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Kinshasa School of Public Health

Institutional Strengthening of the Kinshasa School of Public Health

Health Systems 20/20 is implementing a three-year activity aimed at strengthening the Kinshasa School of Public Health (KSPH). KSPH operates under the umbrella of the Faculty of Medicine within the University of Kinshasa. KSPH currently offers a regular one-year MPH program and a thirteen-month Masters in Health Economics. KSPH received assistance from USAID through Tulane University from its inception in 1985 to 2005, except for a hiatus from 1991-98 due to the political and security environment.

In September 2008, USAID/DRC requested Health Systems 20/20 to provide institutional strengthening assistance to KSPH and to support a scholarship program for MPH and PhD students. To identify the institutional strengthening needs of KSPH, Health Systems 20/20 conducted a rapid assessment in October 2008 consisting of interviews with faculty, students, and key stakeholders, and a review of documents. Based on the findings of the assessment, Health Systems 20/20 designed a three-year program of assistance. The institutional strengthening component identified seven activities, the first four of which were initiated in 2009.

• Development of the leadership team in KSHP that will be able to guide the institutional improvement process.
• Development and implementation of a plan to improve the information technology capacity of KSPH.
• Strengthening of KSPH’s financial management system. This includes implementation of the recommendations from a financial management assessment conducted in 2009 by a Congolese audit firm.
• Development and implementation of a resource mobilization plan aimed at increasing the research, consulting, and training activities of KSPH.
• Development and implementation of a workforce development plan for both the faculty and finance and administration function.
• Review of the current MPH academic programs offered by KSPH and make recommendations for improvement.
• Make some needed investments in KSPH, especially in the area of information technology.

After the first year of this activity, the KSPH Management Committee is functioning more effectively as a leadership team and guiding the organizational change process, the financial management needs have been identified, concrete improvements have been made in the area of information technology, and a draft resource mobilization plan has been developed and the capacity to implement it improved.

In addition to the institutional strengthening component, seventeen MPH students were supported financially as well as four doctoral students in 2009. Twenty-five MPH students will be supported in 2010. One of the doctoral students has completed her degree and has joined the faculty as a full-time professor, and the others are expected to complete their degrees in early to mid-2010 and join KSPH faculty. These four new faculty members plus three from Belgian universities will form the core of the next generation of KSPH faculty.