During the week of November 18-21, 2008, representatives from more than 16 countries came together to share experiences and enhance their understanding of Quality Improvement (QI) for programming and services targeting orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC). The African Regional Training and Exchange Event, “Care That Counts: Quality Improvement in OVC Programming” was held in Adama, Ethiopia. The team of 14 facilitators for the event included representatives from international organizations (INGOs), local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and donors from the United States, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Ethiopia. The training built upon concepts and priorities highlighted in the first meeting of OVC experts which was held in Tanzania in 2007.

The centerpiece of the training was a proposed “Roadmap for Quality Improvement for OVC Programs,” a conceptual framework to guide the process of developing and implementing OVC standards. Facilitators highlighted the fact that the Roadmap is a work in progress and that this training would provide important opportunities for feedback from participants in an effort to improve the Roadmap. The Roadmap highlights the overall partnership and work of key stakeholders, including government, INGOs, NGOs, beneficiaries, etc. It also highlights processes and activities at the organizational level, frequently referred to as the “point of service delivery.”  To achieve a measurable difference when working on behalf of orphans and vulnerable children there needs to be a comprehensive understanding of their needs and providing services which are effective, efficient and equitable.

The creation of service standards through consensus is a key element of the QI process. Stakeholders are involved in defining in operational terms what OVC services at the point of delivery should look like and what outcomes they should bring. The idea of “minimal essential actions” is a key component of a service standard; it is necessary to define what is “good enough.” Service standards are also developed incorporating evidence and best practice and consensus among stakeholders. Once service standards are developed they need to be communicated, piloted, evaluated, and improved.

Other materials presented at the training event addressing principles of quality improvement, dimension of quality, developing consensus-based standards, steps to vetting and gathering evidence to refine draft standards, steps in communicating standards, and a vignette about measuring quality improvement based on experiences in Ethiopia.

Link below to the final report about the Training and Exchange Event and to materials developed by the HCI Project for the event.