Apply for the CHMI Learning Exchange
Overview
Launching CHMI’s Learning Exchange
The Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI) is thrilled to announce its second Call for Applications for the CHMI Learning Exchange! Recognizing that there is excellence and innovation within our global network, the CHMI Learning Exchange aims to facilitate structured learning partnerships between organizations that are profiled on CHMI, helping programs to improve business practices, adopt innovations, scale-up or replicate an aspect of their model to a new market. The CHMI Learning Exchange will provide funding of up to US $8,000 to successful applicants to facilitate learning partnerships.
In November 2014, CHMI awarded its first round of learning exchange grants to five winning applications. Representing twelve organizations and eight countries, these new partnerships will allow program managers to improve and scale-up their models; current grantee activities range from replicating drug supply models, improving management and operational processes, building financial sustainability, and adapting new monitoring systems to ensure client safety.
Download and complete the CHMI Learning Exchange Application.
How the Process Works
Learning Exchanges will involve one or more healthcare organizations acting as lead partners and knowledge partners.
- Lead partner: A “lead partner” is a healthcare organization profiled by CHMI that will develop the application for the CHMI Learning Exchange and be responsible for disbursing funds to other partnering organizations. The “lead” partner can be the “learner” in a traditional “mentor-mentee” relationship; or, the lead partner and knowledge partners can represent similar organizations that may offer complementary skills, expertise, and ability to learn from one another. Lead partners should contact potential knowledge partners through CHMI or through other channels to solicit their agreement to apply for the CHMI Learning Exchange. Please contact chmi@r4d.org if you require assistance in contacting programs through our website.
- Knowledge partner: One or more healthcare organization(s) that work with a lead partner to exchange knowledge through activities specified in this application. Knowledge partner(s) should agree to participate with a lead partner prior to being named in an application for the CHMI Learning Exchange.
- Both partners will discuss the scope of the learning agenda, the way in which learning will take place, and its intended impact.
- The lead partner will submit an application to the CHMI Learning Exchange. The lead partner will assume responsibility for meeting outcomes, submitting reports, and determining whether and how funds are shared between partners.
- A cohort of organizations will carry out their unique Learning Exchanges over a four-month period from April 15 to August 15, 2015.
- At the conclusion of the Learning Exchange, partners will reflect on what worked and what didn’t work, and share their experiences to benefit the broader CHMI community.
Types of Learning Activities
Peer Learning Exchange
Programs approaching similar challenges in a specific area may choose to apply for the grant as a consortium of programs to collectively brainstorm potential solutions. For example, neonatal care institutions in India worked together to improve management of their intensive care units. Over the period of the learning exchange, which was led by ACCESS Health International, programs within this cohort were able to mutually benefit as they shared data and knowledge in order to institute improvements in their practice.
Another example could include three primary care clinics in different regions of South Africa visiting each other’s organizations or collaborating in order to share best practices and challenges in operational efficiency among the differing locations. The program managers would apply these best practices to streamline operations in their respective organizations, bring down costs, and expand access to quality care.
Visit to established field leader
Several (e.g. 3-5) programs may apply for funding to visit an established field leader defined as a program/ organization that has achieved health outputs, outcomes, and/or sustainability. For example, three family planning clinics in rural Nigeria may choose to visit a well-established family planning organization in Ibadan to learn about successful practices they can adopt. The well-established organization would obtain further exposure for its model, gain visibility through the CHMI network, and could have the opportunity to adapt innovations from these learning organizations, for instance, an informational communication technology system.
One-on-one learning
A program may apply to partner with one other organization to learn a particular aspect of the knowledge partner’s model. For example, a pharmacy chain in Malaysia that is exploring the use of pre-packaged treatment kits might apply to visit a pharmacy chain in the Philippines that successfully added pre-packaged treatment kits to its patient offerings several years ago. The Malaysian chain would need to have a clear, long-term objective in mind for this visit; for example, learning how to recruit new staff and launch a marketing campaign to attract customers for its treatment kits, thereby expanding access to this treatment. For the Filipino program, this visit might improve their knowledge about and connections to the Malaysian market, which they could later enter.
Please see the CHMI Learning Exchange 2015 Overview for more examples.
Eligibility Criteria
- Proposals must involve at least two organizations, one of which should be profiled on the CHMI website, with a complete and up to date profile at the time of submission. Program profiles that are considered up to date will have a Gold profile badge in accordance with the CHMI Plus system.
- Programs within CHMI’s scope engage the private health sector (either non-profit or for-profit), work in a low- and middle-income country (as determined by the World Bank classification), and serve the poor.
- Applicants should submit a complete application to chmiexchange@accessh.org. All selected organizations must be willing to share detailed feedback about their experience during and after the conclusion of the learning activity.
Please see the CHMI Learning Exchange 2015 Overview for Evaluation Criteria, Selection Process, additional learning exchange examples, and Application Guidelines & Conditions.
How to Apply?
Download and complete the CHMI Learning Exchange Application.
Please remember to submit the application to chmiexchange@accessh.org by March 15, 2015.
