Project Goal & Objectives

The overall long-term goal of the Balkans Primary Health Care Policy Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina is to:

"Contribute to the achievement of responsive and accountable primary health care systems in BiH and Serbia that improves their citizens’ health outcomes creating an enabling environment for social, economic and political development."

The desired outcomes of the Project are:
Strengthened primary health care policy coordination and harmonization between civil society, stakeholders, government agencies and donors.
Improved primary health care policies, inclusive of the specific needs of women and vulnerable groups.
Increased access to primary health care services by vulnerable groups.

Overall project activities will include:
Assessment, Monitoring & Evaluation
Capacity Development
Evidence Based Policy Making
Knowledge Transfer & Public Engagement
Partnership & Coordination

Canadian Society for International Health and Queens University (CSIH/QU) undertake activities to build both institutional and individual capacity for PHC in BiH. A participatory approach to identifying training needs and developing capacity strengthening activities are deployed. CSIH/QU have identified the stakeholders’ specific skills and competency needs of and design capacity-building activities accordingly. Throughout this Project, CSIH/QU focus its efforts on supporting local stakeholders, in using experiential learning approaches. Local partners are responsible for leading much of the project work, drawing learning from experience with CSIH/QU facilitating the process, providing guidance and sharing information as required. The local partners are responsible for working through the process of developing the policy, and identifying additional training requirements as they progress. CSIH/QU design training activities accordingly and/or identify relevant resources for independent action.   As a result, the development of the policy in itself becomes a capacity-building activity. The CSIH/QU through this approach endeavours to build leadership and commitment to PHC and, therefore, contribute to its sustainability.

The Project is designed to contribute to the development of harmonized primary health care policies and improved, efficient and effective primary health care systems that are gender sensitive and where vulnerable groups have better access to PHC service in Bosnia and Herzegovina. All project activities are directed towards achievement of the following three project outcomes:
Strengthened primary health care policy coordination and harmonization between civil society, stakeholders, government agencies and donors
Improved PHC policies, inclusive of the specific needs of women and vulnerable groups
Increased access to PHC services by vulnerable groups

Reach and Beneficiaries

The direct beneficiaries of this project are Ministries of Health, professional organizations including chambers, associations and unions of health professionals, Public Health Institutes, Universities and a number of selected PHC facilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Policy makers, educators, service providers, and consumers of PHC services take active participation in the project activities. The project works with stakeholders at the different levels which have jurisdiction over health, ranging from community to the highest state level. These include municipal, cantonal, entity and state levels in BiH.

The project involves participants from different sectors such as education, labour, health insurance, and finance which play an important role in developing, delivering and financing PHC. The CSIH/QU Team works with private sector representatives to assist them in defining their role in PHC. In addition, participation from civil society and non-governmental sector is critical for the successful implementation of the project.  The project serves as a catalyst that brings together advocates for primary health care with practitioners and consumers. As Bosnia and Herzegovina move towards European integration the project links local national institutions to international ones in order to benefit from their learning opportunities and best practices. Ultimately, the results of this project aim to reach citizens of BiH through improved quality of and access to PHC services. Special attention are to be paid to the needs of the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups such as Roma, disabled people, internally displaced persons, etc. ensuring that their needs are recognized and their voices heard in the design and delivery of PHC services. Groups advancing gender equity in health will be a key beneficiary of the project.

Roles & Responsibilties of the Implementing Partners

The Canadian Society for International Health and Queen’s University have joined together to form a Joint Venture for the purpose of implementing the CIDA funded Balkans Primary Health Care Policy Project. CSIH is considered the Lead Organization. The contract with CIDA is signed by both members of the Joint Venture and a separate binding Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed between the two organizations that defines the working relationship as well as their joint and several liability. The parties to the Joint Venture have agreed on internal project management structures and systems that will direct, monitor and control quality of work and enable reporting on activities, operational results and costs in a manner that takes advantage of the various skills and niches of the member organizations and partners in BiH. Project management is based on open communication, consensus, diligence, collaborative and consultative decision making, including due attention to guidance received from local partners.