IBP Launch Meetings
The IBP Meetings are designed to involve a large number of participants. This approach allows participants to network with other individuals, organizations, and agencies all working towards similar goals (though not necessarily with each other). The events provide a forum that allows individuals to share experiences and information to increase awareness of existing evidence-based and enabling best practices.
Participants are encouraged, through a series of interactive activities, to acquire and exchange knowledge and information. Information is the tool that enables a critical group of individuals to contribute their particular strengths and expertise toward achieving a common goal.
Although the content of each meeting is adapted to suit the country context, some common events and traits prevail.
The meeting usually features a Mini-University of concurrent sessions that provide an update on state-of-the-art and Best Practices in up to 40 relevant reproductive health topics, Plenary Sessions for capacity building, country group exercises for discussion of priorities and appropriate interventions and action planning, a Technology Café to provide hands on experiences with useful electronic tools, an information market, information sharing activities, a scavenger hunt, and gala opening and closing ceremonies in which reproductive health champions participate.
Meeting Components
Mini University
The Mini University provides exposure to a wide array of Best Practices. The technical content of this Mini University is based on the outcome of an Information Needs Assessment. The Mini University typically focuses on providing technical updates based on recently published research findings or evidence-based technical guidelines. Mini University sessions also introduce recently published research, materials and tools that can be used support the implementation of enabling practices, such as performance improvement, integration, client provider interaction, organization of work, adolescent reproductive health etc. IBP Partners provide appropriate materials and tools to support each Mini University Session.
Plenary Sessions
Plenary sessions focus on capacity building in leadership, change management and performance improvement. The Plenary sessions set the scene for the activities undertaken in the small working group sessions.
Teams commit to action
Teams present their Action Plans to a team of local and international experts who provide comments and offer practical advice. Each Team selects time-bound markers of achievement to monitor progress and acknowledge success.
Technology Café
The Technology Café highlights electronic tools that are available to support Reproductive Health programmes. Participants have the opportunity for "hands-on" exposure to the tools and can discuss their potential. Participants receive a Technology Café Brochure as a guide to the tools and internet sites. A daily Technology Clinic provides participants with assistance on technical issues.
Information Market
The Information Market is a locally run exhibition in which all organizations and agencies participating in the meeting can set up stands showing the brochures, materials, tools, guidelines, information, education and communication materials they have used in their project or programme. Participants are encouraged to visit each stand, review the materials and discuss with the agencies the activities in which they are involved.
Dissemination Stands
All Partner Agencies involved in the IBP Initiative provide participants with copies of the guidelines, materials and tools they produce. There are dissemination points throughout the meeting and participants are able to collect copies of the materials they need.
Small Group Working Sessions - Adoption and adaptation of best practices
Group work is pivotal in the Meetings. Capacity building plenary sessions set the scene for the activities to be undertaken in the small working group sessions. The series of sessions undertake to:
- Review existing programmes of work and reach consensus on common programmatic goals all parties want to achieve within the next 18 months;
- Use the evidence-based materials to define the gap between desired and actual performance required to reach these goals;
- Undertake a problem analysis and problem-solving process to define the activities that need to be undertaken to close the gap in performance;
- Select the evidence-based interventions; as well as managerial, performance improvement and training tools, that can be used to implement the activities selected to close the performance gap;
- Create a plan of action that identifies activities, roles and responsibilities of each Team member to close the performance gap and accelerate the achievement of the common reproductive health goal.
Supportive Follow-up Programme - the application of Best Practices
The follow-up programme is designed to provide long-term support to Teams to maintain their commitment to implementing their plans. The Teams select local coaches or "Partner Facilitators" who represent the IBP Partner Agencies and Senior officials from the Government are selected to assist the in-country follow-up programme. The Partner Facilitators can reach deep into the resources of the IBP Consortium for tools and materials and assistance to overcome obstacles to implementation. The IBP Partners will provide ongoing support and work with Teams on specific activities. |
