E-mentoring for violence and injury prevention: Early lessons from a global programme

Abstract

To address the growing burden of violence and injuries, especially in low- and middle-income countries, in 2007 the World Health Organization launched MENTOR-VIP, a global violence and injury prevention (VIP)-mentoring programme. The programme aims to develop human resource capacity through 12-month mentoring arrangements between individual VIP experts (mentors) and less-experienced injury practitioners (mentees). In this paper, we review the first five years of the programme (2007–2011) using a systems analysis and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) frameworks, discuss programme findings and make recommendations. A well-defined programme with clear instructions, successful matching of mentorship pairs with similar interests and language, a formal accord agreement, institutional support and effective communication were identified as programme strengths. Overambitious projects, lack of funds and difficulties with communications were identified as programme weaknesses. Mentorship projects that require institutional permissions or resources could be potential threats to the success of mentorship. The study resulted in the four following recommendations to strengthen the programme: (1) institute additional steps in selection and matching mentor-mentee pair; (2) train mentors on e-mentoring; (3) conduct special orientation for mentees to the programme; and (4) maintain effective and open communication throughout the programme.

Keywords:

• violence prevention
• injury prevention
• skill development
• capacity building
• mentoring

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all former and current Core Group members of MENTOR-VIP who have contributed their time and effort; all mentors and mentees for participating in the evaluations; Katharine Allen for reading the first draft and providing valuable comments; and Bobbi J. Nicotera for providing editorial assistance with this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.