In order to build more the capacity of its staff, SIKAP conducted Training-Workshops on Performance Accountability System (PAS) on August 3-5, 2020 at Mabe’s Savory Place, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. Conducted under the organization’s Sexual Health and Empowerment (SHE) project, the activity was instrumental in improving the knowledge and skills of SIKAP staff on the subject matter.
PAS, which was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO, is a tested and proven tool in effecting strategic improvements in the health conditions of communities. It fosters a culture of performance and participation through mutual and collective accountability. It is a systems approach to decrease unmet needs or increase Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR). It establishes a culture of care and respect for men, women and children; thus gradually eradicating gender-based violence.
The facilitator, Mr. Earl Enrico A. Alcala, managed to impress the salient features of the PAS approach to the participants, as summarized below.
One of the major activities in the PAS approach is the Breakthrough Planning. A breakthrough is defined as ‘an important discovery that helps solve a problem’. In the medical field, ‘breakthroughs’ are usually associated with the discovery of a new drug or technology that treats or diagnoses diseases. However, used in the context of current projects of SIKAP on sexual reproductive health, a ‘breakthrough’ refers to the transformative process of health planning that can enhance health governance, mobilize communities and improve performance of family planning program.
Breakthrough Planning is a process that is evidence-based and involves barangay-level participation in identifying problems and solutions. It focuses on the inputs and processes through which the outputs or outcomes are to be achieved, and identifies who is responsible for them. Hence, it fosters greater accountability and better achievement of results. These features make breakthrough plans significantly different from the usual formulated health plans. The plan is usually formulated for a period of three to four months and is repeated over and over until a breakthrough result is achieved. It begins as a small step that can help communities break out of the cycle of low performance and poor health outcomes and gradually moves them towards bigger changes.
SIKAP thanks OXFAM and Global Affairs Canada, the funder of SHE Project for the learning opportunity.
SIKAP thanks OXFAM and Global Affairs Canada, the funder of SHE Project for the learning opportunity.
