Table 1 Domain-wise recommendations emerging from the rapid programme review
From: Adolescent health programming in India: a rapid review
| Domain | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Governance | • Develop a recruitment and retention strategy to ensure that all crucial vacancies are filled. • If pre-existing personnel are to be asked to take on RKSK-related responsibilities, ensure that they have both the space in their agendas and the competencies to do so. • Allow flexibility between budget lines, allowing implementers to reallocate funding on a more responsive basis. • Ensure procurement processes allow for the timely and adequate supply of all commodities, including sanitary pads. • Align activities so that they are synergistic (i.e. trainings and disbursement). |
| Implementation | a. AFHCs: • Introduce training for medical officers on adolescent health and their role in the implementation of RKSK to ensure their buy-in and ownership of the programme. • Ensure follow up with training, retraining, provision of desk reference tools, supportive supervision, and collaborative learning. • Conduct an analysis of the reach of clinical and counselling services to deepen understanding of which adolescents are / are not receiving them b. Counselling: • Ensure follow up training, supportive supervision, and collaborative learning. • Ensure adequate budget is allocated to compensate and to ensure the safety of counsellors for work-related travel. c. AHDs: • Provide further guidance to RKSK districts on the structure of AHDs. • Define the intended outcomes and put in place a monitoring system to measure them. d. Peer education: • Conduct further research on effective IEC materials and consider scaling up best practices. • Provide more support to PEs with training and supportive supervision, and design activities to increase support in their communities from parents and leaders. • Work with PEs to develop more effective recruitment and incentive schemes. • Ensure adequate budget allocation to compensate and to ensure the safety of PEs for work-related travel. e. WIFS: • Work with teachers and principals to determine what support they need and develop a responsive strategy. • Involve community groups to generate support for WIFS. f. MHS: • Revisit the procurement procedures to find out blockages and ensure corrective action. |
| Monitoring | • Extend monitoring beyond administrative indicators to outputs and outcomes. • Build on fledgling efforts to institutionalize mechanisms to utilize data in programme monitoring, evaluation and improvement efforts. • Train nodal officers at all levels on the use of data for quality and programme improvement |
| Linkages | • Develop a formal strategy to build meaningful convergence with other governmental departments and NGOs with clear mechanisms, roles, and responsibilities. Monitor this convergence on an on-going basis, with corrective action. |
| Cross-cutting | • Ensure the participation and inclusion of young people in all elements of RKSK, including governance, implementation and monitoring. |