Learning shortcuts to success. Africa.

The exchange of experiences and lessons has been a feature of JOICFP's IP in Africa since the project's earliest days, particularly at the local level. At the end of 1995, this exchange system was expanded to the regional level with the swap of study teams between Zambia and Tanzania. Five personnel from Tanzania visited Zambia from October 14 to 28 and four IP personnel from Zambia visited Tanzania from November 4 to 18. For both teams the experience was one of learning and provided insights into different approaches to such areas as logistics, operational strategy, service delivery, organization setup, administration, income-generation and sustainability, data collection, analysis and reporting and cost-effectiveness. The Tanzanian team was impressed with the effective use of the health advisory committees at the village level in Zambia to reach local people. The steering committee structure ends at the ward level and not the village level in Tanzania. They also noted the strong involvement of men in the project and the dual existence of clubs for men and women. In one of the villages visited, the team joined an IP Open Day attended by over 5000. The study visit to Tanzania was also effective for the Zambian team, which was impressed with the IP system for the collection and analysis of CYP/CPR data. The members noted the close UMATI-government collaboration and joining of forces for FP service delivery. Tanzania's success with systematic CBD/CBS deployment was another impressive feature for the Zambians.