JOINT ASSESSMENT OF NATIONAL STRATEGIES (JANS)

Joint assessment is a shared approach to assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a national strategy. Joint assessment of national strategies, or JANS, is not a new idea. The reasons for renewed interest in the approach include the increased number of international health actors in recent years, and renewed efforts to get more partners to support a single national health strategy / plan. A joint assessment can help to strengthen national health strategies and increase partner confidence in those strategies, thereby securing more predictable and better aligned funding. It may also reduce transaction costs arising from multiple separate agency assessments.

Quick link to joint assessment (JANS) tool and guidelines
These were developed by an IHP+ inter-agency group in 2009, revised in 2011, and endorsed by IHP+ partners.
JANS background, tool and guidance in English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish

Quick link to Frequently Asked Questions
JANS FAQ in English and French

Quick link to Guidance on options for conducting a JANS in English

Quick link to documented country experience
The JANS approach is being used in an increasing number of countries. In addition to individual country reports and lessons learned, a compilation review of experience is available.
JANS country reports, lessons learned and review of experience in English and French

More on JANS purpose and principles
Experience shows that there are usually several objectives from a joint assessment
• To help improve the quality of the strategy/plan
• To increase confidence in the strategy/plan, and so secure more aligned financial and technical support
• To reduce the transaction costs associated with multiple separate assessments

The following principles are critical – any JANS should be: 
• Country-demand driven and country led
• Build on existing in-country processes and experience
• Have a strong independent element in the assessment team
• Inclusive, involving civil society and other stakeholders in the health sector.

Attributes of a national strategy that are assessed
Five groups of attributes are examined:
• Situation analysis and programming: clarity and relevance of priorities, based on a sound situation analysis
• Process: soundness and inclusiveness of development and endorsement processes for the national strategy
• Costs and budgetary framework for the strategy: soundness and feasibility
• Implementation and management: soundness of arrangements and systems for implementing and managing the programmes contained in the national strategy
• Monitoring, evaluation and review: soundness of review and evaluation mechanisms and how their results are used

More on JANS experience
• By early 2011 eight countries, Nepal, Ethiopia, Uganda, Ghana, Rwanda, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi and Vietnam, had completed formal joint assessments of their new national health sector strategies or plans.
• In each case, the JANS principles were observed; the tool was used unchanged, but different processes of assessment were developed suited to in-country circumstances.
• Other countries are also using the JANS tools more informally at different stages of plan development and implementation.
• JANS is a generic tool. Aspects of it are being used for assessing national disease strategies.

Quick link to documented country experience
JANS country reports, lessons learned and review of experience in English and French

Looking forward in 2012

• Countries renewing national health strategies / plans in 2012: quick link to Country Planning Cycle Database
• Upcoming JANS: Mali and Rwanda confirmed
• Joint assessment is a key element in the approach to funding national health plans being piloted in 2012 under the Health Systems Funding Platform.