SUMMARY:

This activity aims to improve OVC information gathering and reporting systems for both the Department of

Social Development (DSD) and PEPFAR OVC implementing partners. In addition, the activity aims to

improve OVC service delivery and assess program effectiveness by generating information about OVC

programs through a targeted evaluation.

BACKGROUND:

This activity was supported by MEASURE Evaluation in FY 2005 and FY 2006. The MEASURE activities

will be recompeted in FY 2007 and it is anticipated that the same partner will continue these activities in FY

2008. PEPFAR funds have been used to work with the DSD to support a resident advisor (RA) within the

DSD under the direction of Chief Director of the HIV and AIDS Unit. His role includes developing the M&E

component of the National Plan of Action for OVC and the DSD's policy framework for OVC made

vulnerable by HIV and AIDS, as well as developing an operational plan. In FY 2006 the M&E Advisor

provided program management support to the organization selected to develop a management information

system (MIS) to track OVC. In addition, the RA works to build the capacity of DSD staff in M&E to ensure

sustainability of the M&E systems that will be developed.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

ACTIVITY 1: M&E Strategy

The PEPFAR funded M&E RA to the DSD will assist them to implement the M&E strategy. A key

component of the DSD M&E system in South Africa will be the MIS for OVC co-funded by PEPFAR and the

DSD. The M&E RA will continue to serve as the liaison between DSD, the MIS contractor, implementing

partners and other donor agencies; oversee major time-lines for the MIS Contractor, and provide technical

assistance to the MIS Contractor in the following areas: guidance on database design issues relevant to

DSD's M&E strategy and operational plan to ensure key objectives of DSD are met with the system;

oversight on functionality and user interface; ensure that data quality and integrity is maintained; and

coordinate training needs of the users at local and provincial level once the MIS system is fully developed.

The expected result of this activity is a functional national MIS system for OVC programs.

ACTIVITY 2: M&E Capacity Development

The M&E RA will continue to develop the M&E capacity of staff within the DSD and local partners. The M&E

RA will coordinate M&E training needs within the DSD and of local implementing partners, conduct site

visits to local and provincial sites in order to assess gaps in skills and knowledge in M&E and provide

technical assistance to meet such needs. The M&E RA will evaluate and modify data utilization and flow

within DSD. The expected result of this activity is a sustainable M&E unit within the DSD.

These activities will contribute to tracking the success of achieving the PEPFAR objective of 10 million

people in care at both a local and global levels by providing valuable information for decision making.

SUMMARY:

This partner will provide a broad program of technical assistance and other targeted project support to

improve the quality, availability and use of Strategic Information (SI) in South Africa. The SI activity will

contribute to strengthening programs, improving accountability and reporting, and information sharing within

PEPFAR partners.

BACKGROUND:

MEASURE Evaluation supported this activity in FY 2005 and FY 2006. The MEASURE activities will be

recompeted in FY 2007 and it is anticipated that the same partner will continue these activities in FY 2008.

The goal of this activity is to improve the collection, analysis, and use of SI in planning, policy-making,

management, monitoring, and evaluation of the South Africa PEPFAR program.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS:

ACTIVITY 1: Partner Capacity Building

This partner will work to strengthen the capacity of PEPFAR implementing partners to monitor and evaluate

their programs. The PEPFAR South Africa approach is multi-faceted and includes the following activities:

(1) M&E capacity building workshops: The five-day basic M&E workshop will be offered to PEPFAR

partners three times a year.

(2) M&E workshops on specific topics: There is increasing interest among PEPFAR partners for more

specialized M&E training on such topics as data analysis, qualitative methods and research and evaluation

methods for program improvement. Trainings will be implemented in collaboration with a local South Africa

partner.

(3) Partner-specific workshops: There are a number of large partners (or primes who have many sub-

partners or sites) that want to deepen their M&E capacity. FY 2008 funds will be used to conduct partner-

specific workshops to respond to this need.

(4) Technical Assistance: Individual M&E technical assistance will be provided to PEPFAR implementing

partners as needed.

ACTIVITY 2: Collaboration with USG/South Africa (USG/SA) SI team

This partner will work closely with the USG/SA SI team on the development and implementation of SI

systems for the PEPFAR program. Specific activities include:

(1) South Africa Strategic Information Manual: Update and disseminate a compendium of information and

procedures to support PEPFAR.

(2) Partner M&E Meetings: Coordinate and facilitate partner meetings.

(3) Ongoing collaboration: Support collaboration among PEPFAR partners given the growing data and

reporting demands of PEPFAR.

ACTIVITY 3: Increased demand, availability and utilization of SI

This partner will utilize multiple strategies for increasing the demand, availability and utilization of SI in

South Africa by both USG and South African partners. In November 2004 MEASURE Evaluation contracted

with Khulisa Management Services to develop the Data Warehouse (DW). Initially Khulisa focused on

developing the PEPFAR reporting system, but in the future Khulisa plans to make the DW more useful for

partners and USG staff. This partner will develop ways to improve data management and data use by

supporting a database that stores and provides easily extractable information received from PEPFAR

partners in South Africa.

These activities contribute to the overall goals of PEPFAR at both a local and global levels by providing

valuable information for decision making.