Improving Immunization Performance in Mali through Coaching and Digital Innovation

In the first week of July 2025, nearly 100 health professionals participated in a capacity-building series in the Sikasso region of Mali. The initiative aimed to strengthen the Expanded Programme on Immunization (PEV) by transforming how supervisors engage with their teams and by introducing a new digital coaching platform.

The first two days focused on performance coaching. Participants were introduced to coaching as a collaborative process—one that shifts supervisors from directive roles to facilitators of growth and motivation. They explored how to ask powerful questions, listen actively, and provide constructive feedback. Through role-playing, group discussions, and real-world scenarios, they practiced GROW and SMART coaching methods—tools that place coachees at the center of their own development.

The second phase of the training introduced Coach2PEV (C2P)—a mobile and web-based platform that enables structured coaching relationships between supervisors and frontline health staff. With technical support from GaneshAID, participants installed the app, created user profiles, and practiced using it in simulated coaching sessions. C2P is not just a digital tool—it is a full process that fosters accountability, shared responsibility, and continuous improvement. It encourages a shift from vertical oversight to active partnership, where both the coach and the health worker receiving coaching share responsibility for progress. The training was delivered in a hybrid format, with a lead facilitator joining remotely from Benin and in-person contributions from national and regional health authorities.

The training was made possible through the collaboration of key institutional partners: the Ministry of Health of Mali, represented by the General Directorate of Health and Public Hygiene and the Health Sector Planning and Statistics Unit; the Sikasso Regional Health Directorate; and GaneshAID.

GaneshAID, a global health consulting firm rooted in human-centered values, supported the training with technical facilitation and content development. The organization is committed to strengthening local health systems through practical tools, strategic innovation, and by empowering frontline actors.

This training series in Sikasso marked more than a skills transfer—it reflected a fundamental shift in how performance is supported in immunization programs. By combining mindset transformation with digital innovation, it demonstrated that sustainable change starts by investing in people.