Background:After providing training to make sure whether the trainees really make use of it in their real work situation. Needs assessments showed various needs to build research evidence utilisation of health policy makers in the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH). A specialised training curriculum was prepared and 5 days intensive training was conducted in Addis Ababa. Trainees showed intensive interest in mentoring programme to make use of the training in their day-to-day policy-making process and we agreed on 6 months (Sept. 2015 – Feb 2016) mentoring with FMOH.

Objectives:To share experiences of mentor-mentee programme.

Methods:Mentor – mentee pairs were formed. Mentees communicated on what problem, policy, programme guideline they are currently working to mentors through a specially created evidence-based healthcare Google group to ensure everyone received communications about solutions to various problems/situations. In addition to the Google group mentors interacted through email, phone and face to face. Mentors also sent website resources, published papers, documents, policy briefs, systematic reviews, and summaries.

Results:Improved mentees' skills, knowledge and attitude towards use of evidence for policy and programme preparation. Google group postings and mentoring brought positive changes among participants improving their personality traits such as motivation, creativity, confidence and communications. Participants strongly want this training and mentoring programme to be imparted to all technical advisers in FMOH before annual plan preparation to be more fruitfully used in their work. The Mentoring and Google group programme should be maintained until the trainee becomes self-sustained in using the skills in their day-to-day work.

Conclusions: There is a dire need for a permanent solution to provide information, advice, and resources to FMOH experts or persons involved in policy making or guidelines formulation which they can approach any time through email, websites and contact details of the various mentors, experts and trainers.