This case study of Côte d’Ivoire exemplifies effective country-level COVID-19 planning, resource mobilization and monitoring tools. P4H country focal person (P4H-CFP) Serge Mayaka was instrumental in the timely COVID-19 response mechanism.
The Health Response Plan for COVID-19 in Côte d'Ivoire
The emergence of COVID-19 challenged governments with critical pandemic response issues: the procurement and delivery of diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine services while concurrently delivering other essential health services. Countries had an immediate need to secure adequate resources by prioritizing health care spending, reallocating budgets and ensuring coordination of resources across key partners and stakeholders.
The first COVID-19 case in Côte d’Ivoire was recorded on 11 March 2020. The government promptly formed a multisectoral COVID-19 management committee, which then led to the formation of Côte d’Ivoire’s Health Response Plan for COVID-19. Key to the plan was a comprehensive matrix of budgeted actions based on the strategic choices and expected operational results. The matrix aided with determining interventions, activities and expenditure items and indicated how much funding each donor offered as part of the COVID-19 response.
Financing agreements were signed and the execution of the expenditure was to be carried out through the various executing agencies. Initially there was no comprehensive system to track actual expenditure by expenditure item and type or activities implemented and results achieved. The solution was to use and adapt a digital platform: ‘Platform for Monitoring the Performance of the COVID-19 Response Plan’.
A digital platform enables expenditure tracking
The P4H country focal person (CFP) for Côte d’Ivoire, Dr. Serge Mayaka (then contracted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and now by the World Bank Group), from his strategic position at the WHO country office, facilitated partners’ completion of the budget matrix on the digital platform, which allowed tracking of expenditure items and activities. Serge acted as a catalyst, using a hands-on approach to train partners in the operation and practical use of the digital platform; following the partners and the WHO country office in the budgeted action matrix; troubleshooting in the event of technical difficulties; and participating in meetings to discuss the management and functioning of the platform.
Serge contributed to a collective effort to update the digital platform that enabled monitoring detailed progress of activities and financial resources pledged by donors for the Health Response Plan for COVID-19. The platform was recognized as promoting better visibility of donor contributions and transparent financial tracking of expenditures. Allowing users to access current data and generate multiple reports, the updated platform, helped in making operational and policy decisions for a timely and effective COVID-19 response.
