Delivering Healthy Futures is a four-year project being implemented by the Jane Goodall Institute. This maternal, newborn and child health initiative is located in North Kivu and Maniema provinces in Eastern DRC. The ultimate objective is to contribute to the reduction of maternal and child mortality in the targeted regions. This is being achieved through three expected outcomes: a) improving the delivery of maternal care by health workers; b) increasing community members (women and men) knowledge on reproductive health, family planning, safe pregnancy, disease prevention and WASH; and c) increasing the use of health services by target population.

The project uses a results based management (RBM) approach throughout the life of the project, from planning, project design, implementation, monitoring (including reporting) and evaluation. Progress-tracking towards achieving the expected outcomes will help project staff to make informed programmatic decisions and to plan accordingly. Working in a participatory and inclusive manner that takes into account gender equality, JGI will work with its partners to create a learning environment that promotes on-going reflection and analysis, and makes necessary adjustments throughout the life of the project. JGI will incorporate the key RBM tools in the management of the DHF project, including the Logic Model, Performance Measurement Framework and Risk Register. Using these tools, a project implementation plan was put in place at the start of the project to provide an overarching framework for the initiative. On an annual basis, a more detailed work plan is organized by engaging with the local stakeholders, and necessary adjustments are made based on the reality on the ground. The initiative activities involve working alongside with the Ministry of Health as well as local community leaders to ensure the following results will be achieved: Increased knowledge and skills of health workers in reproductive health, family planning and management tools, in 20 health centres Improved Health Zone officials and health care workers capacity in managing and implementing the vaccination micro-plan in 20 health centres Increased knowledge and skills of health workers in early childhood health and disease prevention methods, in safe pregnancy, delivery and motherhood in 20 health centres Increased knowledge amongst community members living in 20 health areas in reproductive health, family planning tools, and WASH Increased knowledge amongst community volunteers living in 20 health areas in reproductive health, family planning tools, and WASH Increased knowledge amongst pregnant women living in 20 health areas in safe pregnancy, delivery and motherhood Increased access to health infrastructure for mothers, pregnant women, newborns and children under five, living in 7 health areas Increased access to adequately resourced health services for mothers, pregnant women, newborns and children under five living in 20 health areas Increased access to sanitation and safe water for mothers, pregnant women, newborns and children under five living in 7 health areas

Capacity building is done at two levels: for government health workers and for community volunteers. For the health workers: Train health workers in reproductive health and family planning management tools in 20 health centres Support health zone officials and health care workers in updating and implementing the vaccination micro-plan in 20 health centres Train health workers in vaccination program, epidemiology monitoring, and cold chain management in 20 health centres Train health workers in early childhood health and disease prevention methods, water, hygiene and sanitation in 20 health centres Train health workers in safe pregnancy, delivery and motherhood in 20 health centres For community volunteers: Sensitize community members living in 20 health areas about reproductive health, family planning tools, water, hygiene and sanitation Train community volunteers living in 20 health areas in reproductive health, family planning tools, water, hygiene and sanitation Sensitize pregnant women living in 20 health areas in safe pregnancy, delivery and motherhood Technology used in this initiative include training project staff to use Geographic Information System (GIS) to provide spatial mapping of remote villages to ensure 100% coverage of vaccination.

The project is governed by the following stakeholders: Global Affairs Canada, Jane Goodall Institute, Government of DRC, and the targeted communities. There are four committees in place to address the management and governance needs at the different levels. These committees are based on the local structure and how each project zone is organized. [A] Steering Committee: There will be a Steering Committee in each of the two provinces, and membership will comprise of: 1 representative from the Ministry of Health at the Provincial level 1 representative from each of the zones within that Province 2 representatives from JGI-DRC 1 representative from JGI-Canada 1 representative from Global Affairs Canada. These committees will meet annually before the end of each project year to review key accomplishments and challenges of the year, including recommendations from the Technical Committee, and present the Annual Work Plan for the coming year. [B] Technical Committee: The Technical Committee will sit at the zonal level, thus the project will have 3 committees (Walikale, Obokote and Lubutu), and will comprise of: 1 health official representative from each of the health centres 1 community member representative from each of the health centres area 2-3 JGI staff members The representative from each of the three health centres will reside as the president of their respective Technical Committee. The members will meet twice a year, once just before the Steering Committee meeting, and a second mid-year through the project. [C] Operational Committee: The Operational Committee will be at the local level, with a total of 20 committees for each of the health centres. Each committee will comprise of 4 people: 1 Chief from the health centre area, 1 JGI field agent (secretary) assigned to that health centre 2 community members (1 male/1 female) The Chief will reside as the president of this committee. On a monthly basis, the committee will assess the past months progress, discuss next months activities, highlight successes and road blocks, and come up with solutions if needed. [D] Community Health Committee: This committee has equal number of men and women representatives from the each of the health centre catchment area. Members of this committee will represent their community at the monthly Operational Committee meetings and also at the bi annual Technical Committee meetings. The representatives attending either the Technical or the Operational Committee meetings will report back to the wider committee members with updates and disseminate relevant information.

Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, Jane Goodall Institute DRC, Global Affairs Canada (Government of Canada), DRC Ministry of Health (PNSR - Programme National de la Sante de la Reproduction; PEV - Program Elargi de Vaccination)