The Geneva Learning Foundation is launching REACH (Relate, Engage, Act, Connect, Help), a new initiative to connect leaders of health organizations who are solving similar problems in different countries.
Launching November 6, 2024 REACH responds to an unexpected outcome of Teach to Reach, a peer learning platform that–in less than four years–has already documented over 10,000 local solutions and experiences to health challenges by connecting more than 60,000 participants across 77 countries.
When organizations began formally participating in Teach to Reach in June 2024, many leaders discovered they were tackling similar challenges.
A digital immunization tracking system in Rwanda sparked interest from several African countries.
A community engagement approach to vaccine hesitancy in Nigeria resonated with teams in Kenya and Zimbabwe.
These spontaneous connections led to the creation of REACH.
What is Teach to Reach?
“Teach to Reach is a place where you learn in the most formidable way. You’re learning from people’s experiences and it makes the learning very easy to adapt, very easy to replicate wherever you are,” says Ful Marine Fuen, Humanitarian Program Coordinator at Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services.
Teach to Reach is a bilingual (French/English) peer learning platform where government health workers, local organizations, and frontline staff document, analyze, and share implementation solutions across borders.
Half of all participants work in government health services, with around 80% based at district and facility levels where policy meets practice.
The platform’s structured learning process includes pre-event experience sharing, live sessions for discussion and networking, and post-event analysis to capture insights.
“It’s a meeting of giving and receiving. Because with Teach to Reach, we always learn from peers and we develop ourselves and develop others,” notes Arthur Fidelis Metsampito Bamlatol, Coordinator at AAPSEB Cameroon.
From individual learning to organizational impact
The impact of these connections is already visible.
Nduka Ozor, Project Director at the Centre for HIV/AIDS and STD RESEARCH in Nigeria, describes how a single connection expanded his organization’s reach: “I was able to meet with a potential partner who stays in Australia. Something I thought is just an online stuff is moving into a greater partnership. We have had several meetings with other networks from that initial meeting, including with representatives of New York University.”
These kinds of partnerships form naturally as organizations share their work.
Imagine what else might happen as health leaders like these meet, connect, and learn:
- In Rwanda, Albert Ndagijimana shared how his country achieved 95% childhood vaccination coverage through initiatives like digital tracking of immunization outreach
- In Kenya, Samuel Mutambuki‘s organization works with other civil society groups to rehabilitate areas affected by illegal dumping and create community gardens
- In Zimbabwe, Rebecca Chirenga’s team addresses how climate change and food insecurity are driving early marriage and teenage pregnancy, with half of girls dropping out before completing secondary school
“It is essentially a framework that allows us to share experiences… to strengthen our capacities,” says Patrice Kazadi, Project Director at Save the Children International DR Congo. “The challenges in DRC can be the same as in Ivory Coast and what is done in Ivory Coast can also help address challenges in DRC.”
REACH: A new network exclusively for Teach to Reach Partners
REACH builds on this foundation but with an important distinction – it’s exclusively for leaders of organizations that have committed to partnership with Teach to Reach.
Over 700 organizational leaders have already confirmed their participation, representing both government agencies and civil society organizations.
The first REACH sessions will:
- Connect organizations working on similar challenges
- Share practical approaches that have worked in different contexts
- Facilitate direct conversations between organizational leaders
- Identify potential areas for collaboration
How can organizations join REACH?
To participate in REACH, organizations must complete all partnership steps for Teach to Reach:
- Attend a Partner briefing
- Complete the Partnership application
- Share the Teach to Reach announcement
- Have organizational leadership endorse participation