The London School of Economics (LSE) is working with partners including WHO AFRO to develop an African Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (AO-HSP), funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The AO-HSP is based on the European Observatory on Health model also developed by LSE. It aims to build national and regional capacity in Africa to use global knowledge and evidence in improving health system design and performance, with a particular focus on primary health care. The use of effective, evidence-based health policies will ultimately reduce the high burden of avoidable morbidity and mortality across sub-Saharan Africa.
During the inception phase for AO-HSP, LSE was looking to develop its monitoring and evaluation framework to a include a greater focus on measuring efficiency and impact. LAMP carried out a literature review to explore the measurement and evaluation of efficiency and impact in knowledge brokering platforms. LAMP then held a workshop with the core LSE team to guide the development of their M&E framework.
Client: International Planned Parenthood Federation
Dates: Multi-year, ongoing
Project Description: The Women’s Integrated Sexual Health programme (WISH2ACTION – W2A) is a £155.6 million UK Aid-funded programme. Led by International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), it provides contraception to women as part of integrated and holistic healthcare services. Between 2018-2023, W2A aims to provide contraception to 2.7 million additional users in 15 countries across South Asia and Africa. The programme is run by a consortium of five organisations: the International Rescue Committee, Options, Development Media International, Marie Stopes International, and Humanity and Inclusion UK. Ten IPPF member organisations help deliver the programme.
Our Role: LAMP is working with W2A to help embed a comprehensive Value for Money (VfM) approach across the programme. This is in line with the value for money initiative of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), which aims to ensure greater accountability and impact in spending on overseas development aid.
At the beginning of LAMP’s support to the programme, LAMP developed a VfM strategy and framework to provide FCDO with information for external reporting and internal insights. LAMP now continues to work with W2A as their VfM partner.
Team Members: Adesoji Ologun, Jennifer Armitage, Molly Wood, Temitope Oke
Strengthening Action Against Corruption – Ghana (STAAC-Ghana) is a programme funded by UK Aid that seeks to reduce the impact of corruption on Ghana’s poor through more active implementation of anti-corruption measures in the public sector. Its intended outcome is strengthened anti-corruption and accountability institutions working together to tackle corruption more effectively, which entails a combination of demand- and supply-side interventions
One of the key components is a comprehensive analysis of value for money (VfM). LAMP worked with the programme to develop a draft VFM strategy during the early stages of programme design in 2016 and revised the strategy and framework in 2017. The revision involved a 1-day workshop with programme managers and M&E adviser to review the indicators and align the strategy with STAACs principles of flexibility and adaptability. Support was also provided to train core staff on the programme to implement the strategy.
LAMP reviewed and updated the VfM Strategy for the Health Pooled Fund (HPF) programme in South Sudan. This is a FCDO-led £120 million HPF managed by a consortium headed by Crown Agents. LAMP’s work was conducted in collaboration with the programme team in South Sudan and the implementing partners. Two workshops were conducted on-site with the staff and implementing partners to develop the understanding of VfM across the programme and to develop a tailored strategy and framework that was useful for all stakeholders.
LAMP worked with Crown Agents, an international development organisation, to develop their corporate approach to Value for Money with a focus on their technical assistance programmes. This was a collaborative process that developed Crown Agents’ own unique selling points into a VFM strategy. LAMP created a VfM checklist to support Crown Agents as they deliver VfM. LAMP also produced a practical guideline for project managers as they develop their own VfM framework for UK Aid-funded programmes.
LAMP developed a Value for Money Strategy for Transforming Teacher Education and Learning (T-TEL) in Ghana. T-TEL is a Government of Ghana programme funded by DFID that works to transform the delivery of pre-service teacher education. This involves improving the quality of teaching and learning through support to relevant national bodies and education institutions. LAMP’s VfM approach was informed by DFID guidance. LAMP consulted with the T-TEL programme team to develop a relevant and detailed VfM strategy, including a comprehensive list of VfM metrics with supporting tools for analysis.
LAMP worked with Solar Nigeria Programme (SNP) to develop a Value for Money reporting framework to align with existing monitoring and reporting systems. SNP has been set up to improve the welfare outcomes of the currently underserved communities in Lagos state and Northern Nigeria by making a significant financial contribution towards the solar power electrification of public institutions such as schools and hospitals. As part of this work, LAMP developed a comprehensive set of VfM indicators and the framework embedded the VfM perspective in the entire SNP M&E process.
