Financial Partners Research Articles

Towards Poverty Reduction and Sustainability in West African Countries: Role of Entrepreneurial Empowerment

Poverty reduction in Africa is one of the main issues African governments and their financial partners face. Over the years, billions of U.S. funds have been invested to aid African countries in fighting pervasive Poverty. Despite efforts to implement changes and promote growth initiatives, it is obvious that expected outcomes have not been met yet. This study examined the Impact of Entrepreneurial Empowerment on Poverty Reduction and Sustainability in West African Countries with empirical evidence from the Tony Elumelu Foundation. The study's purpose is to assess how the TEF Entrepreneurship Program contributes to poverty reduction in West African countries and adopts an ex-post research design from the TEF financial report expenses on entrepreneurship programs in West African countries. The study finds that TEF entrepreneurship programs contribute to poverty reduction in West African countries by just 28% which is quite impressive. These findings also highlight the significant growing expenses. In developing West African nations, the value of generous organizations that help facilitate the success of those businesses contributes to progress toward the global SDGs through the trend. The study therefore recommends that the analyses should provide strong evidence and validation that these TEF Program pillars are critical for entrepreneurial success and should therefore be retained and continue to be mandatory pillars of the poverty reduction Program.

Navigating vaccine procurement and financing challenges in Cameroon: Insights and recommendations from a mixed-methods study (2015–2020)

ObjectivesVaccine stockouts at the national level has been recognized as a critical challenge in ensuring sustained and equitable immunization coverage. These stockouts often arise from inherent issues within countries, including delays in government funding, suboptimal forecasting and stock management practices, and inefficiencies in the procurement process amongst others. Understanding the complexities and barriers within vaccine procurement and financing systems is crucial for developing effective strategies to enhance vaccine availability and strengthen immunization programs. This is particularly relevant in the context of reaching zero dose children and transitioning from Gavi. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the vaccine procurement and financing landscape in Cameroon from 2015 to 2020. Study designThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study. MethodsEmploying a mixed-methods approach, we conducted a desk review of pertinent documents and engaged in in-depth interviews with key stakeholders involved in the procurement and funding mobilization processes. Through data collection and analysis using Microsoft Excel 365 and Dedoose software, we delineated the intricacies of the procurement process and pinpointed specific barriers that have contributed to vaccine stockouts. ResultsThe mapping of vaccine procurement processes revealed complexity, protracted timelines, and the involvement of multiple stakeholders. The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) faced a USD 4 million funding deficit for vaccine procurement between 2016 and 2019. Consequently, the program experienced delays in acquiring 20 million vaccine doses, leading to 41 months of stockout for at least one antigen. Major bottlenecks identified by key stakeholders in vaccine procurement and financing encompassed delayed fund mobilization, inefficient and lengthy processes for fund mobilization and disbursement, poor data utilization, and discrepancies between forecasted, allocated, and mobilized funds. ConclusionThe findings of this research hold significant implications for many EPIs. By elucidating procurement and financing challenges, we can formulate evidence-based recommendations aimed at optimizing resource allocation, streamlining procurement processes, and bolstering vaccine availability. These insights are essential for fostering collaboration between government agencies, technical partners, and financial partners to achieve sustainable vaccine access in Cameroon. Establishing a joint procurement working group could streamline processes, potentially reducing stockouts and improving vaccine coverage.

