Summary of responses to Countdown CAM survey on

progress in implementing ‘next steps’, July 2024

(Note: 21 of 26 countries responded to the survey.)

Question 1. Have you shared the analysis and findings (e.g. Chartbooks) from the 2024 Countdown workshop with your Country Platform?

Question 2. What analysis did you share?

Question 3. Beyond the Country Platform, have you shared the analysis and findings in other ways?

Written responses to ‘Other’ ways the analysis was shared/with whom: Most responded that, beyond the Country Platform, they shared the analysis/findings with: GFPs, TWGs and Heads of Division. One country shared with a WB project for better alignment of project targets, and with government for use of FPET model to adjust coverage for family planning targets. Another country shared with members of a health donor group, and one shared an abstract with the country’s national medical association. Several noted plans to triangulate the data before sharing further.

Question 4. If you shared your analysis and findings, were concrete actions taken based on the findings?

Written responses to: ‘If you shared your analysis and findings, were concrete actions taken based on the findings?’

Four countries shared examples of how decisions were made to address data quality issues observed based on the CAM analysis. In two countries, decisions were made to respond to questions that had emerged from the analysis regarding denominators. Other examples included actions to inform selection of KPIs and to incorporate analysis into the preparation of work plans.  In one country, the analysis informed the development of an assessment form to establish a baseline for level 2 neonatal units in the country. Another country has planned follow-up triangulation of the analysis to identify targeted interventions to address maternal mortality in some hotspots, and one has decided to carry out capacity building using STATA and R to conduct the kind of analysis developed during CAM. 

Question 5. Written responses to: ‘If you have not yet shared your analysis and findings, but plan to do so in the coming months, please briefly summarize below when and how you plan to do this’ Seven countries indicated that they plan to share the analysis with their country platforms in the coming months. Several indicated that they plan to share policy briefs and special bulletins.

Question 6. Written responses to: ‘If you are facing any particular challenges in sharing the analysis and findings, please explain what these challenges are and any support you need’

Several countries noted challenges in having routine country platform meetings – for some, this was due to lack of government commitment, and for others due to external events. Some countries requested support to prepare fact sheets, policy briefs etc. One country was pending next steps to move the Countdown initiative forward (e.g. pending a MOU), and another was experiencing a lack of national buy-in to the Countdown approach. One country had identified capacity building needs for the HMIS team at all levels, and is developing plans to address this. Finally, one country found differences between the findings from the CAM analysis and other analyses conducted by the MOH (e.g. there were different results on MMR etc). This is being followed up on to identify and resolve these differences prior to dissemination.