Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Local Innovations Scaled through Enterprise Networks (LISTEN) process formerly Business Process for Impact (BPI) integrates the voice of the community into the design and testing of solutions to reach at-risk populations that are currently not being reached with conventional strategies. This process, which includes the use of human-centered design (HCD) and continuous review of relevant data within communities of practice (CPs), expands engagement at the community level and supports linkages to the formal health system.
The LISTEN process catalyzes and captures innovation at every level of the health delivery system to maximize HIV prevention interventions, particularly for vulnerable at-risk populations. Implementation of the LISTEN process is led by the Kenya Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) and the Eswatini Ministry of Health (MOH), with support from the Georgetown University Center for Global Health Practice and Impact and sub partners Final Mile and the Sirolli Institute.
The following objectives are guiding implementation of the LISTEN process:
The process is used to engage target populations and their local communities, leveraging local voices, knowledge and innovation for contextually relevant solutions, and embedding continuous improvement processes for sustainability of health programmes. The process also facilitates community-responsive policymaking.
The LISTEN process allows for engagement of marginalized communities that have previously not had an opportunity to provide their inputs into the design of prevention and treatment strategies, and integrates the voice of the community in the design and testing of solutions to link those who are positive to ART services, improve adherence, and developing preventive approaches (or expand use of existing ones such as Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) for those who are negative.
Communities of practice are used as platforms to facilitate the process of developing community-led strategies to increase access to and utilization of new technologies