Strategic Financial Management Workshop for National
Coordinators in Lusaka, Zambia January 22nd-24th 2006
The SCI sponsored two ‘Strategic Financial Management’
courses in Lusaka, Zambia for nine national control programme staff members
from national schistosomiasis and STH programmes in Africa supported by the
SCI and two lymphatic filariasis programme managers. The course followed a
four day ‘Strengths, Limitations, and Knowledge Gaps for Evidence-Based
Integrated Helminth Control in Africa' workshop sponsored by the DBL
(Institute for Health Research and Development, Denmark). The two courses
were coordinated by two trainers; one was conducted in English and the other
in French. Attendees of the English Strategic Financial course included:
Dr. Faith Nchito, Dr James Mwansa and Mrs. Marian Tembo from the Zambia
Bilharzia Control Programme; Dr. Narcis Kabatereine and Mr Jackson Rwaheru
from the Ugandan Bilharzia and Worm Control Programme; Dr. Ambrose Onapa
from the Vector Control Division in Uganda; and Mr. Khalfan Mohammed from
the Programme for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in Zanzibar.
Attendees of the French course included: Dr. Seydou Toure from the Programme
National de Lutte contre le Schistosomiaise in Burkina Faso; Dr. Amadou
Garba from the Programme National de Lutte contre le Bilharsiose et les
Geohelminthes in Niger; and Dr. Dominique Kyelem from the Programme National
pour l’Elimination de la Filariose Lymphatique in Burkina Faso.
 The participants spent three days reviewing current
and long-term financial issues that are and will affect their national
control programmes’ ability to achieve established missions and objectives.
Participants gained a better understanding of current and future funding
possibilities, how to achieve set objectives, how to ensure organizational
sustainability, and how to prepare for future funding shortfalls.
Topics covered during the three day course included:
- Defining financial sustainability;
- Strategic vs. Operational management;
- Defining and understanding funding types to
ensure an adequate funding mix;Building reserves;
- Managing costs (core costs, cost
effectiveness, value for money);
- Managing donor relationships;
- Risk mapping and SWOT analysis;
- Developing funding grids;
- Scenario planning
After three days of both independent and group course
work, all participants received a certificate of attendance. Participants
will now be able to plan future funding scenarios for their programmes and
thus develop strategic financial plans to ensure sustainability. |