Optimizing Available Resources to Revitalize the Tourism Economy of the Rural Commune of Iarintsena

This article is the product of in-depth research and strategies to mobilize and empower local stakeholders and tries to suggest some approaches, as well. Two methodologies are taken into account: The positive normative and SWOT analysis (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat). The latter enables us to present and identify the tourism development potential and issues. In 2021, Madagascar generated around 111.00 million US dollars, corresponds to 0.73 percent of its GDP in the tourism sector alone. Driven by favorable base effects, growth expected to accelerate to an average of 4.6% over 2024-26. Nowadays, tourism can offer high opportunities for cultural exchange between visitors and local communities. The research results from the project simulation works were used to draw up a budget for tourism activities. The rural commune of IARINTSENA, located in the south-eastern part of the Haute Matsiatra region and a few kilometers from the Ambalavao district, has tourism assets that appear to be weakened by innumerable constraints. The design of the commune's development strategies should take into account the realities and aspirations of the local population. Highlighting the commune's specific tourist attractions should encourage technical and financial partners to invest in the tourism development project. It’s important to put the touristic specificity of IARINTSENA in evidence in order to incite the technical and financial partners.

Pengembangan Mitra Keuangan Dan Kopersi Pada Masyarakat Negeri Suli Kecamatan Salahutu Kabupaten Maluku Tengah

KKN (Real Work Lecture) is a community service activity program carried out by students with a cross-scientific and sectoral approach at certain times and regions in Indonesia. Suli is one of the states in Salahutu District, Central Maluku Regency, Maluku Province. KKN students who have been placed in this location must mingle, adapt to the community and are required to create work programs obtained from observations in the community. The results of observations obtained in Suli are problems that must be turned into work programs to be carried out as KKN students. The work program which is the flagship program is Socialization of Financial Partners and Cooperatives (Empowerment of High School Children in Financial Education and Introduction to Cooperatives). Writing articles using the Socialization and TPA (Primary Knowledge Test) methods

Current status of digital health interventions in the health system in Burkina Faso

BackgroundDigital health is being used as an accelerator to improve the traditional healthcare system, aiding countries in achieving their sustainable development goals. Burkina Faso aims to harmonize its digital health interventions to guide its digital health strategy for the coming years. The current assessment represents upstream work to steer the development of this strategic plan.MethodsThis was a quantitative, descriptive study conducted between September 2022 and April 2023. It involved a two-part survey: a self-administered questionnaire distributed to healthcare information managers in facilities, and direct interviews conducted with software developers. This was complemented by a documentary review of the country’s strategic and standards documents on digital transformation.ResultsBurkina Faso possesses a relatively comprehensive collection of governance documents pertaining to digital transformation. The study identified a total of 35 digital health interventions. Analysis showed that 89% of funding originated from technical and financial partners as well as the private sector. While the use of open-source technologies for the development of the applications, software, or platforms used to implement these digital health interventions is well established (77%), there remains a deficiency in the integration of data from different platforms. Furthermore, the classification of digital health interventions revealed an uneven distribution between the different elements across domains: the health system, the classification of digital health interventions (DHI), and the subsystems of the National Health Information System (NHIS). Most digital health intervention projects are still in the pilot phase (66%), with isolated electronic patient record initiatives remaining incomplete. Within the public sector, these records typically take the form of electronic registers or isolated specialty records in a hospital. Within the private sector, tool implementation varies based on expressed needs. Challenges persist in adhering to interoperability norms and standards during tool design, with minimal utilization of the data generated by the implemented tools.ConclusionThis study provides an insightful overview of the digital health environment in Burkina Faso and highlights significant challenges regarding intervention strategies. The findings serve as a foundational resource for developing the digital health strategic plan. By addressing the identified shortcomings, this plan will provide a framework for guiding future digital health initiatives effectively.

Financial Literacy Assistance in Banking Products (BPRS Mitra Harmoni) to Primary School Students in Increasing Financial Awareness from an Early Time (Study at Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Malang)

The importance of managing finances from an early age aims to ensure that people can manage their finances personally and become financially free. Financial institutions or schools need to take important steps to participate in providing literacy to students from the elementary school level up. The activity method consists of the Activity Planning stage, implementation stage, and closing or observation stage. The results of the literacy activities are: first, providing PowerPoint material. The material contains material that explains various financial institutions and their benefits for our lives in the future. Second, watch a video together, an animated video that contains how to carry out financial transactions at financial institutions correctly, the benefits and goodness that can be obtained when someone diligently saves and puts their money in an official financial institution, the convenience of saving facilities without having to come to a BPRS financial institution Harmony Partners. Third, distribution of financial institution literacy media in the form of brochures and registration forms. Fourth, practice saving. Students practice saving by filling in the account opening registration form as the first step that must be taken. Then the students deposit money as an initial deposit of IDR 10,000.00 to the officer in the cash car. Closing Activities or Evaluation from MI Wahid Hasyim School there are 103 customers and MI NU Sumberpasir School there are 123 customers.

EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION IN ENGLISH

The article discusses the main strategies for improving scientific communication in English. It has been determined that the process of obtaining a university education includes educational and research components. The educational component includes the formation of English-language academic competence, the research component requires mastery of a scientific style of speech, since the essence of scientific communication in English is the exchange of information between a group of people united by common ideas and interests. In addition, it has been determined that effective formation of scientific communication in English for students is possible if a systematic approach to learning a foreign language is implemented. Formal (scientific publications and dissertation defenses) and informal communication in a virtual environment (conversations of scientists, speeches at conferences, electronic correspondence, other forms of computer communication) have been considered. Various aspects of scientific communication have been analyzed. It has been found that effective scientific communication requires an understanding of the audience (interacting with different groups, such as scientists, students, the public, politicians and financial partners, requires adapting the communication approach to their unique interests, technical level and perception of information), creating active interaction (creating forums for discussion where scientists and the audience can exchange ideas, questions and answers), using simple and understandable speech (avoiding complex terms and technical vocabulary, using analogies, definitions), using visual aids (interactive presentations, videos, graphics), use of modern technologies (social networks Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, websites and multimedia tools). Based on the analysis, the conclusions have been drawn that effective scientific communication is possible if the right strategies and tools are used. We see the study of scientific communication as a component of scientific and pedagogical activity as a perspective for further exploration.

Emergence of Cardiovascular Diseases and Inclusive Organization of Care in the Health District of Biyem-Assi, Yaounde Cameroon

Healthcare financing is one of the major challenges that faces the emergence of non-communicable diseases. This study describes and analyzes the inclusive organization of cardiovascular disease care in Biyem-Assi Health District. From December 2022 to February 2023, we conducted a qualitative study in the Biyem-Assi Health District. Medical anthropology research techniques were used to collect data through interview guides. The sample consisted of patients admitted and followed during the study period. The epidemiological variables studied included age, sex, diagnosis, length of hospital stay, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, knowledge, and modalities of cardiovascular disease (CVD) management, as well as practices aimed at eradicating this scourge. Cardiovascular disease mortality is currently the highest. It affects a young population, so diagnosis is often made late. Very few international technical and financial partners have a real strategy to support prevention and management programs for non-communicable diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases. Faced with the growing incidence of cardiovascular diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, mainly in Cameroon, it is urgent to develop a response or rethink a new organization of cardiovascular disease care, involving and mobilizing numerous technical and financial partners, public authorities, and directly concerned healthcare professionals.

Evolution of Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices According to Continuous Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS-C) from 2010-2011 to 2019 and Associated Factors in Senegal

