PPAG Learning Centre Initiative
THE PPAG LEARNING CENTRE INITIATIVE is meant to increase the effectiveness of organizations to deliver SRH health products and services in Africa. It is an integrated body of skills, knowledge and experiences to support health institutions in delivering quality services. It is manned by the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), a leading national sexual and reproductive health organization with a history of almost 50 years.
PPAG is a Member Association (MA) of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).
The PPAG Learning Centre Initiative exists to provide a range of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) training and capacity building services to Member Associations (MA) of IPPF in the Africa Region, and other institutions in Ghana.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
In 2007, the International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region Office (IPPFARO) started a Learning Center Initiative with the objective of empowering stronger IPPF Member Associations (MAs) in the African Region to provide technical assistance to other MAs. The selection of PPAG was based on the Association’s track record as a lead provider of SRH services with the potential capacity to be positioned as a provider of technical assistance in Ghana and to other IPPF MAs.
In 2008, with support from IPPF Africa Regional Office (IPPFARO), PPAG undertook its first major assignment under the Learning Center Initiative concept with the training of 20 Youth Officers from selected MAs and other participants from UNFPA/Botswana. Following this, the operation of the Learning Centre was reviewed and strengthened by IPPFARO through the development of an operational plan with the requisite programmatic focus, management structure and systems. Prior to this, the centre was refurbished and equipped with state of the art equipments.
OUR VISION
To be the first choice technical resource serving the needs of MAs and other health organizations to deliver quality sexual and reproductive health services in the Africa Region.
OUR MISSION
To strengthen the institutional, management and technical capacity of MAs and other SRH and HIV and AIDS organizations through training and technical assistance.
OUR CORE VALUES
The conduct and performance of the Learning Centre is driven by five core values with the acronym CRANE:
1. Commitment: We meet client satisfaction by staying committed to the trust reposed in us to deliver.
2. Reliability: We go the extra mile to demonstrate that we are dependable and reliable in meeting deadlines.
3. Accountability: We inspire honesty and transparency by standing by our obligations and taking responsibility for our actions.
4. Novelty: We work with the consciousness of innovation and creativity to give our clients added value.
5. Efficiency: We deliver with great efficiency and speed to remain the foremost choice of clients.
Incidentally CRANE is a device with a long arm for supporting something. As a CRANE, we are driven by the passion to increase the effectiveness of organizations to deliver SRH health products and services.
OUR FOCUS
Capacity is aptly described as ‘actions that improve effectiveness of organizations’. The Learning Centre focuses on increasing the action areas of institutional, management and technical capacity of Member Associations of IPPF and other health-related organizations to improve their effectiveness in providing quality and sustainable SRH and HIV/AIDS services.
Primarily the PPAG Learning Centre Initiative works at building the capacity of staff and volunteers of IPPF MAs as well as other actors within the sexual and reproductive health fraternity in Ghana to:
1. Gain understanding into the context within which young people’s needs with regard to SRH and Rights are addressed;
2. Gain understanding into the different approaches to SRH youth programming;
3. Understand the basic concepts in gender, rights and sexuality to improve youth programming and service delivery.
4. Acquire knowledge of the essential package of youth-friendly services;
5. To update knowledge and increase skills in the application of a range of strategies, IPPF policies, toolkits and guidelines to assure the quality of youth friendly services;
6. Understand how to promote youth-adult partnerships;
7. Understand how to meet the SRH needs and rights of young people living with HIV;
8. Develop an action plan aimed at integrating gender equity and sexuality using a rights-based approach.
OUR SERVICES
PPAG uses two main approaches to deliver a range of services in support of institutional, management and technical capacity building. These are training and technical assistance.
Training
Courses are tailored to address specific needs of clients. The courses are offered at the Learning Centre. A key feature of the training programme is the development and management of post training action plans which ensures that trainees are successfully followed up to monitor and evaluate their translation of skills acquired and knowledge gained on the job.
The training courses offered includes:
1. Managing Youth Friendly SRHR Programmes (Modular in nature –IPPF and Client Tailored sessions)
2. Civic Engagement and Participation in National Development and Youth-Adult Partnerships
3. Project Management
4. Advocacy and Partnership Development
5. Documentation and Management Information System (MIS)
6. Financial Management and Accountability
7. HIV/AIDS, STI Management
8. Peer Educators training
Technical Assistance
Based on expressed needs PPAG undertakes technical assistance missions to provide hands on technical support in addressing challenges confronting the implementation capacity of IPPF MAs and other organizations in Ghana. The range of services provided under this approach includes:
1. Mentoring and Coaching
2. Monitoring and Evaluation
3. Marketing, Resource Mobilization and Sustainability Planning
4. Management Information Systems (MIS), Financial, Administrative and Human Resource)
5. Strategic Review and Planning
6. Governance and Leadership Development.
7. Partnership development
8. Project management
9. Proposal development
10. CSE, Peer Educator and other technical manuals’ development
OUR TRAINING FACILITY
The Learning Center operates in a serene environment located at Latebiokorshie in Accra. The facility is made up of a training hall with state of the art training equipment, syndicate rooms and offices.
OUR HUMAN RESOURCES
The Learning Centre deploys a mix of PPAG staff, volunteers and consultants with extensive experience in training and capacity building in the technical, programme and managerial aspects of sexual and reproductive health development. The human resources of the Learning Centre have worked with a range of institutions such as USAID, DFID, UNICEF, UNAIDS, UNFPA, JICA, JOICFP, GAC, IPPFARO and Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
There exists a pool of experts who make up the Consortium of Experts who are engaged to undertake various assignments for and on behalf of the Learning Center. These experts deploy their services within the confines of the standards and principles set by the Learning Center Initiative in ensuring effectiveness and consistency in the delivery of its assignments.
OUR MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
The Learning Center Initiative operates as a Unit under PPAG governance structure. As such it forms part of the PPAG’s organogram and is governed by the PPAG council.
The unit is headed by a Manager/Coordinator who is a senior member of staff. The work of the coordinator is overseen by the Executive Director of PPAG.
OUR CLIENTS
Apart from Member Associations (MAs) of IPPF, PPAG serves a range of clients including:
? National and International Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
? Public Institutions
? Faith Based Organizations (FBOs)
? Health Institutions
? Community-based organizations (CBOs)
? Educational Institutions
? Traditional Councils
HOW TO ENGAGE THE LEARNING CENTRE
Training Courses
Interested persons or organizations should contact the Learning Centre at the address below for applications forms and other details.
Technical Assistance
Technical assistance missions are undertaken based on request and a moderately negotiated fee with clients. A scope of work to undertake the mission is required from the requesting institution.
Fees and Funding
PPAG is not profit making. Tuition fee for training courses covers administrative, instructional costs, materials and certificates. In some instance the fees may be used to subsidise SRH services for the poor.
Airfare, accommodation and Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) are the responsibility of the applicant. The centre facilitates the booking of accommodation facilities for course participants.
For technical assistance missions, the requesting organization covers cost of consultancy, airfares, accommodation, and DSA for staff of the Learning Centre assigned.
The Learning Centre does not offer scholarships for its services.
All applicants/organizations are advised to seek financial assistance from donors and agencies within their own countries. In order to reserve a place for our services, applicants must indicate confirmed funding at least four weeks before commencement of the delivery of the service of choice.
Cancellation of Fees/Refund
Individuals and sponsoring organizations that make payments to attend PPAG Learning Centre courses are entitled to refund provided they have properly cancelled their participation by giving 72 hours notice in writing prior to the commencement of the course. All refunds attract a 15% administrative charge.
Meanwhile, a training planned solely for an organization or a group is cancelled in less than five (5) working days prior to the start date, and such cancellation does not allow for another date for the training, PPAG shall require the sponsoring organization to make payments covering all preparatory activity cost and staff time invested into such a training.
Where training is cancelled on the day of the training, the sponsoring organization shall pay to PPAG Learning Center the 10% of the engagement fee.
Contact Address:
The Coordinator
PPAG Learning Center Initiative
59 Nasia Road
Laterbiokoshie
Accra
Email: ppag@africaonline.com.gh
Or
P. O. Box 5756
Accra North
E-mail: iselassie@ppag-gh.org;
Tel: 0302 – 310369
