CARE SRH Listserv

 

 

Renewal and Evaluation

The purpose of CARE’s SRH Listserv is to provide a one-stop shop of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) resources and information for CARE staff and partners. The listserv is a learning, sharing, knowledge management, and networking platform. Currently, there are 154 members on the SRH listserv, the majority of which engage with the listserv by responding to discussion threads, requesting resources disseminated through the listserv, or sharing program information. In 2007, the SRH team developed a Google Group to house the listserv in order to post and capture information sent via the listserv. The Google Group platform allows us to store and search emails making it possible for new staff to read through previous email threads. Of the 154 members, over 45% have signed up to the SRH Listserv Google Group and as one member stated: I don't have easy access to some of the innovative work CARE and others are doing in development-focused health, so I count on this list serve for this kind of information. In early 2010, the SRH team developed an online survey evaluation and renewal process for members to update their information, promote the SRH listserv Google Group, and gather information about the use, usefulness, and reach of the listserv. As described below, the survey is a snapshot of one of the platforms the SRH team uses to foster organizational learning. The survey also tells us a little about the breadth of experience, training, and knowledge contained by listserv members. In total, 53 responses were collected from 21 different country offices. Below is a short summary followed by a more in depth look at the evaluation responses. • • • • • •

A great deal of our programming focuses on gender and sexuality, family planning, and maternal and newborn health Over half of the respondents have received training in how to integrate gender and sexuality into their work The products that most resonate with respondents were those that helped unpack and address gender and social determinants of health CARE staff are increasingly using internet technologies like Skype and social networking sites like Facebook to connect to one another The listserv is a useful tool for sharing tools, lessons, and documentation of CARE’s work, keeping staff connected, and knowing what others are working on and how it can be applied in different contexts The listserv could improve by sharing more concrete case studies and examples of CARE’s work, providing more technical updates, and remaining focused on supporting CARE programs Visit the CARE SRH Listserv http://groups.google.com/group/care-srh-listserv

CARE SRH Listserv

 

 

Members of the SRH Listserv reported that their programs focus on the following program areas: Gender and Sexuality Family Planning Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Youth Reproductive Health STIs/HIV/AIDS Policy & Advocacy Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Health System Strengthening Health Education Governance Emergency Preparedness Food Security

64.2% 60.4% 56.6% 56.6% 56.6% 49.1% 47.2% 47.2% 41.5% 32.1% 24.5% 22.6%

Social Analysis and Action (SAA) is an approach to address social, economic, and cultural factors that influence health. Some key elements of SAA are below. We were interested in what elements of social analysis were most widely used by members of the SRH Listserv. Exploration of social factors that influence health Community understandings of health Facilitation Reflective practice Participatory Action and Learning methods Community participation in planning Reflecting with community Action Research I am not familiar with SAA

73.6% 69.8% 66 % 60.4% 60.4% 56.6% 52.8% 45.3% 9.4%

Experience and expertise on the SRH Listserv is broad. Members reported having received training in the following areas:

Social Action and Analysis (SAA) training Underlying Causes of Poverty (UCP) training Family Planning training Gender training Participatory Learning and Action Qualitative Methods Quantitative Methods Experience working in Emergency settings Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC) training MISP training

50.9% 49 % 47.1% 62.2% 62.2% 58.4% 50.9% 28.3% 11.3% 7.5%

We collected internet use to explore new ways to stay better connected and foster discussion. As seen below Skype and the social networking site Facebook are two internet tools that many on the listserv use. Perhaps we need to use these resources more effectively. In 2010, the SRH team launched the SRH Listserv Facebook Group in response to the growing use of Facebook. Those on the Listserv that have accessed the SRH Listserv Google Group increased to 50% from 31% in 2008. I use Facebook I use Skype I have visited the PQDL I have visited the SRH Listserv Google Group I have visited www.care.org/reprohealth I have visited CARE's Gender wiki I have visited CARE's P-Shift wiki I have visited the IBP Initiative I have taken an e-learning course on CARE Academy

43.4% 58.5% 30.2% 49.1% 51 % 30.2% 26.4% 22.6% 47.2%

CARE SRH Listserv

 

 

We asked about the usefulness of resources that we or CARE more broadly uses/produces: Resource Ideas and Action/SAA Manual Case study series: Voices from the Village ISOFI toolkit Health Matters Newsletter! SRH Listserv Google Group HIV/AIDS Google Group CARE Emergency Toolkit (CET)

Very useful 50.9% 17 % 34 % 13.2% 26.4% 9.4% 17 %

Useful 13.2% 24.5% 17 % 35.9% 24.5% 9.4% 17 %

Not useful 1.9% 3.7% 5.7% 11.3% 11.3% 11.3% 9.4%

I don't know this 9.4% 20.8% 13.2% 7.6% 3.8% 26.4% 20.8%

N/A 4% 4% 4% 4% 8% 8% 6%

Some responses to: In what way has the SRH Listserv served you and your work?

Some Responses to: What do you want to share with the listserv or learn from your peers through the listserv?

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It has brought me a closer look on our current efforts and initiatives to promote SRH, in diverse geographical and social contexts It keeps me informed on what is going on in the domain and helps me in project/program design Keeping me updated on CARE and other developments, including research and best practices Information and experience sharing, updates and events ,opportunities to learn more and join in conferences. Kept me updated on best practices and learning to apply in programming. Helped me in enhancing my knowledge with regard to reproductive health. The SRH listserv has allowed me to know the experiences of others health colleagues in the facilitation of projects. I have picked up some ideas to improve my projects activities based on the others experiences. Identify documents such as SAA, ISOFI. Updated information related to FP workshop Updates on current trends and resources, information dissemination, evidence based programming Kept HQ and the field in touch with one another Accessing tools & information on SRH The reading materials help to familiarize myself with new areas of experiences in the areas

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share the SAA application lessons from the results initiative project that we are currently implementing Will like to learn from SAA but will like to share in the next coming months and years about our experience around transformation of socio-cultural barriers I'd like to see examples/case studies/tool kits of SRH practices in different country offices, lessons learned, etc. Updates on current technical recommendations, conference updates, etc. Good practice in programming, tools and useful resources. In addition CARE's participation at policy level. lessons learnt on implementing urban community based MCH project, unacceptable cultural barriers for improved maternal & newborn health Different project models from different countries, opportunities for capacity building and training in different parts of world I will like to learn more about what "headquarters" are doing in the topic. I would like to learn how to evaluate initiatives based on qualitative data. What kinds of indicators? Scientific articles related to maternal, newborn and child health I'd enjoy following what CARE is doing in the field of SRH and social analysis