We want to acknowledge the presence of African researchers and practitioners, whose roles are of utmost importance, not only to ensure the success of this workshop, but also to guarantee the follow-up of the activities that will be defined and agreed upon during the workshop. Gianfranco Rotigliano UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa Principles of a Community of Practice As a priority issue to the African country A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of representatives, a Health Insurance CoP was people who decide to deepen their knowledge initiated under the Health Financing pillar. and expertise in an area by interacting on an In July 2010, when HHA partners reconvened on-going basis (Wenger and al. 2001). in Kigali, the decision was made to broaden The concept was originally developed to this CoP in order to address other mechanisms address the fact that learning also takes place to improve financial access. through social relationships rather than only Consequently, the Health Insurance CoP was through formal teaching or books: this “tacit Access (FA) to Health renamed “Financial is shared between peers and knowledge” Care it will comprise several groups, CoP”; practitioners of a given field. The application such as health insurance, user fee exemption of this concept to public health is quite recent. etc. A CoP brings together experts from various departments, organisations or countries. It focuses on individuals and practical Experience of the Performance-Based knowledge (know-how). It is governed by its Financing CoP own members, who identify key knowledge As an illustration of how a CoP works, the areas, priorities and activities. PBF experience was presented. This CoP’s CoP, whose members currently number more than 190, develops various activities for Towards a CoP on Financial Access national experts. It has helped a country like During the HHA partners meeting in June Burundi to advance its policy work. 2009 in Bamako, a number of CoPs was The recommendations from this experience created and organised according to health are the following: (cf. annex VIII). system’s pillars Target individuals, not organisations.
We want to acknowledge the presence of African researchers and practitioners, whose roles are of utmost importance, not only to ensure the success of this workshop, but also to guarantee the follow-up of the activities that will be defined and agreed upon during the workshop. Gianfranco Rotigliano UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa Principles of a Community of Practice A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of people who decide to deepen their knowledge and expertise in an area by interacting on an on-going basis (Wenger and al. 2001). The concept was originally developed to address the fact that learning also takes place through social relationships rather than only through formal teaching or books: this “tacit knowledge” is shared between peers and practitioners of a given field. The application of this concept to public health is quite recent. A CoP brings together experts from various departments, organisations or countries. It focuses on individuals and practical knowledge (know-how). It is governed by its own members, who identify key knowledge areas, priorities and activities. Towards a CoP on Financial Access During the HHA partners meeting in June 2009 in Bamako, a number of CoPs was created and organised according to health system’s pillars (cf. annex VIII). As a priority issue to the African country representatives, a Health Insurance CoP was initiated under the Health Financing pillar. In July 2010, when HHA partners reconvened in Kigali, the decision was made to broaden this CoP in order to address other mechanisms to improve financial access. Consequently, the Health Insurance CoP was renamed “Financial Access (FA) to Health Care CoP”; it will comprise several groups, such as health insurance, user fee exemption etc. Experience of the Performance-Based Financing CoP As an illustration of how a CoP works, the PBF CoP’s experience was presented. This CoP, whose members currently number more than 190, develops various activities for national experts. It has helped a country like Burundi to advance its policy work. The recommendations from this experience are the following: Target individuals, not organisations.
English%20Improving%20Financial%20Access%20Feb%202011.docx