The FK Health Exchange Programme supports institutional cooperation and capacity building, through the exchange of personnel between health institutions in Norway and countries in the South, primarily in Africa.
What is Esther?
The Norwegian program is a member of the European ESTHER (Ensemble pour une Solidarité Thérapeutique Hospitalière En Réseau) network. The network focuses on improving the access to and quality of health services for people living with HIV/AIDS, especially in Africa.
The Norwegian programme also includes this area, but has a wider aim:
Contributing to solving the health personnel crisis and reaching the Millennium Development Goals related to health, by strengthening the education of health personnel and service delivery in countries where Norway is engaged in long term development cooperation.
Focus areas
FK Health Exchange projects may include:
• Strengthening both primary health care institutions and hospitals.
• Contributing to the education of nurses, doctors and midwives, as well as specialists in different fields of medicine.
• Building up the capacity of technical medical personnel and supporting with medical equipment (in special cases).
• Establishing and strengthening quality systems.
• Strengthening the capacity of IT systems and telemedicine.
• Capacity building within administration and management
What can FK Norway support under the FK Health Exchange Programme?
• The main component is support with capacity building through the exchange of personnel within the focus areas, with overseas postings for a period of 6 months to 3 years. The exchange can be between North and South, South to South or a combination.
• Shorter visits by key personnel for specific tasks, workshops, seminars, training in the use of technical equipment and so on can be supported as a smaller component of a project.
• In special cases, support with equipment can be included in a project.
Who can apply?
Health institutions, both public and private. For example hospitals, medical schools, colleges for the training of health personnel and institutions for rehabilitation. Exchange projects involving partners in Africa will be prioritised.
How to apply?
The Health Exchange Programme is part of the FK North-South Programme, and uses the same forms and follows the same procedures as other applications to FK Norway. The first step is to apply for a Feasibility Study. If successfully carried out, the partners will then apply for support to the actual exchange programme (a Collaboration Agreement with FK).