Introduction: The first two years of a child's life are particularly important. Inadequate breastfeeding practices during this period considerably compromise the health, development and survival of infants, children and mothers. Several studies have assessed the impact of breastfeeding on infant mortality. The objectives of our study were to investigate changes in exclusive breastfeeding practices during the first six months of life according to DHS data from 2010-2011 to 2019 and to identify the various associated factors. Methodology: This is a quantitative analysis of secondary data based on cross-sectional data from the DHS from 2010-2011 to 2019 on changes in exclusive breastfeeding practices for infants under six months of age. Our study focused on women aged 15 to 49 years interviewed during the DHS and residing in Senegal at the time of the various surveys who had children under two years of age. Data were collected on exclusive breastfeeding rates in different years, the socio-demographic and gyneco-obstetric characteristics of mothers, and the characteristics of newborn children. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding. Results: showed that exclusive breastfeeding rates remained below 50% from 2010-11 to 2019. Analysis by region showed a disparity between the different regions. The associated factors were: ethnic group: Wolof are less likely to practice EBF with an adjusted AOR of 0.59 with a CI<sub>95</sub>: [0.38, 0. 90], maternal literacy: mothers who could not read were less likely to perform EBF with an adjusted AOR of 0.71 and a CI<sub>95</sub>: [0.53-095], birth order: mothers with 6 or more children were more likely to perform EBF, with an AOR of 3.20 and a CI<sub>95</sub>: [1.68-6.17], maternal occupation: Working mothers were less likely to practice EBF than non-working mothers, with an AOR of 0.60 and a CI<sub>95</sub> [0.46-0.79], access to the media: Mothers with access to the media were less likely to practice assisted fertilization, with an AOR of 0.57 and a CI<sub>95</sub>: [0.37-0.90] and use of modern contraception: Mothers using modern contraception were less likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding, with an AOR of 0.53 and a CI<sub>95</sub>: [0.38-0.72]. Conclusion: Despite all the efforts made by the Senegalese government and its technical and financial partners, rates are still low. To strengthen the practice of exclusive breastfeeding, it is important and urgent to design and implement innovative evidence-based interventions covering the different levels of the socio-ecological model (individuals, families, communities and public policies).

Strategies to Improve the Sales Performance of Car Loan Products in Bank Shinhan Indonesia

In internal Bank Shinhan, My Car Loan is one of their top consumer products. However, when compared to other car financing competitors, Bank Shinhan was far behind in terms of sales performance. Hyundai Motors Indonesia has four official financial partners to support its car purchasing, namely: Maybank Finance, Mandiri Tunas Finance, Sunindo KB Finance, and Bank Shinhan. The company is the only bank-based financial partner, while the three others were multi-finance companies that specialized in car financing. Moreover, two of them, Mandiri Tunas Finance and Maybank were already well-known players in the car financing industry. Meanwhile, Bank Shinhan is a new player with low brand awareness among the public. In this research, the data collection methods were interviews and questionnaires. As for the research method, for the questionnaire data, the author used the NPS (Net Promoter Score) method and reliability test. As for the interview data, the author used the TA (thematic analysis) method. With this research, the author aimed to get insights to propose new strategies.

Determinants of Rural Women's Participation in Agricultural Cooperatives in Burundi: The Case of the TWITEZIMBERE and REKATUJANE Rice Cooperatives in the GIHANGA Commune

This article shows the driving factors of rural women's participation in the TWITEZIMBERE and REKATUJANE rice cooperatives in the GIHANGA commune. These factors are related to the preservation of traditional culture in Burundi in general and in rural areas in particular, where women are in the majority. To achieve this, the research methodology used is both qualitative (individual interviews and documentary research) and quantitative (questionnaire administered to respondents). The results of this research show that traditional culture has forced rural women to stay at home to care for children and perform various household chores. This situation of isolation leads to a lack of information about the benefits of rice-growing cooperatives and the value they can bring to their members. It is also observed that rural women lack the will to adopt the new rice farming practices in Cooperatives. This situation of lack of will to adopt new behavior has hindered the massive participation of rural women in rice cooperatives. Finally, the article emphasizes that the illiteracy of these rural women and the lack of external technical and financial support are considered other important factors that constituted the barriers to their massive participation in rice cooperatives. To deal with this series of problems, the researcher has discovered strategies that can encourage rural women to participate massively in rice cooperatives, in particular, to become members of rice cooperatives that help their members to make them known and receive external technical and financial support, for example, incentives from the government. For this, the Government must therefore help them by providing multifaceted support including local and foreign technical and financial partners. Similarly, cooperative leaders might seek out various donors for their agricultural cooperative associations.

