Strengthening Systems from the Inside Out

Governments across low- and middle-income countries are facing rising health needs with fewer resources, as foreign aid declines and pressure increases to deliver essential, lifesaving care without sacrificing quality or access. In these demanding conditions, the most impactful solutions are often driven from within—powered by data, trusted models, and dedicated local teams finding innovative, cost-effective ways to strengthen systems and save lives. Today's newsletter highlights how Management Sciences for Health’s proven, locally adapted approaches—from national digital learning platforms to leadership and quality improvement initiatives—are directly contributing to better health outcomes and helping build more equitable, resilient, and lifesaving health systems.

Leadership in Action: Emergency Preparedness in Six Countries

A new multi-country evaluation affirms that with the right tools, structured processes, and local agency, health teams can lead and adapt through crises. MSH’s Leading and Managing for Results in Pandemics (LMRP) program helped public health teams in six countries apply data and collaborative, experiential learning to respond to emergencies and strengthen health system resilience—reinforcing the critical role of leadership and management in preparedness and recovery. MSH’s enhanced model of leadership, management and governance strengthening, the Leadership and Management Accelerator, is based on the intervention tested by the LMRP.

Digital Tools for Low-cost, High-impact Workforce Development

Rather than rely on traditional didactic training approaches—donor-led, in-person workshops—MSH supports governments to set up and manage their own virtual learning platforms and workforce development systems, building sustainable digital infrastructure and capacity for continuous professional development of health workers at scale. From Mali to Bangladesh and beyond, we’ve helped develop eLearning and blended learning programs, and educational apps that strengthen the health workforce’s performance and drive measurable results.

Related >>> Fact Sheet: Capacity Strengthening using Digital Tools: A Cost-effective Investment in the Health Workforce

Quality Improvement Cycles: Primary Health Care in Ghana and Rwanda

Through the Primary Health Care (PHC) Performance Management Activity, MSH is helping district health teams unlock their own potential to improve care. In the most recent quality improvement cycle, local leaders used data and the PHC Leadership Development Program to reduce maternal anemia, expand midwife outreach, and strengthen service readiness. The lesson? When equipped with data, decision-making power, and given the opportunity to form strong relationships, district teams deliver lasting results.

Locally Led Responses Pay Off: TB Care Continuity in Ethiopia

During a temporary project pause, local health workers in Ethiopia drew on years of capacity strengthening to deliver uninterrupted tuberculosis (TB) care. Their swift action—diagnosing and treating a drug-resistant TB case and five family members—highlights how investing in skills, systems, and autonomy at the local level can make the difference between disruption and lifesaving continuity.

Just Published: Local Ownership in HIV Response

As donor funding declines, countries must lead their own HIV responses. A new article in BMJ Global Health outlines how national commitment, subnational leadership, and civil society engagement—backed by strong system functions—are key to sustaining progress. MSH’s work is helping make this transition possible.

Institutional Strengthening: Global Fund Coordination

Strong health responses start with empowered national leadership and strong multistakeholder coordination, including community engagement. MSH supports The Global Fund Country and Regional Coordinating Mechanisms to lead more inclusive, data-informed responses to HIV, TB, and malaria. Learn how we’re helping strengthen governance and institutions to ensure resources reach the people who need them most.

The Leading and Managing for Results in Pandemics (LMRP) program is a team-based experiential learning program modeled on proven approaches that have been used by thousands of health sector teams in over 80 countries. Increased leadership and management capacity helps teams of public health practitioners effectively managing the response at their levels, enabling better stewardship of scarce resources, more transparent decision-making, evidence-informed prioritization of urgent activities, improved coordination and collaboration, and greater resilience in the face of current and future public health threats.

• Distribution Manager (proposal) (Abuja, Nigeria)

• Supply Chain Information Systems Advisor (proposal) (Abuja, Nigeria)

• Project Lead, Supply Chain (proposal) (Abuja, Nigeria)

• Health Economist (proposal) (Abuja, Nigeria)

• Project Lead, Health Financing (proposal) (Abuja, Nigeria)

• Senior Director of Finance and Operations (proposal) (Abuja, Nigeria)

• Director of Fundraising (Arlington, VA, US)

In Case You Missed It

• Management Sciences for Health Tapped to Quantify the Economic Toll of Malaria and Spur Smarter Investment Across Africa

• Expanding Access, Deepening Partnerships: Affordable Medicines Program Forum Charts a Vision for 2025 and Beyond