• Monitoring and Evaluation and Operational Research Training

    Place of training
    Cape Town, South Africa
    Language
    English
    Target group
    Data supervisors/managers, Field based project and mission epidemiologists
    Number of participants
    20 maximum
    Duration
    5.5 days
    Enrolment

    Participants are selected through an “invitation” process based on projects/missions who are supported by SAMU units. Once validated, before July 15th, all participants should register to the SAMU Learning Unit administrator: alexandra.meyer@joburg.msf.org

    Dates
    2nd - 7th September 2019

  • Background

    The Southern African Medical Unit provides technical support to HIV, TB and HepC activities, including opertational research and monitoring and evaluation.  These activities can be in vertical programs or in  programs in which the primary objective is not HIV/TB/HepC.  

    While much training offered by MSF for epidemiologists or data managers focuses on operational research involving cross-sectional data collection and surveys, and outbreak investigation, there is also a need to support people working in HIV/TB projects in the management of routine M&E and aggregated cohort monitoring, as well as improving capacities to extract data needed for the various MoH and MSF needs. 

    Over the past years, SAMU has asked Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research at the Univerisyt of Cape Town (CIDER) to support long-term HIV/TB projects in Southern Africa through the roll out of TIER.Net. Previous training has focussed on the use of Tier.Net for routine M&E. However, as most countries have or are developing their own national data collection systems for HIV and/or TB MSF needs to be more integrated with MoH and acknowledge that there are multiple tools which can be used to monitor HIV and TB programs.  MSF can play a role in either helping to roll out systems which are mature or help in coordinating and orienting the development and maintenance of national data collection systems.

    Building on our past training experiences this training will focus on the fundamentals of monitoring and evaluation, including overall data flow and maximization of existing data systems as well as defining and utilizing indicators. 

    Finally, participants will be introduced to the processes of operational research.

  • Objectives

    General Objective:

    To ensure the provision of appropriate and quality HIV/TB care through the strengthening of epidemiologic activities and data systems in HIV/TB programme, through the development of:
    o    skills in routine data monitoring and management
    o    introduction to research processes
    o    peer to peer networks and synergies between countries/projects  (communities of practice)

  • Content

    There will be 4.5 days dedicated to M&E and 1.5 days to OR.
    The training modules will cover:

    1.    Foundations and first principles of monitoring and evaluation with a focus HIV/TB/HepC
    2.    Ethical considerations and data protection
    3.    The complete data system: Mapping the necessary components and linkages, considering patient/ activity flow
    4.    Breaking down the silos to capitalize on the strengths and experiences of data and medical team members
    5.    Tools of the trade: Patient files, registers, databases and EMRs
    6.    Indicators: Identification, classification and operatialization by disease and by type of activity
    7.    Levels of reporting: Who needs to know what, why and when (including, data visualization and interpretation)
    8.    Principles and practice of operational research in MSF, including quantitative, qualitative and mixed research methods
    9.    Exploring the grey zone: Links between operational research and monitoring and evaluation

  • Facilitators and Methodology/Approach

    The training is led by SAMU with participation from CIDER. Facilitators are epidemiologists, data specialistsand reseasarchers, who can also be complemented by experienced local experts and other experienced external actors when needed.

    The methodology includes lectures, case studies, exercises and practical exercises both in group and individual work sessions.

    The   course  will be flexible  and adapted to the needs of individual participants.  If necessary we will use a modular format so that participants can  select the content most relevant to their daily work and which also fills a gap in their knowledge.

    Participants will be asked to prepare before / bring the following to the training: A mapping of their project data system (including listing of databases); Logframe monitoring sheets and MOH reporting requirements; Existing data dictionaries  used in the  project; OR inventory/ agenda for project ; Cases studies/ examples of challenges faced with research.