2007
As the Senior Advisor to UNICEF’s Representative to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei I was tasked with performing a detailed mapping in Singapore of potential partners for UNICEF. This four month long exercise was an amazing experience in research, partnership building and understanding the mindset of this super-successful island state. The Economic Development Bureau, Tourism Bureau, the line Ministries of the Government, civil society, academia, private sector and media.
What?
Sector
Where
When
With Whom
Sector?
Women, Child Rights, Harm Reduction, Hiv Aids
What?
Strategic Communication, Strategic Partnerships
Where?
Malaysia
Why?
When?
2006, 2007
What Exactly?
Sunoor Verma launched the consultations with the Ministry of Health, Royal Malaysian Police and civil society partners on the drafting of a National Strategic Plan on Harm Reduction. He then provided all the necessary support for the drafting of this national strategy in terms of technical expertise.
With Whom?
UNICEF, Institute Of Health Management
What Happened?
Strategic plan for scale up of Harm Reduction was adopted and budgeted by the government and was implemented nationwide.
I attributemy success in Malaysia to some key factors that I feels are vital though very rare to find:
UNICEF in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei was headed by Gaye Phillips who not only had a vision but also the courage to recognize that strategic partnerships can take the agenda forward. She articulated her vision and asked me to go and make things happen while she would ensure that there is Prime Minister and Royalty level support and that internal UN bureaucracy does not come in the way. Her experience as a long serving CEO of UNICEF in Australia gave her insight into the UN system without stifling her thinking as her accountability lay with Australian citizens who contribute to UNICEF’s coffers. Each and every partner of UNICEF in Malaysia was convinced that Gaye Phillip’s one point agenda is the well being of Malaysian children. This is rare for any Representative of a UN agency. She enjoyed equal credibility with government, private sector, civil society, royalty and above all the team she led. Every day I learnt some thing new and positive from Gaye Phillips when working as her Senior Advisor in Malaysia.
A Catalyst
Indra Nadchatram was former CEO of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation and later UNICEF’s Communication Officer. Indra unhesitatingly shared with me her entire knowledge bank on the HIV AIDS landscape in Malaysia, encouraging me to take steps in unchartered territories yet warning me of potential land mines and also connecting me to the key players. Indra’s dedication to the well being of children and to halting the spread of HIV AIDS was a fountain of inspiration for me during my stay in Malaysia. It always helped having an office right next to Indra’s.
Regional Representative
European Centre for Minority Issues
Sector?
Women, Global Health, Child Rights
What?
Capacity Development, Assessments And Evaluation, Strategic Partnerships
Where?
Malaysia
Why?
Malaysia has a network of nine National Institutes of Health under the Ministry of Health. One of these is the Institute of Health Management in Kuala Lumpur. A joint review by the Prime Minister’s Office (EPU), Ministry of Health and UNICEF presented the need for a think tank in the area of healthy policy, finance and management.
When?
2006, 2007
What Exactly?
With Whom?
UNICEF, Institute Of Health Management, Malaysia
What Happened?
Set up a UNICEF collaborating centre at the Institute of Health Management (National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The mission of this health policy centre is to provide accurate and timely information to health care decision-makers, analysts and providers, so that they can offer services, which are effective and efficient in improving the health of Malaysians.
Dr. Eben Friedman
Regional Representative , European Centre for Minority Issues
Sector?
Women, Child Rights, Hiv Aids
What?
Assessments And Evaluation
Where?
Malaysia
Why?
To improve the delivery of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV programs in Malaysia it was important to establish a baseline of the ground situation. The second challenge was to find ways of engaging the growing private health care providers in this public health initiative.
When?
2006, 2007
What Exactly?
I was tasked with conceptualizing and negotiating with the government of Malaysia the conducting of the first qualitative and quantitative survey of Malaysia’s PMTCT program. I also worked closely with the teams at the Ministry of Health in the design of the study and the analysis of the results.
With Whom?
UNICEF, Malaysia
What Happened?
The first qualitative and quantitative survey of Malaysia’s PMTCT program was done. This helped Malaysia make evidence based decisions on the future direction of this program.
Director
Eurpean Centre for Minority Issues, Germany
Sector?
Civil Society
What?
Strategic Planning
Where?
Australia
Why?
An elite medical association in Australia had adopted a new Strategic Plan. Its implementation had hit an invisible roadblock. I was retained to help generate understanding and support for the Strategic Plan and find entry points for its implementation. A membership that spans three generations seemed to be pulling in three different directions, while the organization was loosing its policy clout.
When?
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
What Exactly?
Through my consulting practice ProCubeI developed a comprehensive communication strategy that would in a step-by-step way engage internal and external audiences of the organization.
With Whom?
What Happened?
