The donor is reducing funding for operational and programmatic costs while the organization is working hard to increase access to and quality and competitiveness of its reproductive health services. With the improvement and expansion of service delivery activities, organizational expectations of supervisors are increasing, but funds for supervision skills training and field visits have been reduced due to pressure for financial sustainability. This presentation describes how, with limited external technical assistance, the IPPF affiliate in Honduras, ASHONPLAFA, addressed these challenges using the Performance Improvement approach. ASHONPLAFA identified the gaps between desired performance of its supervision system and actual performance through an organization-wide assessment, analyzed existing strengths of its supervision system and areas for improvement, and developed and implemented a participatory, multi-faceted strategy to address deficiencies while containing the overall costs of supervision. The strategy included the development of a philosophy about supervision; definition of roles, responsibilities, and levels of supervision backed up with written guidelines and protocols; development of sub-components of the system including collection of information, performance planning, evaluation and recognition; streamlining meetings and field visits; and continuous supervision training. Results of the intervention include: increased delegation of authority to lower level supervisors; more participatory supervision processes; transparency in supervision-related decisions; integration of the supervision system with the organization’s information, quality assurance, performance recognition and other managerial systems; and increased support to service delivery sites most in need of supervision. This case underscores the effectiveness of a comprehensive performance improvement approach to real-life problems.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participants will be able to: 1. Describe the critical steps in the Performance Improvement approach. 2. Discuss ASHONPLAFA’s use of this approach to comprehensively strengthen its supervision system while pursuing a strategy of financial sustainability.
Keywords: Performance Measures, Reproductive Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Management Sciences for Health
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment