The EU-Luxembourg-WHO Universal health coverage Partnership, which is a collaborative arrangement between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU) and Luxembourg; is supporting selected countries within AFR to strengthen policy dialogue on national health policies, strategies and plans (NHPSP) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).  Thirteen countries in AFR are benefiting from this partnership eight of which, also benefit from additional technical assistance in the form of a health system expert.  The recruitment and deployment of HSS experts was completed but, they are yet to be fully oriented on their roles, responsibilities and what is expected of them.  In addition, the experiences from the Ebola outbreak and other disasters like the case of South Sudan bring in unanticipated dimensions in the health policy dialogue.  Furthermore, issues have emerged calling for operational clarity for examples, how the experts work alongside the national professional officers.

Following the recruitment of HSS experts under the EU Lux WHO partnership on UHC in the full mode countries; AFR seeks to organise an orientation meeting.

Objective:

The main objective of this orientation meeting is to orient the newly recruited HSS experts on what is expected of them.

Specific objectives:

1. Orient the newly recruited HSS experts on their roles and responsibilities and what is expected of them
2. Discuss broader HSS issues in the AFR region
3. Share lessons learnt
4. Discuss operational issues in reference to the programme and broader WCO work
5. Plan for in country missions
6. Discuss the future of the policy dialogue program