New Case Study Examines the Effectiveness of TCI’s Coaching Model

Jan 20, 2023

Written by Yijia Shi

New Case Study Examines the Effectiveness of TCI’s Coaching Model

Jan 20, 2023

Written by Yijia Shi

The Challenge Initiative (TCI)’s coaching model is designed to strengthen the capacity of local government staff primarily in the public sector to adopt, manage, implement and sustain family planning (FP) and adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health (AYSRH) programs. Coaching takes place locally between TCI-trained coaches and so-called “coachees.” TCI believes that effective coaching improves the skills and ability of coachees to fulfill their commitments to implement high-quality family planning and AYSRH programming in the face of challenges. It also increases their overall leadership capabilities –  even after the period of engagement with TCI.

TCI recently published The Challenge Initiative’s Approach to City Engagement a qualitative case study aimed at identifying coaching approaches, procedures and tools that helped, or did not help, transfer capacity to local government staff. The study also sought to gain insights into how coaching can be adapted and maintained effectively.

The study team compared findings and identified trends from 10 TCI-supported countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, India, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Niger. TCI’s four regional hubs in East Africa, Francophone West Africa, India and Nigeria provided coaching to help ensure that interconnected service delivery, demand creation and advocacy interventions would lead to significant gains in the use of contraceptives. The study is organized around the following key themes:

  • Outcome
  • Usefulness
  • System Change
  • Challenges and Recommendations
  • Sustainability

Snapshot of Findings

Under the Outcome theme, the study found that service delivery and management skills were the most often requested program categories across all four hubs. For Usefulness, the study identified positive perceptions of the coaching model, including improving government functionary and service provider confidence, knowledge, problem-solving and public speaking skills.

With System Change, the study said TCI coaching had contributed to promoting family planning awareness through advocacy, which positively impacted resource allocation from governments. In addition, TCI activities and interventions have been incorporated into city work plans and budgeted program implementation plans, costed implementation plans and annual operational plans. Government staff and service providers also now prioritize family planning services in health governance through systematic trickle-down coaching.

Among the many Challenges identified by the study, the greatest one is related to trained coaches leaving their position and the resulting loss of capacity. Creating a cadre of master coaches within the system who assume responsibility for institutionalizing regular coaching has been and will continue to be essential for sustaining TCI’s coaching model. By identifying coaching champions in various positions within the public health system who are least likely to be transferred, the family planning and AYSRH program will continue to operate efficiently.

Other Recommendations are:

  1. Better systematize coaching processes
  2. Improve monitoring and tracking system
  3. Allow for flexibility while striving for greater standardization
  4. Continue to strengthen relationships
  5. Improve use of TCI-U by coaches within the government system
  6. Further capacitate coaches
  7. Use clearly defined terminology

In conclusion, the study’s author’s said:

“TCI successfully collected concrete instances to illustrate how its coaching approach impacts local government and the health care system, empowering hub staff, local government officials and service providers to make positive changes. In essence, the coaching model has proven critical in energizing health systems and public health workers to provide family planning services more efficiently and effectively.”

The Challenge Initiative’s Approach to City Engagement Coaching Case Study was written by Maheen Malik, Kate Graham, Laura O’Donnell, Victor Igharo, Lekan Ajijola, Njeri Nyamu, Kenneth Owino, Hitesh Sahni, Emily Das, Moussa Faye, Fatimata Sow and Jose Oying Rimon.

 

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