Population Leadership Program Summer Conference 2006
Manila, Philippines
Sulo Hotel
July 31, 2006 – August 4, 2006
Introduction
The fifth annual Population Leadership Program (PLP) annual summer conference was held in Manila, the Philippines from July 1 through August 4, 2006. The summer conference is designed to provide a forum to connect PLP Fellows across distinct cohorts (and in more recent years, connect PLP Fellows to partner anchor institution Fellows) to catalyze collaborative projects, expose attendees to contemporary public health issues in the host country, and renew ties to University of Washington faculty and staff.
The Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) office was in charge of all on-the-ground coordination of the conference, and numerous staff members worked tirelessly to ensure a productive and dynamic week of sessions. In particular, PLCPD staff members Roberto Ador and Ramon San Pascual (Executive Director Emeritus and Executive Director respectively, both PLP Fellows) invested a tremendous amount of time in the careful planning of the week. Their hard work, in conjunction with that of the entire PLCPD staff, was visible in all aspects of the conference.
In attendance were a total of 29 PLP Fellows (all seven cohorts represented, with the majority from Cohorts 4 and 5), five IFPLP and LDM Fellows and administrative staff, six University of Washington faculty and staff, and several PLCPD staff, all of who participated fully in the conference. Packard TST Mike Tan was unable to attend due to commitments outside of Manila, but UW attendees Aaron Katz and Anita Verna Crofts were able to have a very productive dinner with him in Manila the prior weekend.
Conference
The Planning Committee for the 2006 summer conference formed in the fall of 2005 and was composed of all PLP Fellows from the Philippines and a representative from Cohorts four and five. The team worked first to identify specific goals for the week in Manila, which included an emphasis on networking between all participants; engaging in dynamic and participatory sessions concerning RH/FP and population issues; learning about practical tools to create positive systemic change in all countries present; developing specific plans at national and multi-national levels through collaboration between PLP Fellows, fellows from other leadership programs, and other relevant parties; expanding networks through involving partner institutions, NGOs, and local experts; learning about RH/FP and population issues activities and advocacy work in the Philippines; and finally participating in discussions and activities that will add to the ongoing evaluation of and improvement in the PLP program as a whole, the conference, and the post-program initiatives.
Thanks much in part to the established and deep relationships that PLCPD enjoys in both the public and the nonprofit sector around issues of policy advocacy, the 2006 summer conference had unprecedented access and an array of activities, ranging from an audience with the Congressional Speaker of the House to briefings from policy makers, academics, and NGO leaders. Highlights included remarks delivered by Senator Rodolfo G. Biazon, Senate Chairperson of PLCPD over the course of four separate appearances during the week; a highly informative and education session on “Advocacy Skills that Matter” delivered by former Congresswoman Ms. Cielo Krisel Lagman-Luistro; and a presentation entitled “Health and the Environment” delivered by the Mayor Raul Banias of Concepcion in Iloilo Province. Fellows also met with various House and Senate members of PLCPD’s Board of Trustees.
In addition to these Philippine-context sessions, the conference included PLP Fellow reports on previous year collaborative projects, group work among PLP, LDM and IFPLP Fellows to design collaborative initiatives (see below), and IFPLP and LDM Fellow-led small group conversations on Health Education, Community Based RH services, Media an RH reporting, and Population Health and the Environment. Finally, one session was devoted to a discussion about the future of the PLP, with a briefing on the current funding status and input from Fellows on possible continuation strategies.
Over the course of the five days, participants (including PLP, IFPLP, and LDM Fellows and PLCPD and UW PLP staff) self-organized into groups to discuss topics of common interest. These discussions – which were reported back to the plenary for initial feedback – resulted in initiatives in six areas:
Health and Human Rights: The Health and Human Rights (HRR) working group, composed of Fellows from the Philippines, Pakistan, Sudan, and Uganda, centered their discussion around the design and dissemination of a training manual on the rights-based approach to health. The proposed steps are to develop a training agenda, a training design, and a training manual based on the agenda and design, with a pre-test trial of the manual to be the final component of the project. In the month following the PLP summer conference end, the group has stayed active with a dedicated listserv. They plan on applying for PLP partnership grant funding in the fall.
Networking: The Networking working group, composed of Fellows from the Philippines, Pakistan, Peru, and Ethiopia, tackled the challenge to promote sustained professional connectivity—be it regional or international. All participants in the group identified the need for a dedicated “bank” of professional information (CVs, research interests, areas of expertise) that would be ever evolving and available to the entire network of Fellows. Knowing that Packard is working on a database, the Networking group is eager to learn what potential that database might hold to dovetail with their interest in institutionalizing connections and linkages between Fellows.
RH Communication Strategies: Nigerian and Filipina participants developed a presentation entitled “Reaching Out: Success Stories in Communication and Media.” The goal of this effort is to spearhead the collection and dissemination of Fellow’s successful media and communication campaigns on public health topics internationally. Furthermore, the initiative includes introducing a monitoring and evaluation component, often overlooked in media strategies. The project team is considering the advantages of compiling success stories online, so as to save on printing costs, allow for greater flexibility with updates, and make it available widely.
