OIDCI is local partner in Healthgov project

OIDCI will be providing technical services to improve local government management systems and financing for health services as a local partner to the new USAID-funded project, “Strengthening Local Governance for Health” (HealthGov).

Leading the implementation of HealthGov is RTI International (RTI), a US–based firm, in partnership with a multidisciplinary team of international and Filipino firms that have extensive experience in local governance and health service programming.

HealthGov aims to strengthen the country’s public health service delivery system at the local level by developing the institutional capabilities of local government units (LGUs) and Technical Assistance Providers that will extend training and technical assistance with the end-view of putting in place the capacity for continuous and participatory problem-solving and strong advocacy support as LGUs pursue their governance for health agenda.

The HealthGov project will provide assistance to 500 LGUs in 23 provinces over its five-year implementation period. These LGUs will be selected based on a set of criteria that included population size, health conditions in the areas of family planning, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and child nutrition, level of poverty, and the commitment of local chief executives (LCEs) to pursue health reforms.

As a local partner for HealthGov, OIDCI will provide technical services to improve LGU management systems and financing for health services through the following activities:

	Formulation of Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) Tool and actual conduct of RNA with project and LGU counterparts
	Conduct of RA training needs assessment related to improving LGU management systems and financing for health services
	Development of training modules to improve RA Skills in the following topics: good governance, resource mobilization, management, financial management, participatory planning and budgeting, etc.
	Strengthening the capacity of Replication Agents - training of trainers workshops in topics such as management, participatory planning and budgeting, financial management, resource mobilization, etc.
	Helping LGUs identify, assess and develop new resources for financing health services
	Strengthening the advocacy capabilities of the Leagues on public health issues, including increasing LGU budget allocations and expenditures for health services
	Assistance in project planning, monitoring and evaluation activities.

OIDCI has recently completed the formulation of the methodologies and the tool for conducting the Rapid Needs Assessment with project partners and targeted LGUs. Conducted as part of this task was the two-day Training of Trainers workshop on the application of the RNA methodology and tools for the HealthGov Staff and Technical Assistance Providers (TAPs) and representatives from other USAID Health Projects including the Private Sector Mobilization for Health (PRISM).