Public Financing of Health and Accessibility to Household Care in Kinshasa

This paper looks at public financinghealth and accessibility of health care for Kinshasa households in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Low funding for the health sector as well as household income levels hamper access to appropriate health care given the high costs. This results in an essential intervention by public authorities and their external technical and financial partners in the health sector in order to guarantee health coverage for vulnerable households against ruinous expenses. He draws upat the same time an inventory of public finances in the health sector in the DRC using a theoretical approach. And yearanalysis by aLogit model the level of accessibility to health care. This analysis is carried out by postulating the constancy of the socio-economic environment “all other things being equal”. It results from our analysis that public financing does not significantly impact household access to quality health care in Kinshasa, given that the majority of our respondents believe that the State must increase financial resources for health, the chi-square is 0.007. Thus we affirm our hypotheses

Impact of School Massification on the Professional Commitment of Teachers of Public Primary Schools in Kara, Togo

In its efforts to provide a constant response to the various international education meetings and the requirements of Technical and Financial partners, Togo has adopted new educational policies. Preschool and primary education have now been free since 2008. This free education leads to school massification which influences the professional commitment of teachers. This article starts from the postulate according to which school massification negatively influences the professional commitment of teachers. The aim is therefore to analyze the influence of school massification on the social commitment of teachers in public primary schools in the town of Kara. To do this, a survey was carried out among 129 teachers chosen at random from 11 schools in the city. The research combines quantitative and qualitative methods. The results show that the sample is predominantly male (59%), the average age is 35 years old. The population surveyed (n=129) is mainly a BAC II graduate (n=61) and young (n=73). Teachers believe that free primary school is a source of their unease. Their professional disengagement, which is a consequence of school massification, emanates from this new policy. On the one hand, it creates insufficient infrastructure and a lack of teachers and on the other hand, it has a negative impact on the quality of academic performance.

Integrating health intervention into existing program structure of the neglected tropical diseases: lessons learned from Yobe and Ebonyi states.

Nigeria has a national policy on neglected tropical diseases (NTD) which is coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Health and integrated into the health system at all government levels. A network of grassroots mobilizers, named community drug distributors (CDDs), deliver NTD drugs and commodities to rural and hard-to-reach communities throughout Nigeria. Interviews with state and local government coordinators of Nigerian NTD programs and focus group discussions with CDDs in Yobe and Ebonyi states were conducted to understand the working modalities of NTD programs in Nigeria to identify the potential of leveraging the NTD structure for additional health interventions such as COVID-19 vaccine rollouts. Collected data was coded and managed on NVivo version 12 using content analysis. The study found that the NTD committee had the following: a structured planning and coordination process, a community mobilization approach for the effective delivery of routine Mass Administration of Medication (MAM) activities. Challenges encountered included little or no incentives for the CDDs, insecurity, transportation and logistics, and lack of equipment and drug commodities. Nigerian NTD health structures have a wide reach, with a presence in all states and local government areas (LGAs), and this has previously been leveraged to deliver commodities and interventions to rural and hard-to-reach communities for non-NTD health programs and could thus be used similarly for COVID-19 vaccination programs. The enablers of integrating health interventions into the NTD structure are increased availability of finances and manpower, while lack of financial incentives and partners' buy-in were identified as possible. challenges. The study suggests that integrating COVID-19 interventions into the NTD program in Nigeria would be a significant accomplishment, as the existing structure can support future interventions. The study also highlights the efficiency of the NTD program's modalities and processes, indicating that an organized structural system for public health interventions can. increase the services of existing interventions while allowing for the integration of future interventions.

