GHARP Project's Strategic Information Activities

OCTOBER 2008 — GHARP's strategic information activities included monitoring and evaluation (M&E), targeted evaluation design, implementation, and surveillance. The project's SI activities were critical in defining the magnitude of the HIV epidemic in Guyana.

The GHARP Project's NGO monitoring and reporting system has been adopted as the national monitoring and reporting system by line ministries and civil society organizations implementing HIV/AIDS programs. The system, initially developed to track indicators under the GHARP Project, was reviewed and modified through consultations with national stakeholders such as the Health Sector Development Unit, the National AIDS Program Secretariat, and other donor organizations. The GHARP-developed guidelines were also modified and now serve as the national document guiding use of the system.

As a follow-up to the work done in developing routine data collection and management systems, GHARP developed MS Access databases for the storage and management of programmatic data. These are summary databases for the National HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing Program, PMTCT, and NGOs implementing HIV/AIDS programs. A database was also developed using the national NGO guidelines. The electronic system captured data at the individual program level for each implementing agency.

In collaboration with the MOH, GHARP built local capacity in HIV surveillance with a behavioral surveillance survey (BSS) in different populations. The survey involved female CSWs, MSM, in-school and out-of-school youth, and uniformed services and security guard populations. The information gathered from these surveys will track the overall progress made in the national response to HIV/AIDS in Guyana and assist national stakeholders in assessing and evaluating interventions and proposing changes when needed.

Dr. Navindra Persaud, director of GHARP's Strategic Information and Prevention (SIP) Unit, found the work of building the capacity of the NGOs on the GHARP Project a challenge, but also noted the feeling of pride in watching them develop their M&E and reporting systems.

PHOTO: (Top) Shellon Henry, SI officer for quality assurance, facilitates a monitoring and evaluation workshop. (Bottom) Dr Navindra Persaud (FHI/Guyana).