IA2030 Movement Year 1 report. Consultative engagement through a digitally enabled peer learning platform

This Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) Listening and Learning Report is part of the IA2030 Movement’s Knowledge-to-Action Hub. Learn more about the Hub… Learn more about the Movement…

Background

In Year 1 of its “Movement for IA2030” peer learning programme, the Geneva Learning Foundation (TGLF) organized a digitally enabled series of activities for immunization and other health professionals from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Working with Bridges to Development (Bridges), we explored novel models of “consultative engagement”, the dialogue between international and national stakeholders that is a core element of the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) Framework for Action.

The project was likely the principal IA2030 consultative engagement activity carried out in 2021/2022. It supported practical action and collaboration by health professionals delivering and managing immunization services at different levels of health systems – from facility to national – and in different sectors.

Highlights of peer learning and engagement activities

• In March 2022, 6185 practitioners from 99 countries joined the programme, with 1021 progressing to implementation of peer-reviewed local action plans by June 2022 (Annex 1). More than half of participants work for ministries of health at district or facility level.
• More than half a million quantitative and qualitative data points generated by programme participants helped shed light on priority challenges and opportunities.
• Additional discussion events, lectures and online surveys were developed in collaboration with IA2030 Working Groups and UNICEF, covering topics such as “zero-dose” challenges (reaching those not receiving any vaccines), gender barriers and COVID-19 vaccine uptake.
• Quarterly “Teach to Reach” events created a space for engagement with thousands of national and sub-national immunization staff – rising from 2,604 registrants in March 2021 to 12,389 in June 2022 – and international stakeholders, including representatives from UNICEF, USAID MOMENTUM, the Gavi Zero Dose Community of Practice, and several IA2030 Working Groups, listening and contributing.
• By June 2022, more than 8000 country-based practitioners were actively participating and identifying as members of a “Movement for Immunization Agenda 2030”, expressing a moral and professional commitment to achieving the goals of IA2030, through implementation of action plans aligned with their countries’ immunization strategies.
• Three “Listening and Learning Reports”, six thematic and eight “first-person” case studies were published during the project (Annex 2).

What did we learn from consultative engagement?

This iterative learning and action led by local practitioners provided a unique window through which international stakeholders could better understand what is happening on the ground within countries, in particular giving a voice to those working below the national level.

The engagement activities have revealed a highly motivated group of thousands of professionals trying to work within local constraints to organize comprehensive, user-friendly services, working closely with local communities. Participants have shown a great willingness to share experiences and learn from others, and consistently highlight the benefits they feel they gain from their connections to peers facing similar challenges and from the guidance offered by international experts.

The experience also suggests that there are no “magic bullets” – overlooked and potentially transformative technical solutions to immunization challenges. Progress more likely comes from the systematic application and adaptation of existing good practice, tailored to local contexts and communities. This suggests that there are significant opportunities to:

1. Empower health professionals and drive improvement from the ground up by connecting them to their peers and linking them to global guidance.
2. Harness the knowledge, experience and intrinsic motivation of these tens of thousands of professionals to drive improvements in immunization coverage and wider primary healthcare services in LMICs.