The Leadership Capacity Strengthening Project (CAPS) is USAID/West Africa's direct assistance to the West African Health Organization (WAHO), the specialized institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) responsible for health issues. CAPS provides direct funding to leverage existing systems and resources and technical assistance through direct and frequent engagement with WAHO. Activities under this agreement focus on strengthening the capacity of WAHO as a leader in the health sector in West Africa.

The CAPS activity supports WAHO to assist ECOWAS member states to scale up best practices in health and implement regional policies; operationalize its advocacy and communications strategies; expand its role in regional donor, public and private partnerships; and operationalize its regional Health Information Systems (HIS) policy and strategy.

WAHO - ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE

  • The ECOWAS Forum on Best Practices in Health is the first of its kind – moving WAHO to establishing and taking to scale best practices in health delivery within the region.
  • Responsible for the 18th Assembly of Health Ministers adopting the family planning and reproductive task-shifting resolution.
  • Took the initiative and key actions to control the spread of COVID-19 in the ECOWAS region.
  • Led the regional One Health platform, including the launch of the ECOWAS Rapid Response Team in 2016 to respond to disease outbreaks, like COVID-19. 
  • Advanced public-private partnerships and the adoption of the Strategic Framework for Public -Private Partnerships in Health within the ECOWAS region in June 2017 by the Assembly of Health Ministers.
  • Led the ECOWAS national health information systems (HIS) and integrated disease surveillance and response systems, including training health staff and improving robustness and inter-operability of national and regional HIS platforms.
  • Established the Coordination Office of Communicators’ Network in October 2016 to interact with key media houses and journalists in West Africa and raise the awareness of WAHO and issues and policies related to health.
  • Conducted online trainings to over 2,350 professional health workers in the ECOWAS region on various topics, including points of entry, epidemiology, case management, laboratory, psychosocial care, infection prevention and control

Program Information

Goal: WAHO’s leadership capacity strengthened

Life of activity: Feb. 2015 - June 2023

Total USAID FUNDING: $7,694,000 million

Geographic Focus: West Africa Region

Implementing Partner: West Africa Health Organization