Technical Cooperation Projects

Official Signing Ceremony for Project's "Record of Discussion"

Project Background:
In the Pacific islands states, while traditional infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and diarrhea are still considered to be the main health concerns, there are increasing cases of non-communicable diseases as a result of social and economic development.

Due to substandard level of remuneration and poor working conditions, there has been a high level turnover of health personnel in remote areas of the islands. In particular the increase shortage of doctors has increased the responsibilities of the nurses in areas such as management and administration duties as well as facility management.

Most of the nurses have very few opportunities to learn practical skills and knowledge necessary to realistically deal with the community health issues.

In response to such situations JICA conducted a project in Fiji "Project for In-Service Training of Community Health Nurses in Fiji" (2004-2008). This project tested a training model that was generated in the central and the eastern parts of Fiji and the activities are successfully maintained as of now. Nevertheless, the evidence of the usefulness of this model is yet to be identified, which will be necessary if the model is to be used in a national scale. Consequently, the model has not been incorporated at the national policy level, and the project outcomes have not been standardized sufficiently.

After a request from the Government of Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu to the Government of Japan for a technical cooperation project on leadership development of Community Health Nurses, JICA conducted a project formulation research in November and December 2008 in these three countries.

Based on the research, it showed a need for a leadership development program and thus the "Record of Discussion" for the "Project for Strengthening the Needs-Based IN-Service Training for Community Health Nurses in the Pacific Islands" was signed in May 2010 between JICA and three governments.

Project Period:
October 2010 till September 2013

Project Budget (Estimated):
US$5 million (FJ $9.4 million approximately)

Target Area:
Nationwide for all three countries (Central, Eastern, Western and Northern)

Target Group:
All sub-divisional Health Sister and All community Health Nurses.

Overall Goal of the Project:
Quality of Community Health Services improves in all three Countries (Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu)

Project Purpose:
The mechanism of Need-Based In-Service Training is strengthened.

Expected Outputs;

1. The Need-Based In-Service Training takes effect.
   Indicators:
   a.) The Need-Based In-Service Training Policy is published and disseminated at all levels.
2. A nationally standardized Monitoring and Evaluation System for the Need-Based In-Service Training is operated.
   Indicators:
   a.) The proportion of monitoring and evaluation report timely submitted from sub-divisional/ divisional to divisional/national levels.
3. A mid-level nursing management training course is conducted.
   Indictors:
   a.) The number of trained mid level nursing managers.
4. All types of In-Service Training for Community Health Nurses are adequately coordinated at divisional level.
   Indictors:
   a.) The proportion of realized Need-Based In-Service Training
5. The progress and results of the Project are among and beyond Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu.
   Indictors:
   b.) The number of audio and/ or visual conferences
   c.) The number of presentations at international conferences