The LAC Consultative Meeting for PHN Field Staff is scheduled for March 7-11, 2005 in Miami, Florida. This meeting promises to provide several formats for sharing lessons learned and discussing cutting edge issues with key experts in child health, reproductive health, maternal health and HIV/AIDS, as well as those activities that cut across the sector such as behavior change communication and health systems. The new learning platform, “open space”, will give participants an opportunity to discuss their country-specific issues in depth and to seek relevant solutions.

Since the PHN Consultative Meeting is held every other year, it is important to cover as much ground and issues relevant in the region. Given the expectations around funding mechanisms such as the MAP and Global Fund as well as the Tiahrt and Mexico City policies, it is extremely critical to have this time to plan and prepare during in an environment of tremendous change. The Meeting is one of the only opportunities for PHN teams to obtain critical technical, programmatic, and other updates. It also provides a forum for everyone to exchange information and ideas with colleagues in other missions and USAID/Washington, as well as discuss issues specific to LAC.

We encourage all PHN staff to attend, including direct hires, FSNs, PSCs, TAACS and Fellows.

This site provides details on the meetings, invitees, an agenda, dates and schedules, location and hotel accommodations, registration and check-in, and per diem.

Objectives for the 2005 LAC Consultative Meeting for PHN Field Staff include:

1. Participants will have increased applicable knowledge on critical scientific and programmatic developments in population and health, and capture new, state of the art practices in the LAC region.
   
2. Participants will exchange ideas and information about program experiences between missions using innovative learning platforms, and forge relationships between missions for ongoing dialogue.
   
3. Shifting priorities in Agency policies, strategies and programs relevant to USAID PHN staff in LAC will be clarified.
   
4. Participants will have conveyed priority issues of concern and needs of support to USAID/Washington and other field missions.