By Roselyn Odeh, Ramatu Iyimoga
In the bustling heart of Nigeria, amidst the vibrant energy of Abuja, a landmark event unfolded – the Annual Programme Review meeting for A360 Amplify, a pivotal event that brought together key stakeholders from across all A360 implementing countries – Kenya, Ethiopia and the United States- held on the 16th-18th April 2024. Hosted by A360 Nigeria, this momentous gathering marked the first in Nigeria and served as a platform for reflection, collaboration, and strategic planning.
The attendees included representatives from our esteemed donors, the Gates Foundation and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), as well as Population Service International (PSI). Government officials from all A360 Amplify locations, spanning Kenya, Ethiopia and Nigeria, joined the assembly to contribute their insights and expertise.
The agenda of the program review encompassed an exhaustive examination of project performance across key technical areas. Participants engaged in robust discussions to recalibrate strategy elements, ensuring alignment with the programme’s overarching approach and anticipated outcomes. Furthermore, the gathering was a forum for exploring prospects and fostering cross-geographic learning.
The event unfolded over two phases, with the main meeting held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. Deliberations during this phase delved into critical areas such as sustainable scale-up, with each country presenting its strategies for expansion, focusing on progress in terms of country-led expansion and health systems strengthening. Discussions further highlighted priority areas for the year 2024. Notable highlights included a panel discussion on sustainable scale-up barriers and enablers, featuring insights from government officials across A360 Amplify geographies. Also, some conversations focused on Contraceptive Continuation Rate performance across all the A360 geographies, which allowed for the identification of cross-country learning opportunities.
Interactive group sessions and brainstorming activities provided ground for identifying key opportunities, including advancements in Maternal and Newborn Child Health (MNCH), Human Capital Development, and further Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) scale into new territories within and beyond A360 geographies. The meeting also embraced discussions on emerging opportunities for A360 such as HPV prevention, Climate change resilience, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) mitigation, Education /back-to-school initiatives, mental health interventions, and drug and substance abuse.
During the second phase, a vital aspect of the program was the immersion into real-time programme implementation, comprising field visits to communities in Lafia and Karu Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State. Key Stakeholders from around the state convened for an entry meeting at the State Ministry of Health Complex Lafia, where the state government officials welcomed the donors. During the engagement, brief discussions centered on the impact of the A360 project and integration of the project into government systems.
Venturing into the heart of communities, the team experienced firsthand the impact of the A360 Nigeria Matan Matasa Arewa program. They visited Tudun Kauri Primary Health Care Center, – a government-led facility where they were warmly welcomed by the Nasarawa state cultural troupe. While there, they observed ASRH service delivery, male engagement and Life Family and Health (LFH) sessions respectively. Next, the guests wentto Karu L.G.A, where they visited Mararaba PHC, an A360-led facility. There, they observed ASRH service delivery, male engagements, and Life Family and Health sessions.
The team also had the opportunity to witness vocational skills training through which the girls were taught how to make disinfectant and watched as the LFH sessions alumni shared their success stories and experiences with the girls. These programmatic site visits presented a real-time opportunity for the global team to interact with Nigeria’s program beneficiaries, service providers, demand generation agents, and the government officials capacitated to lead implementation in the state. Each visit was a tapestry of insights and sounds that allowed our visitors to connect, learn and note areas to apply to their respective country programs.
The feedback garnered during these visits provided actionable insights for refining project strategies and enhancing impact while also highly commending the A360 Nigeria project.
The program concluded with dinner in Abuja, where participants reflected on their experiences and forged bonds of camaraderie. As they departed, the A360 team remained steadfast in its commitment to advancing the project’s objectives and realizing its vision of empowered communities and improved holistic health outcomes for adolescent girls.
