Guidelines for Assessing the Management and Organizational Capacity of National Malaria Control Programs
Malaria control programs throughout Africa, including the 15 focus countries of the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), have seen a tremendous increase in funding and activities over the past few years. In addition to the resources directly from PMI, they are receiving significant funding from the Global Fund, the World Bank, and other international and bilateral donors. This dramatic increase in resources and activities has put a strain on the management and organizational capacity of the national malaria control programs (NMCPs) as well as on their public and private partners jointly implementing these programs.
Well-functioning NMCPs are key to the success and sustainability of the global effort against malaria. NMCP skills and organizational capacity to efficiently manage their operations are critical factors in meeting the shared vision of reducing malaria. A review of the literature and discussions with other international partners indicated that a systematic method to assess the management and organizational capacity of NMCPs to perform their functions does not currently exist. This tool is intended to address that gap. The application of the tool will also likely increase the attention of donors to support capacity-building efforts aimed at strengthening the performance of NMCPs.
- Tool Designer Organization:
- USAID
- Download:
- Tool
in English - Contact:
- Health Systems 20/20
Summary of main features
- Purpose
- Review the management and organizational capacity of NMCPs, identify the key organizational capacity-building needs, and use the results to develop and then fund a capacity improvement plan
- Scope of interventions
- Management and organizational capacity of national malaria control programs
- Limitations
- Because NMCPs receive support from multiple donors, the assessment process should aim to engage these partners in the assessment in order to gain their involvement in following up on the recommendations. This is especially important since no single donor may have the resources to implement the entire capacity-building plan
- Output
- The expected outputs of the assessment are a clear identification of the management and organizational strengths and weaknesses of the NMCP, a practical intervention plan designed to address the gaps in management performance, and, if possible, agreement by donors and the NMCP on the findings and recommendations
- Time frame
- Three phases: preparation work, about two weeks in the field to conduct interviews, and post field work: detailed report preparation
- Potential users
-
- NMCPs: In addition to being a tool for self-improvement, the interest of organizations like the Global Fund, PMI, and UNICEF in funding comprehensive national malaria control strategies and plans should provide an incentive to NMCP program managers to actively participate in and use the results of this type of assessment
- Organizations and individuals that are contracted to conduct the assessment: These organizations might include consulting firms, management institutes, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that provide technical assistance and training related to management
- Skills required
- The assessment can be carried out by a two- or three-person team. The minimum two-person team would consist of the following:
- Organizational development expert, who will serve as the team leader. This person should have experience in conducting rapid organizational and management assessments. While experience with malaria control programs is desirable, it is not essential
- Local consultant with extensive knowledge of the ministry of health and preferably some experience with the NMCP and a sound understanding of organization and management
- Type of software
- Acrobat Reader
- User manual available
- NA
- Type and length of training required
- NA
- Available languages
- English
- Country applications
- The tool was tested in Malawi
- Last update and version
- June 24, 2008