Coordination Partner: The Learning Network for Countries in Transition

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    Introduction and Overview

    According to a new Gavi strategy for 2016-­2020 one of the strategic goals for Gavi is to assure that EPI programs are sustainable in a long-term, especially within the group of countries transitioning out of Gavi financial support during the next five-­year period. A large number of countries receiving support from Gavi, are transitioning or expected to transition out of support in the next few years.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

    Visit the project website 

    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]As transition is a new challenge middle-­income countries are faced, it is crucial to capture experiences of countries go through the transition process and utilize country-­to-­country peer learning to address common challenges in immunization financing and programming. For this purposes a new initiative, the Learning Network for Countries in Transition was launched in May 2017. Results for Development (R4D) is leading network coordination and technical facilitation, drawing on partners and experts as needed.

    Specific objectives of the project are following:

    1. Facilitate knowledge exchange on technical topics;
    2. Build community and sustain the collaborative process;
    3. Co-develop clear and agreed output(s) related to priority technical topics;
    4. Support LNCT country core groups;
    5. Help with broader dissemination of LNCT messages, approaches, and lessons.
    Organizations Involved in the Research

    Project is implemented by Results for Development Institute, Inc. “R4D” in partnership with Learning Network for Countries in Transition, middle-income countries in transition from GAVI support.

    The project is funded by Bill&Melinda Gates Foundation.

    Expected Results

    CIF will support R4D in conducting scoping literature review and interviews with partner organizations and country stakeholders to a) better understand current country processes, b) identify other country experiences regionally/ globally that would provide good learning opportunities; c) explore existing approaches, tools, and resources on identified technical topics; d) refine identified topics through understanding of country demand, experiences, and gaps in knowledge.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][/vc_column][/vc_row]