New management training for immunisation leaders kicks-off in Kigali

Twenty-four managers from five Gavi-supported countries will attend the first round of the nine-month programme

Kigali, 7 May 2018 – Yale’s Global Health Leadership Initiative (GHLI), the Rwanda-based University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), PATH and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance have joined forces to strengthen national leadership and management of immunisation programmes in Gavi-supported countries

The Expanded Programme on Immunization Leadership and Management Programme (EPI LAMP) is an innovative management training course for immunisation leaders in developing countries. The programme will improve the managerial capacity of governments to support Gavi’s mission to ensure every child is protected with life-saving vaccines.  

New immunisation leadership and management training | 2:14

“At Gavi, we know that the effective management of immunisation programmes is key to reaching all children with lifesaving vaccines,” said Gavi Deputy CEO Anuradha Gupta. “EPI LAMP is one of many innovative investments in effective management that Gavi is rolling out. Designed jointly by the US-based Yale Global Health Leadership Initiative, the Rwanda-based University of Global Health Equity and PATH, this unique course will give our mission an important boost,” she added.

From 2016-2020, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance aims to immunise 300 million children worldwide, saving 5-6 million lives. Achieving this goal requires effective planning, implementation and monitoring of immunisation programmes. At the same time, ministries of health are often inadequately resourced and need support to improve their management practices. The first edition of EPI LAMP will address these challenges by providing management and leadership training for 24 participants in leadership roles in immunisation programmes in Gavi-supported countries, including the Gambia, India, Liberia, Rwanda and Zambia.

“Management and leadership are fundamental to the achievement of global health targets,” said Erika Linnander, Director of GHLI and Principal Investigator for EPI LAMP. “We are excited to provide a practical, high-impact education that is grounded in the latest science in organizational performance and tailored to the day-to-day realities of immunisation programme leadership.”

EPI LAMP’s team-based learning model combines e-learning modules, face-to-face sessions and a mentored “breakthrough project” to apply new ways of working and improve immunisation programme performance. This innovative blended learning approach creates an interactive and practical education experience for mid- to senior-level officials. Upon completion of the nine-month course immunisation teams will be better equipped to manage the increasingly complex immunisation systems in their home countries, with a focus on efficient operations, robust performance management and effective political engagement and advocacy.

The face-to-face sessions will be hosted by UGHE in Rwinkwaku, Rwanda.

"Thoughtful leadership and effective management practices are necessary to strategically and equitably improve health systems, including making sure vaccines reach children in every corner of the world," said UGHE Vice Chancellor Dr Agnes Binagwaho. "By hosting this forum in Rwanda, participants will train in an environment that prepares them to both address delivery challenges, as well as inspire them to improve access to high quality care."

PATH will contribute their global technical expertise in immunisation, making sure that the programme is tailored to the specific context of the national immunisation teams and providing technical mentorship to breakthrough project teams.

“Many of the challenges faced by EPI programmes are affected by health system related factors which require good management and leadership skills to be able to solve them in a timely manner,” said Aziza Mwisongo, Senior Program Officer, PATH. “PATH brings its long technical expertise and experience within the area of immunisation, particularly its work with EPI programmes in LMICs. This knowledge is fundamental in tailoring this course uniquely for leadership and management of EPI staff.”

Taking advantage of the unique and complementary experience and expertise of these world-class partners and building on the commitment to immunisation from the five participating countries, EPI LAMP will improve and sustain the EPI programme’s performance in Gavi-supported countries.