On August 6, 2024, the Nigeria Immunization Agenda 2030 Collaborative concluded its first peer learning exercise with a final Assembly.
This groundbreaking initiative, a partnership between The Geneva Learning Foundation, Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and UNICEF, has already engaged over 4,400 health workers from all 36 States and more than 300 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across Nigeria.
The Collaborative’s innovative approach focuses on empowering health workers to identify root causes of local immunization challenges and develop practical, context-specific solutions.
As the initiative continues to grow, with new members joining daily, it could help shift how Nigeria approaches immunization capacity building and problem-solving.
Right after the final Assembly on 6 August 2024, Nigeria immunization specialist Jenny Sequeira and The Geneva Learning Foundation’s deputy director Charlotte Mbuh shared their initial thoughts about the exercise.
Here are 7 key takeaways from their discussion.
1. Critical Thinking Evolution: Participants made significant progress in their analytical skills, moving from vague problem statements to nuanced understanding of local immunization challenges. The “5 Whys” technique proved particularly effective.
2. Power of Peer Review: The structured, time-bound peer review process emerged as a practical learning tool, fostering self-reflection and exposing participants to diverse perspectives.
3. Leveling the Playing Field: The Collaborative created an environment where hierarchies dissolved, enabling workers from the local levels to engage laterally with state and national-level participants.
4. Focus on Actionable Solutions: Participants were encouraged to identify root causes within their control, promoting practical, context-specific solutions.
5. Importance of Community Engagement: The process highlighted the crucial role of engaging communities and addressing barriers to improve vaccine uptake.
6. Emphasis on Implementation: While the RCA exercise was valuable, leaders stressed the critical need for follow-through and implementation of proposed solutions.
7. Cross-Sector Collaboration: The collaborative saw participation from diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, and private sector entities.
Image: The Geneva Learning Foundation Collection © 2024