Development Types Of The Good & Halal Food Industry In Indonesia

This research to determines the type of development of the halal food industry in Indonesia. The growth of the halal industry with the lifestyle of the Indonesian people needs improvement and control from the perspective of Islamic financial institutions and partners of the Halal Product Guarantee Agency known as Halal Product Companion. The research method used is a qualitative descriptive method with an overview of the literature. Based on the results of the analysis, it can be interpreted that the development of the halal food industry can be increased through development in the fields of agro-industry, halal logistics, halal lifestyle Islamic boarding schools, exports through MEA, halal food e-commerce, halal organic and halal finance from Islamic banking. The role of Islamic banking includes providing financial services in terms of controlling halal products, playing a role in supervising companies providing halal logistics services, and playing a role in the literacy of halal products to the public. PPH is tasked with verifying and validating the halal process of business actors' products. With the integration of all parties involved, the halal food industry in Indonesia has better prospects in the future.

Market analysis of added-value chain products and employability of young people in North Benin

The challenge of young people employability in Africa and particularly in Benin continues to rise with acuity. The majority of young people are affected by underemployment, or are without decent jobs. This is the reason why the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) implemented the Youth Employment project for the Improvement of Food Security in northern Benin (EJASA). This study aimed to analyze the added-value chains (AVC) from different agricultural sectors in order to assess their ability to ensuring the employability or professional integration of young people. This study analyzed six (06) added-value chains divided into three (03) sectors as follows: AVCs from market gardening sector (tomato fruit and fresh chilli pepper), AVCs from soybean sector (soybean grain and soybean cheese) and AVCs from the poultry sector (local chicken and guinea fowl). The results obtained showed that the overall demand of the selected AVC products was generally satisfied only at the level of 10 to 40% in the targeted municipalities, which suggests opportunities for positioning and entrepreneurship for young people. All the AVCs analyzed are profitable with the best rates of return (RNE/CT ratios) recorded for the AVC of guinea fowl (4.7), chilli pepper (1.6), tomato (1.1) and soybean grain (0.9), while the best wealth creation rates (VA/CI) observed for AVC guinea fowl (6.2), chilli pepper (4.5), tomato fruit (2.4) and soybean grain (1.6). The strong demand for AVC products, the existence of sales markets for all AVCs, the permanent support from technical and financial partners, and support structures for access to financing are all opportunities available to young people to ensure their employability and improve their income. The access to a well-paid job in one of the AVCs will help young people to improve their income and consequently to fight poverty and improve their food and nutrition security situation. Key words: Food value chains, youth employment, Improved income, Food security, Nutrition

Christians Economic Growth Resulted from Integrating Churches’ Entrepreneurship Education to Their Livelihood Status, a Case of Iringa Municipality

This study investigated the contribution of Entrepreneurship Education (EE) by church services to the economic wellbeing of Christians in Iringa Municipality. This study used a case study design as the framework for data collection and analysis, where Semi-structured questionnaire and Key Informant Interviews were used to collect information from the involved Christians who engaged in entrepreneurial activities and accessed entrepreneurship education in a list of four churches including respondents from ELCT-DIRA (60), Catholic Church (10), Seventh Day Adventist Church (10) and Pentecostal Churches (10), the study selected three respondents. Apart from the Christian entrepreneurs, the study involved four (4) church leaders; one from each church and three (3) respondents where officials from the Business Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA). Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and Iringa Municipality. The study employed a mixed method research approach whereby both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. The statistical and thematic analysis was used to analyse quantitative and qualitative information collected from the respondents. From the study findings, it is concluded that Christians’ entrepreneurship projects contribute to their economic growth. It is vividly true that entrepreneurship contributes positively to economic growth, hence it is highly recommended that churches should put emphasis on spiritual growth as well as economic growth and the recommendation is Christian entrepreneurs should think of some ways to integrate their church services with entrepreneurship education, provide a supportive environment, useful network for entrepreneurship and to offer access to resources and opportunities such as financial assistance, training programs, market information, suppliers, customers, and partners.

