Annual Health Links Conference: This year’s annual Health Links Conference, which took place on Monday 5th September 2011 at Imperial College, London, explored whether Links are reaching the poorest. The conference involved a combination of plenary discussions and practical break-out sessions for health links practitioners. Thanks to everyone who attended and for helping to make it such an energising and constructive day.

There was also the opportunity to gather the experiences of Link partners and view Links’ journeys through THET’s first Link poster competition. Prizes were awarded by Jan Sobieraj, Director General of NHS Workforce.

1^st Place – Botswana – Addenbrookes

From left: Samira Abu Helil, Professor Sir Eldryd Parry, Evelyn Brealey, Ali Blake

2^nd Place – Leicester – Gondar

From left: Samira Abu Helil, Professor Sir Eldryd Parry, Dr Julia Kestelman

3^rd Place – Kintampo Project

From left: Dr Emmanuel Adjase, Samira Abu Helil, Dr Mark Roberts, Professor Sir Eldryd Parry

Resources for Download

Download Conference Agenda.

Presentations

• Monitoring,Evaluation & Learning in Health Links: Dan Ritman, THET Evaluation & Learning Manager. Chris Smith, GP and MSc student (LSHTM)

• How to reach the poorest in the community. Mr Biku Ghosh, Southern Ethiopia-Gwent Health Link

• Health Partnerships Scheme – Intro. Jane Cockrell, Director of Programmes, THET

• The ReBas Project: Reduction of Burn & Scald Mortality and Morbidity in Children in Malawi – Emily Broadis

• Health Links: Are we reaching the poorest? – Dr Richard Horton

The Health Partnership Scheme aims to strengthen Human Resources for Health to deliver demonstrable results in health outcomes for poor people in poor and DFID priority countries. The Multi Country Partnership grants aim to use health partnerships to effectively leverage the knowledge and expertise of UK health workers to strengthen health systems through projects that will contribute towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals 4, 5, 6 targets through projects with transformational impact, particularly in poor and rural areas.

The four core objectives of the Multi-Country Partnership grant scheme are to:

• Leverage UK health worker skills to build the capacity of health workers and health systems in less developed countries
• Contribute towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals 4, 5, 6 targets
• Improve health outcomes for people living in poverty
• Foster long term partnerships between health institutions

Eligibility for project funding from the HPS Multi-Country Partnership grants is contingent on meeting the following 5 core eligibility criteria:

1. All lead and sub partner institutions are eligible institutions (Please see full eligibility statement)
2. Project spans three or more eligible countries
3. Partners exhibit a track record of implementing  projects in developing countries
4. Up to 36 month implementation timeline
5. Maximum budget of £600,000 per year for up to 36 months

Partnerships that meet these eligibility criteria may submit a concept paper, using the concept paper template and guidelines. Concept papers must be submitted using the concept paper template on or before the 29^th August 2011. For questions about the Multi-Country Partnership grants please see the FAQs or email hps@thet.org.

Partnerships should be aware that their proposed projects should meet the following project requirements:

• Single, time-bound project deliverable within the budget and timeframe of the HPS Multi-Country Partnership grant
• The project contributes to the overall purpose of the HPS Multi-Country Partnership programme.
• The project contributes towards achieving Millennium Development Goals 4,5 and 6
• The project is aligned with country health policies and plans
• The project delivers appropriate and innovative solutions [the term innovation speaks to not just the development or implementation of new ideas but new ways of applying/adapting/developing an existing techniques or initiatives]
• The project plans are clear and logical with a focus on outcomes
• The projects demonstrate value of money

Following the submission deadline concept papers will be reviewed and shortlisted by THET. Partnerships will be informed as to the outcomes of their submission by the end of September 2011.

Funded by the UK government’s Department for International Development, the Health Partnership Scheme will harness the expertise of UK health professionals to improve health outcomes by transferring skills and supporting skills development in low income countries, as well as through promoting UK involvement in volunteering. Activities will be wide-ranging and include training and capacity-building for staff, providing practical skills, continuing professional development, and curriculum development.

Andrew Mitchell, Secretary of State for International Development, said:

“Britain’s doctors, nurses and midwives are some of the best in the world and by sharing their skills they can contribute to improving the health of people in some of the world’s poorest countries.

