OUR WORK
Community-informed approaches to health access and responsive services
Innovations for Change develops and applies practical approaches that connect communities, healthcare providers and institutions. Our work combines participatory communication, accessible digital technology, community feedback and applied research to address barriers affecting access to health information and services in Malawi.
STRATEGIC PROGRAMME AREAS
DIGITAL HEALTH AND INNOVATION
We explore, develop and apply accessible and responsible digital approaches that improve access to reliable health information, strengthen communication and support engagement between communities, healthcare providers and institutions. Our work is guided by identified health needs, inclusion, privacy, ethical practice and practical value within Malawi’s health context.
Youth & Community Health Inclusion
We work with young people, people living with HIV, students and other community groups to strengthen access to health information, participation in programme design and engagement with healthcare providers.
Health Systems Research & Advocacy
We gather and apply community and service-level evidence to understand barriers to care, strengthen accountability and improve programme delivery. This work combines service feedback, monitoring and applied research.
KEY INITIATIVES
Initiative for Full Empowerment and Youth Options
The IFEYO Project works with young people and community-health stakeholders in Lilongwe and Ntcheu to strengthen access to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV and gender-based violence information and services.
The project combines community dialogue, participatory Music Workshops, radio engagement, the 3072 SMS platform and collaboration with healthcare providers. It also supports opportunities for young people and health-service stakeholders to discuss access, trust, service experiences and practical improvements.
Supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through GIZ.
3072 SMS Health Information Initiative
The free 3072 platform is a two-way SMS health-engagement service developed and operated by Innovations for Change. It enables users to request health information, ask questions, report concerns, obtain referral guidance and provide feedback about health services.
IFC has used the platform in community and higher-education settings to support communication on HIV, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender-based violence and access to services. The platform extends engagement beyond face-to-face activities and provides a continuing channel for questions, information and feedback.
The 3072 platform supports information, communication and referral guidance. It does not replace clinical assessment, emergency services or professional healthcare.
How We Work
Our methodology is adapted to each setting and informed by community experience and implementation learning.
01
Understand experiences and barriers
We engage communities, healthcare providers and other stakeholders to understand information needs, service experiences and local priorities.
Participatory Music Workshop Methodology
IFC’s Music Workshop methodology brings community members and healthcare providers together to identify information gaps, discuss health concerns and develop locally relevant messages and creative content.
Rather than treating communities only as audiences, the process enables participants to contribute their experiences, questions and language to health communication. The resulting messages can be shared through music, community events, radio, digital channels and continued engagement through 3072.
Community enquiry
Participants identify health-information gaps, service barriers and community concerns.
Health education and dialogue
Healthcare providers and facilitators respond to questions, correct misinformation and discuss available services.
Apply appropriate technology
We use digital tools where they add practical value and remain accessible within the implementation setting.
02
Define the response together
We identify practical approaches with the people and institutions connected to the issue.
03
Develop locally relevant communication
We translate technical health information into accessible messages, tools and participatory activities.
IMPACT AND LEARNING
IFC integrates monitoring, community feedback and implementation learning into its programmes. We document what communities and healthcare stakeholders experience, examine how participants engage with different approaches and use the findings to improve programme delivery and inform future work.
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
We document how young people, community groups and other participants contribute to identifying priorities, developing health messages and shaping programme activities.
HEALTH-SERVICE ENGAGEMENT
We examine how dialogue between communities and healthcare providers can strengthen understanding, trust, referral information and engagement with available services.
DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT
We assess how accessible digital channels can extend communication beyond face-to-face activities and provide continuing opportunities for health information, questions and community feedback.
EVIDENCE AND ADAPTATION
We use monitoring data, participant feedback and implementation experience to identify emerging lessons, respond to challenges and strengthen the quality of our work.
IFEYO IMPACT AND LEARNING REPORT — COMING SOON
An upcoming publication will present learning from the Initiative for Full Empowerment and Youth Options, including its participatory Music Workshops, community and healthcare-provider engagement, creative communication and digital-health approaches.
Partnerships for responsive health systems
Since 2021, IFC has implemented health-engagement activities with young people, people living with HIV, healthcare providers and institutions of higher learning in Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mulanje and Zomba.
Through USAID-supported programming, IFC applied participatory Music Workshops and the 3072 SMS platform to communication on HIV, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender-based violence and access to services. Activities also included reporting and referral information, dialogue with healthcare providers and community feedback on the quality of health services.
IFC worked with support groups affiliated with the National Association of People Living with HIV in Malawi and collaborated with the Malawi Network of AIDS Service Organisations, participating health facilities, institutions and district stakeholders.
- IFC welcomes collaboration with communities, healthcare providers, government institutions, civil-society organisations, academic institutions, development partners and responsible technology organisations seeking to strengthen equitable access to health information and services in Malawi.
