Monitoring and Evaluation in a dynamic health environment

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 in a health system. New M&E frameworks, techniques and information technology will also be examined.

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:

• Compare and critically discuss the fundamental concepts that underpin effective monitoring and evaluation of health programs within health systems
• Formulate the most appropriate M&E strategy in a given situation, develop M&E plans, contrast and adapt suitable evaluation designs, tools and indicators
• Appraise and select new and innovative approaches to M&E ranging from the appropriate use of technology through to new theoretical frameworks and approaches
• Critically analyse how aid architecture and multiple stakeholders in the health system influence the design of an M&E strategy as well as participation and decision making

Assessment

For participants who wish to be examined a paper or exam can be provided. tropEd students must take an exam at the end of the course.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by tropEd. It can be taken as an advanced module for the Master in International Health programme organised by tropEd, a network of European institutions for higher education in international health.

Course Content

Sectoral plans at national, regional or local levels require a strategic investment in management tools that facilitate informed decision making, planning and implementation. Developing appropriate M&E and management information systems is being increasingly recognised as an essential component of any health program. This context is the basis for the course content:

• Introduction to core concepts: overview of M&E, relationship between monitoring and evaluation and project cycle management
• Developments and challenges: factors that influence M&E in relation to new architectures of aid, focusing on poverty and health, the multi-stakeholder environment, partnerships, Civil Society Organisation involvement and accountability,
• Models and frameworks: advantages and limitations of commonly used approaches such as the logical framework approach, realist evaluation, theory of change, monitoring tools for human resources and economic models.
• Methodology: use of quantitative and qualitative approaches, independent reviews and participative methods, developments in information technology and quality assurance systems
• Different stakeholders: addressing and balancing perspectives of different stakeholders in decision making as well as level of participation by policy makers, donors, providers and beneficiaries
• Making M&E equity aware: for example by ensuring data is gender disaggregated; and that the perspectives of minority, disadvantaged and marginalized groups are accommodated
• Ethics: differences between evaluation and research, need for ethical approval, ethical conduct as an evaluator

Learning methods

The course consists of introductory lectures, exercises, case studies, interactive group discussions, debates and role plays, 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.

Facilitators are experts in the field of monitoring and evaluation for health, with extensive experience in health (impact) evaluations. We draw from expertise acquired in the various projects in the field, for example most recently:

• Third Party Monitoring and Evaluation for SEHAT : In this project we work closely with the Ministry of Public Health in Afghanistan and conduct and number of M&E activities across all 34 facilities in Afghanistan to ensure that optimal quality and access to services: health facility functionality assessments and HMIS verification each year, one round of health facility and drug quality assessments, and national household surveys in 2015 and 2018
• Yes I do: The Yes I Do project is a joint collaboration with Plan Netherlands in the lead, along with CHOICE, Rutgers and Amref. These partners are implementing interventions in the seven countries, aiming to reduce child marriage, teenage pregnancies and female genital mutilation/cutting. KIT is the knowledge partner in the consortium leading the development and implementation of the M&E component as well as a number of operational research streams
• MATCH: a number of projects at KIT have been implemented using the KIT MATCH approach to mapping and analyses for targeted disease control and health system strengthening. This approach enables to capitalize on M&E data by applying geographical information systems (GIS) to develop locally differentiated strategies.

Application

Admission criteria

• A Bachelor degree obtained at an institution of academic higher education in medicine, public health or another related field to health care, such as health sciences, economics, social science or nursing. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree obtained at an institution outside the Netherlands may be asked for additional methods to prove that they meet the admission requirements.
• A basic knowledge of epidemiology and principles of social research
• Experience in Monitoring and Evaluation
• At least 3 years of relevant work experience in, or relevant for, low-and middle-income settings.
• Good motivation (see below)
• In addition candidates are expected to have good proficiency in spoken and written English.

Application procedure

The application package is due two months before the start of the course.

Please upload your application online. The following documents should be uploaded:

• A one-page letter of motivation
• Copies of your diplomas and grade reports
• An up-to-date curriculum vitae and a list of publications if applicable

What we expect from your motivation letter:

Please indicate in your motivation letter why you want to follow this specific course, why you want to follow the course at KIT Amsterdam, what do you expect to learn and how you will apply your newly gained competencies from the course in your work, what kind of benefits will it bring to your future career, etc. Describe a relevant problem you have experienced in the last two years that you would like to discuss during this specific course. Your motivation should be about ½-1 page. Please do not repeat your CV again.

This course can be taken on its own, or as advanced module of the Master of Public Health (MPH)  or Master in International Health (MIH) programme.

Visa requirements

Citizens of most EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries do not need a visa to enter the Netherlands. Visit the Nuffic website for the latest information on visa requirements.

Participants from other countries must obtain a short-stay visa (for up to three months) through the Netherlands embassy or consulate covering the applicant’s country. Applicants will need a letter of admission to the course and proof of sponsorship or sufficient funds to cover the course fee, travel and accommodation costs. Applicants should take into account that in some countries this procedure can take several months.

European Credit

The European Credit Transfer System (EC) facilitates the transfer of course credits between different institutions of the same academic level. A course comprising 28 hours of formal teaching and private study is equivalent to one EC credit point.

Insurance requirements

Course participants and accompanying dependents are required by Dutch law to have health, accident and third party insurance. Unless their current insurance policy covers their stay abroad, participants must insure themselves and their dependents in the Netherlands. Dutch insurance companies offer reasonable rates to foreign students. KIT can assist with arranging insurance.

Accreditation

This course is also accredited for the Master in International Health programme organised by tropEd, a network of European institutions for higher education in international health.

Funding

The arrangement of financial support to cover all study costs is the responsibility of the applicant. KIT does not offer financial support or scholarships.

Scholarships Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP)

Unfortunately the OKP programme has ended. For 2024 there are no scholarship rounds.

MENA scholarship

We are happy to inform you that for the course in summer 2024 there are MSP MENA Scholarships available for participants from the following countries:

• Algeria
• Egypt
• Iran
• Iraq
• Jordan
• Lebanon
• Libya
• Morocco
• Syria
• Oman
• Tunisia
• Mauritania

(Syria: Syrians can apply for a scholarship if they are living and working in one of the other countries listed above)

Application period for the scholarship: 8 February-26 March 2024.

If you are eligible please apply as soon as possible for academic admission but at the latest by 4 March 2024 to be ready when the application period opens.

Read more about the MENA scholarship

• Up-to-date approach to complex public health issues
• Practice-oriented
• Exchange between disciplines
• Interactive Education
• Development of personal and professional competencies
• Network building

• Participants from diverse backgrounds and countries
• Personal tutoring
• Teaching by highly qualified specialists
• Positively reviewed by tropEd
• KIT: international centre of excellence in international health and development
• Accredited by NVAO