CHRC has been integrally involved in HIV/AIDS monitoring and evaluation training in the Caribbean since 2003. Over that time, approximately 500 health professionals, from Ministries of Health and Civil Society Organizations, involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS from over 20 Caribbean countries have benefited from a number of capacity development activities. These include training workshops, technical support activities and an internship programme. CHRC’s monitoring and evaluation (M&E) work was initiated under the Strengthening the Institutional Response to HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean (SIRHASC) project funded by the European Union. Other funding partners including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Global Fund have made valuable contributions to this work. Various Caribbean countries have also invested in capacity development activities to strengthen their national M&E systems.

In keeping with the fluid nature of the M&E landscape in the Caribbean and driven by the increase in M&E technical assistance needs, the Goal of the Training Strategy is to facilitate and promote the development of monitoring and evaluation knowledge, skills and competence of the personnel who develop and deliver HIV programmes leading to health systems strengthening in the Caribbean.

The strategy covers the types and levels of M&E training that will be delivered to stakeholders throughout the health sector as CHRC seeks to create a pool of well trained, competent individuals who can contribute meaningfully to the generation, interpretation and application of strategic information to make evidence informed decisions.

CHRC will lead the implementation of this strategy and will be supported by partner agencies that share its goals. Key partners include senior and technical staff of Ministries of Health; National AIDS Programme staff, staff of partner agencies such as UNAIDS, Caribbean HIV Alliance and Caribbean Regional HIV Training Network (CHART).

The M&E Training Strategy is couched within the context of HIV/AIDS information needs, but explicitly incorporates capacity development of personnel working in all areas of the HIV response. The Strategy outlines the plan for a five-year M&E training programme to be led by the CHRC and is based on developing a package of services consisting of different elements that build on and complement each another. For example, the CHRC will focus on training workshops and providing technical support/mentorship, but appreciates the importance of engaging tertiary level training institutions to incorporate M&E courses in existing health sciences programmes and develop Degree programmes in M&E.

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CHRC has been providing M&E training and technical capacity development for the past eight years. Inspired by a need to strengthen health systems and to make them more ‘outcome’ driven, a comprehensive training package was developed by CHRC, the first agency to do so in the Caribbean region.

In an effort to systematically develop participants’ knowledge, skills and competencies to become fully functional, personnel performing M&E functions at the national and regional levels will be encouraged to access a package of training opportunities:

• Level I:   Basic M&E Workshop
• Level II:  Basic Research Skills Workshop
• Level III: Data Management and Analysis Workshop
• Level IV: Advanced M&E Workshop
• Level V:  M&E Internship Programme

Basic M&E Workshops are conducted at the country level once per month.

Advanced M&E workshops are conducted at the regional level (targeting at least 12 countries at each workshop) on an annual basis.

For additional details on CHRC’s training Schedule, please see the training calendar on the home page.

View Event Calendar

BASIC PACKAGE

Basic M&E Manual
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) is recognised as an essential management tool. The Basic M&E Training Manual was designed to build the capacity of persons involved in health programme planning and implementation as well as those tasked with the collection and use of data for decision making. Consequently, the aim of the Workshop is to increase participants’ knowledge and understanding of fundamental monitoring and evaluation principles and to enable them to apply them to their work. This is expected to result in greater efficiency and effectiveness of health programmes.

The workshop Manual is structured to ensure that participants are equipped to contribute to their Ministry’s/ institution’s M&E functions including the development of M&E plans and the management of data. It comprises the following modules:

• Introduction to M&E
• Understanding and Describing Your Programme
• The Logic Model
• M&E Indicators
• Data Collection Methods for M&E
• Data Flow
• Data Quality and Data Management
• Introduction to Quantitative and Qualitative Data Analysis
• Dissemination of M&E Findings
• Developing M&E Plans

This Basic M&E Training Workshop Manual is expected to be used by all agencies involved in the conduct of basic M&E training in the Caribbean. In addition, similar to the use of the popular CHRC Research Skills Workshop Manual, it is likely to be a key reference document for M&E practitioners.

Download Basic M&E Training Manual

Basic M&E Facilitator's Guide
The Basic M&E Facilitator Guide was developed to assist persons conducting the workshops to better facilitate the training by utilizing specifically designed group exercises. It includes all group exercises along with relevant model answers and is to be used in tandem with the Basic M&E Workshop Manual.

Download Basic M&E Facilitator's Guide

ADVANCED PACKAGE

Advanced M&E Manual
Consistent with the approach taken with the Basic M&E Training, CHRC has developed an advanced training package which focuses on evaluation theory and methods. This Advanced M&E Training Workshop Manual is expected to be used by all agencies involved in the conduct of Advanced M&E training in the Caribbean. In addition, similar to the use of the popular CHRC Research Skills Workshop Manual, it is likely to be a key reference document for M&E practitioners.

Download Advanced M&E Training Manual

The overall aim of CHRC’s technical support is to assist stakeholders at the country level to develop and strengthen national M&E systems as they seek to improve data collection, data analysis, data management as well as the use of M&E and surveillance data. This will result in improved programme design, implementation and the quality of services provided. It will also involve M&E planning and M&E system strengthening.

Post-workshop follow-up takes the form of technical assistance delivered virtually utilizing email and telephone communication and via in-country missions by CHRC M&E staff. This activity is usually guided and driven by the country’s specific circumstance, the level of development of their M&E system as well as their readiness to receive technical assistance. Support would be provided around specific issues such as the development of M&E Plans; M&E Components of National Strategic Plans; M&E System Assessments. Countries are encouraged to contact CHRC with technical assistance requests that are in line with these priorities.

CHRC has commissioned a customized version of the TRAINSmart software to manage its training data.  These training data have been migrated into the modified TRAINSmart database, including the profile of training recipients. CHRC will fully utilize this database in the analysis of training outcomes and to conduct tracer studies with workshop recipients to assess training effectiveness.