strategic plans. Australia will also encourage alignment of their support for national efforts to strengthen health information systems, disease surveillance and response systems. Potential partners WHO SPC Pacific and International academia Research and analysis Objective To support quality research and analysis that underpins evidence-based decision-making regionally and nationally. Rationale for inclusion Quality knowledge production is critical to effective health policy and service delivery, however the required critical mass for research capacity is beyond the ability of many Pacific Island countries to maintain. To date, there has been limited evidence of countries identifying and driving a regional health research agenda that responds to their knowledge gaps. Rather, research is often ‘supply-led’ by academics. Nature of future support Australia’s regional health program will provide financial and technical support to build the capacity of research institutions to plan, implement and disseminate quality applied health policy and delivery research that meets Pacific Island countries’ knowledge needs. In line with key Pacific heath issues, priority research foci may include health systems (in particular health financing); NCD prevention and control; sexual and reproductive health, and communicable diseases in areas where there is an unfinished agenda. Changes required to Australia’s regional health program Australia will continue to support research conducted by the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Fiji National University (research is currently supported through funding for the College’s strategic plan) with a strengthened focus on maximising links to Pacific research priorities and other institutions. Australia may also support research conducted by SPC, as prioritised in its Public Health Division Strategy 2013-2022 (in development). It is anticipated that health analysis will continue to be a priority under future iterations of Australia’s Pacific Facility agreement with the World Bank which may include regional analytic work. Australia may consider supporting other research institutions in Pacific countries and internationally through the regional program. Any such support would need to align to the Australia’s broader aid research agenda.
Initiative Area Timing Proposed Modality Design Steps Design Lead Regional Health Governance Surveillance Aug 2013-Dec 2014 Earmarked support to SPC PHD Strategy 2013-2022 Planning Discussion Transition Support SPC Strategic Plan Investment Design Summary Appraisal/Peer Review Suva Country-level Technical Cooperation (MNCH, NCD and HIV/STI) Aug 2013- Dec 2014 Earmarked support to UN agencies and SPC Planning Discussion Investment Concept note (ICN) Partner led design Appraisal/Peer Review Pilot evaluation Partner Design/Investment Design Summary (IDS) Appraisal/Peer Review Canberra Service Delivery Innovation Nov 2013 - Jun 2014 Partner (IPPF) Program ICR/Evaluation Planning Discussion ICN Partner led Design Appraisal/Peer Review Canberra Specialised Health Training Mar-Dec 2014 TBD ICR/Evaluation Planning Discussion ICN Design (Form TBD) Appraisal/Peer Review Canberra Tertiary Care Policy, support and provision Mar-Dec 2014 TBD ICR/Evaluation Planning Discussion ICN Design (Form TBD) Canberra
performance of regional health program activities Investment designs adopt modalities that drive accountability for country-level performance and meet each PICs’ specific needs Number of investment designs that have a satisfactory on country-level performance Most current programs adopt a one-size-fits-all approach to countries and reporting is primarily on aggregated regional-level inputs/outputs rather than country-level outcomes Pacific Regional Health Team assessment Mid-Term Review There is an appropriate balance of PIC investment in primary, secondary and tertiary care, with targeted regional supplementation of tertiary care services Increased proportion of PIC health expenditure going to primary and appropriate secondary care. Ratio of PIC investment in primary, secondary and tertiary care with regional supplementation of tertiary care services Number of Partnerships for Development (or other) talks that discuss appropriate balance of primary, secondary and tertiary care Methodology to be developed Methodology to be developed Objective 2. Promote regional norms and standards in the areas of disease surveillance and reporting End of Delivery Strategy Outcome (2017) Intermediate outcomes Indicators 2013 Baseline Data Source