Key requirements for achieving EU-wide programme change

Abstract Issue Across the world, thousands of projects aim for equitable improvement in health for people who are experiencing ongoing avoidable stigma, discrimination and disadvantage however very little change is often achieved. Description of the problem In this presentation we explore key requirements for project-level change to ensure EU-wide programme change is achieved. Results The two most common causes of project failure are a) the innovation is not suitable, needed or wanted (also called theory failure) or b) implementation failure. This presentation shares strategies to mitigate risks of project failure through co-design processes and communication, drawing from 30 years of experience from the entire implementation process from ideation to scale up. These experiences include projects from over 30 countries, including partnerships with the World Health Organization, governments and industry focused on health literacy, self-management, care pathways, workplace health, hospital services redesign, First Nations health and migrant health. Common success factors include balancing top-down needs with co-designed inputs and with previous preferred or good practice (which may have come from controlled trial evidence generated in different contexts). The intervention must co-implemented to serve stakeholder’s needs at all levels, from citizens to decision makers. Lessons The United Nations (UN) and private sector apply system-wide approaches to affect large scale change. This knowledge is valuable for large public health programmes aiming to integrate equity and diversity in project processes to minimize implementation failure.