Health Financing and Household Financial Protection in D.R. Congo: A Vector Autoregressive Model (VaR) Analysis

This paper examines the health-related expenditures of economic agents in the Democratic Republic of Congo (households, government and its external technical and financial partners). Given health care high costs of health care in the DRC, access to appropriate health care is hindered due to low income. As a result, government and its external technical and financial partners indispensably step in to ensure that vulnerable households are protected from ruinous expenses. 
 At the same time, the paper provides an overview of public finances in the DRC health sector using a theoretical approach and analyzes government intervention effects and their external technical and financial partners intervention effects using a vector autoregressive model (VaR) through random shock simulations and variance decomposition. This analysis is carried out assuming that socioeconomic environment is constant "all things being equal".
 The result is that household health-related expenditure per capita forecasts can be significantly improved at 0.05 threshold by public health-related expenditure per capita and by health-related expenditure per capita forecasts engaged by external technical and financial partners.

How does explicit knowledge inform policy shaping? The case of Burkina Faso's national social protection policy.

In 2009, Burkina Faso embarked on a process leading to the development of a national social protection policy (politique nationale de protection sociale-PNPS) in 2012. The objective of this study was to analyze the circumstances under which explicit knowledge was used to inform the process of emergence and formulation PNPS. The term explicit knowledge excludes tacit and experiential knowledge, taking into account research data, grey literature, and monitoring data. Court and Young's conceptual framework was adapted by integrating concepts from political science, such as Kingdon's Multiple Streams framework. Discursive and documentary data were collected from 30 respondents from national and international institutions. Thematic analysis guided the data processing. Results showed that use of peer-reviewed academic research was not explicitly mentioned by respondents, in contrast to other types of knowledge, such as national statistical data, reports on government program evaluations, and reports on studies by international institutions and NGOs, also called technical and financial partners (TFPs). The emergence phase was more informed by grey literature and monitoring data. In this phase, national actors deepened and increased their knowledge (conceptual use) on the importance and challenges of social protection. The role of explicit knowledge in the formulation phase was nuanced. The actors' thinking was little guided by the question of whether the solutions had the capacity to solve the problem in the Burkina Faso context. Choices were based very little on analysis of strategies (effectiveness, equity, unintended effects) and their applicability (cost, acceptability, feasibility). This way of working was due in part to actors' limited knowledge on social protection and the lack of government guidance on strategic choices. Strategic use was clearly identified. It involved citing knowledge (reports on studies conducted by TFPs) to justify the utility and feasibility of a PNPS. Instrumental use consisted of drawing from workshop presentations and study reports when writing sections of the PNPS. The consideration of a recommendation based on explicit knowledge was influenced by perceived political gains, i.e., potential social and political consequences.

Development of Monitoring and Evaluation Systems in Four National Programs Addressing Mother and Child Health in Cote d'Ivoire: Qualitative Analysis of the Emergence and Formulation Process.

Monitoring and evaluation were introduced into the management of national health programs to ensure that results were attained, and that donors' funds were used transparently. This study aims to describe the process of the emergence and formulation of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems in national programs addressing maternal and child health in Cote d'Ivoire. We conducted a multilevel case study combining a qualitative investigation and a literature review. This study took place in the city of Abidjan, where in-depth interviews were conducted with twenty-four (24) former officials who served at the central level of the health system and with six (06) employees from the technical and financial partners' agencies. A total of 31 interviews were conducted from January 10 to April 20, 2020. Data analysis was conducted according to the Kingdon conceptual framework modified by Lemieux and adapted by Ridde. The introduction of M&E in national health programs was due to the will of the technical and financial partners and the political and technical decision-makers at the central level of the national health system, who were concerned with accountability and convincing results in these programs. However, its formulation through a top-down approach was sketchy and lacked content to guide its implementation and future evaluation in the absence of national expertise in M&E. The emergence of M&E systems in national health programs was originally endogenous and exogenous but strongly recommended by donors. Its formulation in the context of limited national expertise was marked by the absence of standards and guidelines that could codify the development of robust M&E systems.