Enthusiastic and comprehensive support for the new Strategic Plan and for the senior management was generated. The organization has moved from one strength to another and continues to implement many of the processes introduced by Sunoor
-Sunoor Verma
Sector?
What?
Strategic Communication, Strategic Planning
Where?
Australia
Why?
400 members of this peak medical body are spread out in Australia. Each state has its own peak body, which in turn compose the peak national body. Finding a way to bring the membership together in an engaging and productive way seemed important for keeping the organization viable.
When?
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
What Exactly?
Through my consulting outfit ‘ProCube Consultancy Services’,I developed a comprehensive external communication strategy that would in a step-by-step way engage external audiences of the organization. Identifying the web as the key platform for communications with external stakeholders a new intelligent and intuitive web site was developed. Twenty Video snippets which present the strengths of the organization were produced by ProCube and are available on-line to members.
With Whom?
What Happened?
Manifolds increase in the informed engagement of members that was expressed through different channels of contact.
Co-Founder
Geneva Health Forum
Sector?
Women, Child Rights, Harm Reduction, Hiv Aids
What?
Assessments And Evaluation, Strategic Communication, Strategic Partnerships
Where?
Malaysia
Why?
To counter the tide of HIV AIDS in Malaysia it was important to scale up the methadone substitution therapy and needle syringe exchange program nationwide.However there was opposition to this from a variety of influential quarters.
When?
2006, 2007
What Exactly?
Sunoor Verma launched the consultations with the Ministry of Health, Royal Malaysian Police and civil society partners on the drafting of a National Strategic Plan on Harm Reduction. He then provided all the necessary support for the drafting of this national strategy in terms of technical expertise.
With Whom?
UNICEF, Institute Of Health Management, Malaysia
What Happened?
Strategic plan for scale up of Harm Reduction was adopted and budgeted by the government and was implemented nationwide.
I attributemy success in Malaysia to some key factors that I feels are vital though very rare to find:
A visionary-
Indra Nadchatram was former CEO of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation and later UNICEF’s Communication Officer. Indra unhesitatingly shared with me her entire knowledge bank on the HIV AIDS landscape in Malaysia, encouraging me to take steps in unchartered territories yet warning me of potential land mines and also connecting me to the key players. Indra’s dedication to the well being of children and to halting the spread of HIV AIDS was a fountain of inspiration for me during my stay in Malaysia. It always helped having an office right next to Indra’s.
The late Dr. Rohani, Dr. Christopher Lee, Dr. Norliza Noorodin, Dr. Hayati and Dr. Shaari of the Ministry of Health were committed to the fight against HIV AIDS at a time when it was the least sexy portfolio at their Ministry. Datuk Chua Soi Lek the Minister for Health took the bold step of introducing harm reduction well conscious of the political risk it carried. Shayne Nelson, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank who nurtured a culture of community service at all levels at his bank and launched the “Living with HIV” program in Malaysia in 2002, which educated 3000 of the bank’s employees on the basics of HIV AIDS.Fashion designer Sonny San who organized the first public fundraising for UNICEF… people who went way beyond the call of duty, everyday. They welcomed me warmly to their offices and were always willing to engage in discussions and search for solutions.
Regional Representative
European Centre for Minority Issues
Sector?
Child Rights, Hiv Aids
What?
Strategic Communication, Strategic Planning
Where?
Malaysia
Why?
For many years UNICEF had partnered with the Government of Malaysia to deliver numerous and effective grassroots initiatives. With the rapid strides Malaysia made in development and achieved a middle-income country status, it was felt that UNICEF could advance the well being of children in Malaysia more effectively by becoming an upstream partner of the government. UNICEF’s then executive director Carol Bellamy had hand picked the dynamic CEO of UNICEF Australia Gaye Phillips to set in a Malaysia a model of engagement with middle-income countries.
When?
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
What Exactly?
In 2005, UNICEF’s Representative appointed me to link the organization’s HIV AIDS programs to a meaningful communication strategy.
In addition to developing a comprehensive strategy on up-streaming UNICEF’s HIV AIDS program in Malaysia, key Strategic Communication products were developed:
Video documentary- “Women in AIDS”: Conceptualized this video documentary to celebrate and document the contribution of women from various walks of life in the fight against HIV AIDS in Malaysia. This video galvanized support from the Govt. of Malaysia and the donor community for UNICEF’s HIV AIDS program.
Video documentaries- Conceptualized video documentaries on joint projects of UNICEF & Ministry of Health that reflect the impact of good partnerships. These included the video capsules on ProStar Youth Initiative (Peer counseling), Village Health Promoters and Youth & Drugs. Youth volunteers for UNICEF in Malaysia filmed the films.
With Whom?
UNICEF, Institute Of Health Management, Ministry Of Women
What Happened?
UNICEF became the partner of choice of the Malaysian government on HIV AIDS
Expert, Civil Society Development
Mercy Corps