SPECIAL SESSION: Replication of the Maternal-Child Health Nurse Leadership Academy in Africa

Description/Overview: This special session focuses on the process followed from the inception of the idea to the completion of the first cohort of the Africa Maternal Child Health Nurse Leadership Academy (MCHNLA) in August 2015. We will share the background and history of the replication of the MCHNLA in Africa with reference to the need for leadership development in the field of maternal-child health in Africa, followed by a historical overview of the development of the Africa MCHNLA. This will be followed by our experience of the pilot Academy in the North-West Province of South Africa (2012-2013) and of the first cohort of the Africa MCHNLA (2014-2015). We will then share the process of adapting the curriculum for the Pilot and the first Africa cohort and compare the processes followed between the 2 curricula and again, lessons learned. This will be followed by a discussion of specific issues such as stakeholder involvement, communication, funding, selection of faculty, mentors and mentees, mentoring, and capacity development. We will explain what we did, what happened and how we experienced the pilot Academy by providing an overview of the evaluation results and lessons learned from the Pilot. We will then discuss the role of stakeholders and the challenges faced in marketing the MCHNLA in a continent where it is unknown. We will also give attention to the process followed and reflect on the success and challenges during the process and in terms of the outcomes. With regard to mentee and mentor selection, we will explain the reason for changing the selection process from the MCHNLA North American model. This will be followed by a discussion of mentoring and logistical issues in terms of communication, budgeting, organizing workshops and keeping momentum. In conclusion, we will address the lessons learned in the overall process of replicating the Maternal Child Health Nurse Leadership Academy in Africa.