The Multi-Country Assignment Team (MCAT) - South Africa Hub, covering South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Botswana, held a significant retreat from March 6-8, 2024. This event, hosted in South Africa, aimed to strengthen the coordination and operational modalities of MCATs to deliver strategic high-level technical assistance to these countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) African Region identified the necessity to bolster support for countries in tackling health challenges effectively. This led to a comprehensive examination of operations within the 47 country offices, known as the Functional Review. The review's insights resulted in the establishment of MCATs as part of the Transformation Agenda. These teams, operational since July 2021, are strategically placed across eleven hubs in the African Region and focus on critical programmatic areas such as Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), Tropical Vector Diseases (TVD), HIV/TB/ Hepatitis, Non-Communicable Diseases, Nutrition, Health Financing, Service Delivery System, and Diagnostic and Laboratory Services.

The South Africa Hub, welcoming its first technical experts in July and August 2023, sought to enhance its functionality through a face-to-face retreat. This retreat involved WHO representatives, MCAT officers, and programme focal persons from the four countries to discuss the coordination of efforts and finalize technical assistance plans for the 2024-2025 biennium.

This retreat aimed to enhance the coordination, collaboration, and operational modalities of the MCAT to provide effective strategic high-level technical assistance. The retreat had several specific objectives, including sensitizing participants to the MCAT concept, sharing successes and challenges, gathering perspectives on roles and responsibilities, planning technical assistance for the 2024-2025 biennium, and identifying financing for technical support needs.

Various methods were utilized to encourage participation and idea-sharing, including plenary presentations, discussions, and group work sessions. Seven sessions covered different aspects of MCATs, from understanding the concept to planning technical assistance and discussing resource needs. The MCAT initiative aims to provide real-time technical support, aligning with the evolving needs of WHO Country Offices (WCOs). Efficient coordination, clear reporting structures, and effective communication channels are crucial for its success. Integration with WCOs and regional oversight ensures alignment with regional strategies.

Discussions highlighted the need for strategic staffing solutions, flexibility in responding to urgent situations, collaborative planning with health ministries, and evidence-based practices. Participants emphasized the importance of annual planning, mid-term reviews, evaluations, in-person supervision, mentorship, and addressing vacant positions. Developing joint technical assistance plans and documenting best practices were also recommended.

Key outcomes of the retreat included defining coordination and operational modalities for effective MCAT support, identifying best practices and mitigation measures for barriers to effective country support, agreeing upon priorities for MCAT technical support, developing a consolidated technical assistance plan for the RSA Hub, and defining a resource mobilization plan. Recommendations and action points focused on introducing MCATs to relevant stakeholders, ensuring effective communication between WRs, fostering connections between WCO programs and AFRO clusters, and reviewing operational guidelines.

For strategic planning, monitoring, and evaluation, participants were encouraged to participate in annual planning and evaluations, develop a joint technical assistance plan by March 2024, convene quarterly and biannual meetings, and assist in accessing necessary operational tools. Technical support and capacity-building recommendations included engaging in joint technical support missions, providing timely supervision and mentorship, documenting best practices, and assisting in consolidating health data.

Stakeholder engagement and resource mobilization were also key focus areas. Participants were urged to collaborate for resource mobilization, include operational costs in funding proposals, explore partnerships with WHO Collaborating Centers, and advocate for seed funding.

Overall, the retreat successfully strengthened the coordination, collaboration, and operational modalities of MCAT support, setting a clear path for effective strategic high-level technical assistance in the coming biennium.The MCAT retreat marked a significant step towards enhancing health programmes in the South Africa Hub. Through strategic collaboration, detailed planning, and robust monitoring mechanisms, the MCATs are poised to deliver impactful technical support, driving positive health outcomes across the region.