Policy Advocacy: The Policy Advocacy group, made up of Fellows from Mexico, the Philippines, and Nigeria, took on the ambitious task of reintroducing the Nigerian Reproductive Health Bill (tossed out of the National Assembly in 2006) to the legislature, with a goal of passage by 2008. Inspired by the advocacy efforts in the Philippines, members of this group created a strategy for moving the bill forward by adopting more comprehensive advocacy tools, supported by Fellows in the Philippines and in Mexico. The strategy is multi-faceted, included outreach to religious leaders, health care providers, and a concerted and targeted media campaign.
Leadership Training: Fellows from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Pakistan, identified district-level officials as the target audience for leadership training in an overarching attempt to improve the quality of health services at the local level. The group committed to develop a joint training curriculum, conduct the training in pilot districts, monitor the test sites, and eventually revise the curriculum and replicate the model.
Capacity Building: The Capacity Building group, composed of Fellows from Nigeria and Ethiopia, aimed to work on using an evidence base for identifying obstacles to policy implementation and service delivery, while at the same time building capacity of government institutions to carry out statutory responsibilities at all levels, and finally to institutionalize capacity building for more sustainable public service delivery. The group specifically identified a need for capacity building at the local government level aimed at meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and proposed a multi-organization partnership effort to design training packages for LGAs on this topic.
As in all years past, the summer conference provided valuable reconnecting time for Fellows, faculty, and staff. Not only were dynamic cross-cohort connections created, but interaction among IFPLP, LDM, and PLP Fellows was at a high level. Whether conversations took place in official sessions or more casually during social settings, all attendees agreed that both the establishment and reestablishment of collegial ties is a priceless component of the conference.
Participant List
Packard-Gates Population Leadership Fellows
Cohort One
Mr. Roberto M. Ador Philippines Executive Director Emeritus
Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development
Sara Musa ElSaeed Sudan Population Council International
Cohort Two
Dr. Bolanle Oleyemisi Oyeledun Nigeria Columbia University/Mailman
School of Public Health International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP), Nigeria office
Cohort Three
Dr. Raana Zahid Pakistan World Population Foundation
Cohort Four
Ms. Kawther Alaa El Din Badri Sudan UK-Department for International
Development
Ms. Anne Akia Fiedler Uganda Straight Talk Foundation
Dr. Woldemedhin Haile Ethiopia Independent Public Health Consultant
International Development
Mr. Femi Kayode Nigeria ADFORCE Advertising cc
Dr. Saman Yazdani Khan Pakistan Center for Health and Population
Studies (CHPS), Pakistan
Dr. Gelila Kidane Ethiopia EngenderHealth Ethiopia
Mr. Rakesh Kumar India Arogyam Center for Health and
Development
Dr. Carlos Guarnizo Olivera Peru Pathfinder International
,
Mr. Ramon San Pascual Philippines Philippine Legislators’ Committee
on Population and Development
Ms. Halima Ben Umar Nigeria Women in Media
,
Dr. Blanca Rico Mexico
Cohort Five
Dr. Jabeen Abbas Pakistan Project Officer
Child Protection and Empowerment of Adolescents
Ms. Ofelia Aguilar Mexico Mexican Family Association (Filial
to IPPF International Planned Parenthood Family)
Mrs. Ifeoma Charles-Monwuba Nigeria WaterAid Nigeria
,
Dr. Ermias Getaneh Ethiopia Medical Director, I-TECH
Mr. Nayat Karim Pakistan Regional Director, Family Planning
Association of Pakistan
Dr. Bui Thi Thanh Mai Vietnam Hanoi School of Public Health
;
Ms. Khadijah Ibrahim Nuhu Nigeria Public Health Communication
Consultant
,
Atty. Nolito Quilang Philippines Nagoya University, Japan
Mr. Sisay Worku Ethiopia Ministry of Finance and Economic
Development
Dr. Moh. Shan J. Abdulwahid Philippines EnRICH Project-ACDI/VOCA
Cohort Six
Ms. Victoria D. Corpuz Philippines Commission on Population
Ms. Gilda Salvacion A. Diaz Philippines Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
Cohort Seven
Ms. Cristita Cervantes –Triunfante Philippines Bicol Integrated Reproductive
Health Alliance & Mayon Integrated Development Alternative & Services Inc.
LDM and IFPLP Fellows
Dr. Raul N. Banias Philippines Municipal Mayor, Concepcion Iloilo
Ms. Maria Ester L. Espina Philippines Media Advocates Reproductive
Health & Empowerment
Ms. Cecilia Villa Philippines Executive Director
Foundation for Adolescent Development
Dr. Junice Demeterio-Melgar Philippines Executive Director
Linangan ng Kababaihan (LIKHAAN)
Honored Guests
Ms. Magdalena Lopez Philippines Country Manager, LDM for
Mobilizing Reproductive Health
Mr. Tomas M. Osias Philippines Executive Director
Commission on Population
Mr. Benjamin De Leon Philippines President
The Forum for Family Planning
PLP Faculty and Staff
Ms. Sarah Burnett USA PLP Evaluation Teaching Assistant
Ms. Anita Verna Crofts USA PLP Post Program Initiatives Director
Ms. Nicola De Paul USA PLP program Coordinator
Dr. Diana Fletschner USA Professor, Evans School of Public
Affairs
Dr. Steve Gloyd USA PLP Academic Director, Professor,
International Health Program
Mr. Aaron Katz USA PLP Director, Department of Health
Services/Evans School of Public Affairs