Monitoring and Evaluation in a dynamic health environment (M&E) Course
Royal Tropical Institute (KIT)
Key Information
Campus location
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 weeks
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
EUR 2,650 / per course *
Application deadline
01 Jul 2024
Earliest start date
12 Aug 2024
* EUR 2,220 Early Bird; EUR 2,650 normal fee
Introduction
This advanced practitioners course equips participants with the up-to-date knowledge and state-of-the-art monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools enabling them to answer such questions as:
What models, frameworks, and tools are suitable for a specific evaluation? How to balance the perspectives of different stakeholders?
Monitoring and evaluation skills are essential tools for working in a dynamic development environment. They aid decision making and lead to improvements in project impact through maximizing the learnings available.
This course is designed for senior managers who are actively involved in planning, management, and evaluation of health sector reforms in developing countries. These senior managers might be either working in Ministries of Health, or they may be the staff of embassies, international organizations, or NGOs developing partnerships with Ministries of Health within the scope of current health reforms.
Curriculum
Content
The new millennium has seen an increase in global aid for health. At the same time, there is increasing emphasis on results, impact and aid effectiveness. Ongoing health reforms involve new modes of planning and implementation, new types of partnerships and cooperation. Are the reforms actually achieving their aims? What factors contribute to success or failure in a given context?
There is a need to examine whether projects have an impact on population health and whether the changes can be attributed to a specific intervention. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plays a crucial role in the planning of health sector reforms and policy shifts. At the same time, the sector requires innovative thinking in order to adapt to existing M&E systems.
Adaptations in M&E systems are needed to monitor whether resource allocation follows priorities, scarce human resources are being used efficiently, and essential health services reach the poor and disadvantaged.
The course will allow key staff in Ministries of Health as well as external development partners to gain a deeper understanding of the role M&E plays in all aspects of the health system including the institutional, political, financial, managerial, human resource, inter-sectoral and public health dimensions. Topics covered include M&E and management information systems which provide the basic data required for informed and effective decision making, planning and implementation of a health system. New M&E frameworks, techniques and information technology will also be examined.
Course Content
The following subjects are reviewed during the course:
- Introduction to M&E: overview of concepts, methods, frameworks, and tools
- M&E in the health sector: service delivery, health care financing, human resources
- Tools for M&E in supply and delivery systems
- Information management systems at national, local and project level
- Global Health Initiatives and the role of M&E
- Ensuring adequate data quality for M&E
- Innovative approaches to M&E
- Making M&E equity and gender-aware
- Ethics, and dealing with conflicts of interest in M&E
Learning methods
The course consists of introductory lectures, exercises, case studies and interactive group discussions building on participants’ experiences with the respective topics and issues. A reader will be provided with essential literature that must be read before each class session.
Assessment
For participants who wish to be examined a paper or exam can be provided.
Accreditation
This course is accredited by tropEd. It can be taken as an advanced module for the Master in International Health programme organized by tropEd, a network of European institutions for higher education in international health.
Program Outcome
Objectives
The aim of this short course is to provide participants with a broad knowledge of advanced monitoring and evaluation tools and methods, and how to appropriately apply these in the health sector in developing countries. At the end of the course the participants will be able to:
- explain and critically discuss the fundamental concepts that underpin effective monitoring and evaluation of health programs within health systems
- identify the most appropriate strategy and evaluation design in a given situation, develop M&E plans, select, adapt and apply suitable tools as well as performance indicators and information management systems
- explain new and innovative approaches to M&E ranging from the appropriate use of technology through to new theoretical frameworks and approaches
- describe and critically analyze how aid architecture and multiple stakeholders in the health system influence the design of M&E
- address perspectives of different stakeholders in participation and decision making in the process of M&E
- interpret results, develop feedback and apply the information strategically