The purpose of this evaluation is “to assess whether or not the Community Scorecard (CSC) approach as adapted to Vanuatu through the Storian Blong Yumi pilot (SBY) project offers a viable model for community-centred social accountability in Vanuatu and to document lessons from the pilot for future application”.
The Storian Blong Yumi project (SBY) tested the Community Scorecard approach for the first time in the Pacific, applying the CSC to Sexual and Reproductive Health services delivered by Vanuatu MoH health facilities serving 4 communities in Tafea Province.
The Storian Blong Yumi pilot of the CSC model in Vanuatu demonstrated results in the following areas, most strongly in the first two areas:
Stimulating dialogue between service providers and communities and overcoming social taboos to open up discussion within the community on SRH issues. Across all groups, including young men, who were the group that proved most difficult to engage, participants valued the process of community discussion. This dialogue appears to have been the basis for establishing better understanding and relationship between service providers and community members. This in turn seems to have laid the foundations for increased access to services by community members and responsiveness by service providers.
Increasing awareness of the SRH services available within their local health facility. Across groups of older and younger men and women in all locations people were aware of what family planning and STI services were available to them and what the role of the health staff were. in all locations, people who participated in the evaluation were more aware of what family planning and STI services were available to them and what the role of the health staff were. Men in all locations reported that they didn’t previously know what happened in the health centre regarding SRH, but now they have a better understanding.