“THET have a proven record in helping countries share their expertise and learn from each other and they are on track to deliver a scheme which is both effective and innovative.”

THET’s Chief Executive, Pia MacRae, welcomed the launch and said:

“The Health Partnership Scheme builds on the long and constructive experience of UK health workers and institutions sharing their knowledge and expertise with counterparts in low-income countries.  Not only have these partnerships helped with the recruitment, training and retention of health workers in some of the poorest countries in the world, but they have also provided a valuable opportunity for UK-based health professionals to improve their skills in challenging environments, offering a training and development opportunity which directly benefits the UK health sector.”

The Health Partnership Scheme awards grants in three areas:

• Multi-Country Partnership grants – for effectively leveraging the knowledge and expertise from UK health partners in areas of health system strengthening and contribute towards meeting the Millennium Development Goal 4, 5, and 6 targets through projects with transformational impact.
• Paired Institutional Partnership grants – for the delivery of effective health partnership projects, encouraging reach into under-served and rural areas, and improving health outcomes over a broad thematic and geographical spread.
• Long-term volunteering grants – for the placement of UK volunteers who will support the delivery of projects.  Placements are for a minimum of six months and the focus is on health system strengthening and contributing towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals 4, 5, and 6 targets through Human Resources for Health capacity development.

In addition to grants, the Health Partnership Scheme includes fostering and brokerage activities through the provision of online and ‘real world’ support, community and resources for the formation and growth of effective partnerships that improve health outcomes in DFID priority countries.

The Health Partnership Scheme will target people in most need, with a focus on geographical areas defined as DFID priority countries, in particular in under-served and rural areas where health infrastructure is weakest.

Detailed application forms for Paired Institutional Partnership grants will be available from 1 August 2011. The first round of grants will be for existing partnerships seeking funding of up to £15,000 per year for one or two-year projects. A series of pre-application workshops will be held in Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow and London during August and September. Further information is on the THET website – http://www.thet.org/health-partnership-scheme/

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As part of the IHLFS, funding opportunities are available to support the development of new and young Links whose partners have been working together for less than two years. The grants are designed to provide funding for early-stage activities of a Link, which may include conducting a scoping visit or a needs assessment, or some other piece of work necessary for the Link to grow. Activities related to these grants should be completed within a maximum of six months of the grant award.

Start-up grants are open to health organisations and institutions in all DFID’s Public Service Agreement (PSA) countries working with partner institutions in the UK. PSA countries are:

Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Vietnam and Yemen.

For further information and how to apply please see the British Council website.

Diversity Travel – Links are able to access charity fares and services, including holding flight in advance and extra luggage allowance. This information sheet provides all the necessary information on how you can take advantage of this offer.

Key Travel – Links are able to access charity fares and services, including extra luggage allowance and a visa service. Find out more here.

Eligibility:

• Be an existing Health Link registered with THET OR a qualified and registered UK-based health professional with over 6 months experience of working in one or more developing countries on the World Health Organisation (WHO) ‘critical shortage of health workers’ list.
• Be partnered with a country or institution in sub-Saharan Africa
• Deliver a project focused on surgery or anaesthetics

Selection criteria:
In addition to the above eligibility criteria, the project proposal must meet the following selection criteria:

• Lead to improvement  in the standard of clinical training at undergraduate or postgraduate level OR improvement in the technical skills of existing staff OR improvement in operating theatre efficiency and capacity
• Focus on a single coherent and time-bound project (12 months)
• Activities must involve capacity building, education and / or training
• Demonstrate sustainable outcomes

Applications that support the development of a sustainable partnership and projects that support activities leading to improved maternal and obstetric surgical services will be regarded favourably.
Selection process and timeline

• Submission of interest (now closed)
• 31 July 2011: deadline for the submission of application forms
• August 2011: Initial shortlisting
• September 2011: selection panel meet to interview and shortlist 5 successful candidates
• October 2011: Grant monies dispersed
• September 2012: End of scheme and final reports due

The submission of interest stage for this funding opportunity has now closed. Only those Links who registered their interest are able to apply.