How can global health partnerships contribute to female empowerment and leadership development?

1. HOW CAN GLOBAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIPS
CONTRIBUTE TO FEMALE EMPOWERMENT AND
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT?
October 2017
Danielle Jayes

2. © Arcadis 2015
Introduction
THET Annual Conference 2017
• Birmingham Children’s Hospital (BCH) partnership with the
Paediatric department of the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital
(QECH), Malawi
• Gender equality in Malawi
• Leadership programme
• Results and sustainability
• Reflections and learning
• What next?
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3. © Arcadis 2015
Birmingham Children’s Hospital
Malawi Partnership
THET Annual Conference 2017
• BCH Malawi Partnership since 2004
• Facilitate knowledge and skills sharing
through exchange placements and
specialty courses
• 100 healthcare exchange placements
since 2004
“We do not have as
much equipment, but
the exchanges mean
we learn new skills
and they provide us
with the ability to use
what we have”
Sister, Malawi
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4. © Arcadis 2015
Gender Equality in Malawi
THET Annual Conference 2017
• 173 out of 188 on UN Gender Inequality Index - inequality
shaped by poverty and discriminatory treatment in family
and public life
• Women generally fare worse than their male counterparts on
all social and economic indicators
• Women in Malawi are disproportionately affected by
HIV/AIDS
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Gender and Leadership in Malawi
THET Annual Conference 2017
• Limited literature in non-western context - challenges include
culture, stereotypes and education
• Empowerment = agency to make
decisions and act accordingly
Women over-represented in
senior leadership roles in the
QECH Paediatric Department
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“Young leaders need
opportunities to grow and
environments that
encourage the
development of leadership
skills”
Joyce Banda

6. © Arcadis 2015
The PAS & Leadership Training
THET Annual Conference 2017
Paediatric Assessment Skills
• History taking
• Basic examination skills
• Clinical decision making
Leadership Development
• Effective team working
• Leadership and communication skills
• Motivation for improvement
• Teaching and learning theory
• Facilitation skills .
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Evaluation and Primary Outcomes
THET Annual Conference 2017
Evaluated through post course questionnaires designed to rate
increase in knowledge and confidence
• Increased confidence in teamwork, facilitation skills, developing
leadership and teaching and learning theory
• 3 additional courses delivered by Malawian nursing staff
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It will help me to be
more considerate
when implementing
effective change
I have gained
knowledge and now
know that teamwork
is power for
improvement

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Sustainability
THET Annual Conference 2017
• Role modelling system to
embed leadership
principles and skills in
everyday life
• Highly valued by
Malawian nurses
• Organisational support is
crucial to long term
success of leadership
programmes
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Reflections and Learning
THET Annual Conference 2017
‘Mad, Sad and Glad’
Barriers to empowerment could
include:
• Lack of supervision
• Lack of recognition
BCH Leadership
• Leadership programmes and
exchange placements mutually
beneficial to leadership development
Ability versus Confidence
• Inability to act without permission of
a doctor
• Increased confidence following
placements at BCH
Local Context
• Working in a context where female
leadership is already valued
contributes to the success of
leadership programmes
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10. What Next??
• What leadership qualities are valued at a local level?
Important to deliver courses in this context
• Ongoing support is essential and should be explored
further
• Organisational structures for leadership positions should
be considered beforehand
Global Health Partnerships can contribute to female
empowerment and leadership development through
bespoke courses and ongoing support

11. © Arcadis 2015
Thank You
THET Annual Conference 2017
• Nursing staff and senior
colleagues in Malawi
• Heather Steele -
Education Lead, BCH
• All of the staff who
contribute to the BCH
Malawi Partnership in
Birmingham
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12. References
African Health Observatory (2015) Analytical Summary. [Online] Available at:
http://www.aho.afro.who.int/profiles_information/index.php/Malawi:Analytical_summary_-
_Health_Status_and_Trends
Amayah, A & Haque , MD (2017) Experiences and Challenges of Women Leaders in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Africa Journal of Management, 3(1).
Kamlongera A.P (2008) 'Malawian women's participation in State politics: what are the constraints?'
Gender and Development, 16(3), pp.471 - 480, UK.
Nkomo, S & Ngambi, H (2009) African Women in Leadership: Current knowledge and a framework for
future studies, International Journal od African Renaissance Studies, 4(1), pp. 49-68
O’Neil. Et al (2016) Women and Power: Representation and influence in Malawi’s Parliament . Overseas
Development Institute. London.
Seo, G. et al. (2017) Closing the Gender Gap in Global Health Leadership and Why it Matters. Annals of
Global Health, 3(1) , pp. 203 - 204
UNICEF (2015) UNICEF Data: Monitoring the situation of children and women. [Online] Available at:
https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-survival/under-five-mortality/