New publication on scaling up projects and initiatives for better health
This new WHO publication presents useful tools, tips and recommendations to support the public health workforce in the different stages of developing and implementing a scaling-up strategy. Euregion Meuse-Rhine took the lead in creating the publication with support from the Regions for Health Network.
In order to reach more people and broaden the effectiveness of an intervention, public health specialists are often involved in expanding or replicating innovative pilot or small-scale projects.
“The strongest point of this publication is its constructive approach, with examples from five case studies. Real-life scenarios help readers gain insight into the realities and the challenges that the public health workforce can encounter in scaling up processes,” said Piroska Östlin, Director, Division of Policy and Governance for Health and Well-being at the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
This publication:
- provides references to frameworks and examines models for scaling up;
- describes tools from different practical guidelines, including one developed for New South Wales, Australia; and
- presents survey results of 10 WHO Member States with practical experience in scaling up projects.
One definition of scaling up is “deliberate efforts to increase the impact of successfully tested health innovations so as to benefit more people and to foster policy and programme development on a lasting basis” (*).
“In order to achieve this goal, the WHO Regions for Health Network supports its members in their efforts to improve populations’ health and decrease health inequalities,” Brigitte Van Der Zanden, one of the authors, stated. “However, it is not always necessary for these regions to start from scratch. Many RHN members already have successful projects and initiatives which can be of interest for other regions in their own country, as well as in other countries.”
(*) World Health Organization, Department of Reproductive Health and Research – ExpandNet. Nine steps for developing a scaling-up strategy. Geneva:World Health Organization; 2010.
