From May 27 to 29, 2025, a regional training titled “Key Principles and Approaches to Developing a National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Response” was held in Chișinău, Moldova. The training was organized by the TB Europe Coalition with financial support from the Global Fund.
At the invitation of Valentina Vilc, Head of Moldova’s National Tuberculosis Program (NTP), the event took place at the office of the Department for Coordination of the National TB Program. This platform highlighted the importance of dialogue between the NTP and civil society organizations (CSOs), and fostered experience sharing and strengthened partnerships for more effective strategic planning.
During the 3-day event, participants from Azerbaijan, Moldova, and Ukraine learned about:
- An introduction to strategic planning, including the structure, objectives, components, and key stages in developing a National Strategic Plan (NSP) for TB.
- TB care cascade analysis from a people-centered model perspective, including how to analyze and apply epidemiological data in NSP planning.
- The current role and engagement of CSOs and communities in the development and implementation of the NSP.
- How to integrate human rights, gender equality, and stigma reduction into the NSP through evidence-based actions.
- Lessons learned and experiences of CSOs and communities in NSP preparation processes.
- Opportunities to use the Multisectoral Accountability Framework to End TB in the context of NSP development.
- A standardized package of TB support services delivered at the community level, and progress in implementing it at the national level.
- Key priorities for involving CSOs and communities in NSP implementation, along with social contracting mechanisms and opportunities for CSO participation.
- NSP monitoring and evaluation issues.
Additionally, participants:
- Heard from NTP leaders and representatives — Valentina Vilc (Moldova), Yana Terleieva (Ukraine), and Afag Huseynova (Azerbaijan) — on the progress and main challenges in implementing current NSPs. They also conducted a detailed review of Moldova’s new NSP draft and discussed relevant details with the NTP head and the working group representatives.
- Listened to a presentation by Dr. Askar Yedilbayev, Regional TB Advisor at WHO/Europe, on key recommendations of the WHO European Region TB Action Plan 2023–2030.
- Learned about public financing mechanisms for TB services in Moldova, presented by Angela Cojocaru, Head of the Beneficiary Services Department at the National Health Insurance Company.
The training also included active group work sessions focused on:
- Overcoming barriers to CSO and community participation in the TB response, and exploring mechanisms to enhance their involvement in NSP development and decision-making.
- Planning joint monitoring activities as a structured element of NTP and CSO/community collaboration.
- Developing roadmaps (work plans) aligned with the timeline for NSP development and approval.
Thanks to the openness and hospitality of the Moldovan partners, participants visited the National Reference Laboratory — recognized as one of the best in the region — and the AFI: Act for Involvement Health and Community Development Center, which has been operating in Moldova since 1999 and currently leads the Moldovan CSO Platform Secretariat. During these visits, participants had the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of the country’s practical work and experience.
We thank our colleagues from all three countries for their active participation, facilitator Mykhail Volik for an excellent training program and delivery, Valentina Vilc and the Moldova NTP team, as well as our long-standing partners from the PAS Center for their invaluable support in organizing the training.
We believe the knowledge and skills gained will help participants strengthen meaningful collaboration on strategic planning in their countries!
