Detailed Mechanism Funding and Narrative

Years of mechanism: 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Details for Mechanism ID: 12728
Country/Region: Tanzania
Year: 2013
Main Partner: RTI International
Main Partner Program: NA
Organizational Type: Private Contractor
Funding Agency: HHS/CDC
Total Funding: $790,000

The purpose of this project is to provide TA to strengthen the health management information systems (HMIS) capacity within MOHSW. The project team is providing TA specifically to the Monitoring and Evaluation Strengthening Initiative (MESI), a national initiative, in the eight work packages that have been planned, including areas in HMIS software development, systems integration and information communication technology (ICT), data use, systems strengthening, project management, and administration.

The MESI has been developed to support the HSSP III (2009-2015) and is aligned with a core principle in GHI related to improving and strengthening the health system. The project team is also supporting the ICT Unit within MOHSW to leverage ICT activities. This projects target population for TA is MOHSW personnel.

In order to reduce costs, local consultants will be requested to provide TA to MOHSW, rather than hiring ex-pat staff. A full-time local technical staff person will be seconded to the MOHSW 90% of the time, which will help to build capacity and reduce staffing costs in hiring international staff. The project is also working with MOHSW to use its own resources for travel (vehicle and per diem) to regional sites to reduce project costs.

To date, M&E plans have focused on activity monitoring related to TA requests, ensuring that activities are completed. Once the local staff person is hired, they will work to expand and track the M&E plan for the MESI.

Funding for Strategic Information (HVSI): $590,000

RTI and its sub partners will provide TA to MOHSW Monitoring and Evaluation Strengthening Initiative (MESI), specifically focusing on HMIS strengthening objectives and related planned activities, including providing TA to the MOHSW ICT Unit. The ICT Unit supports the MESI as well as being responsible for all ICT at the MOHSW. The MESI five-year work plan includes use of Global Fund, and other donor funding, in a coordinated project involving several different implementers and partners to achieve MOHSW HMIS strengthening objectives. RTI support will focus on providing TA to activities under the MESI work plan, which includes project management and assistance; HMIS software development, systems integration, and ICT; and data use and systems strengthening.

In FY 2012, TA for project management and assistance will include provision of seconded Project Manager/Systems Analyst (PM), 90% staff time, to MOHSW to work with each of the eight MESI work areas. The main goal will be to revise the current work plan and update the overall five-year work plan in all of the eight work areas. The PM will also be responsible for assisting all work area leads, managing their activities and tracking timelines and budgets, while also assisting MOHSW to improve their skills in project management.

TA will also be implemented to achieve the enterprise architecture (EA) objective, which includes finalizing the EA and data integration plans. The project will work closely with MOHSW to offer assistance while managing the software vendor who is customizing the DHIS-2 system. Key milestones include hosting the EA workshop with all stakeholders to agree on a timeline for revisions of the EA and finalizing the DHIS-2 requirements and design documentation.

TA activities will also focus on developing the draft Data Use and Dissemination Strategy and related plans. Implementation of the strategy will require providing TA to MOHSW to develop the data use and dissemination monitoring framework. Key milestones include drafting the data use and dissemination strategy and developing a draft dissemination monitoring framework.

The ICT Unit will require TA in implementing the current ICT activities identified in the ICT Unit Roadmap. Key milestones for implementation will include finalizing the master facility list and owner of this list, completing the draft software and hardware technology roadmap for MOHSW, completing setup of MOHSW internal project portfolio tracking system, setting up an ICT Unit technical advisory group and governance structure, creating a library of ICT Unit standard operating procedures, and creating an ICT communication plan.

Funding for Health Systems Strengthening (OHSS): $100,000

RTI will continue working closely with the MOHSW on broad health information system planning, enterprise architecture and ICT infrastructure planning. OHSS funds will be invested in numerous information systems that would benefit from enhanced MOHSW capacity to coordinate and plan information systems. RTI is currently supporting the design of a master facility list and will be helping MOHSW define standards and data exchange mechanisms.

Funding for Treatment: Adult Treatment (HTXS): $100,000

RTI is tasked with providing technical assistance to the MOHSW, NACP and other stakeholders on the conceptualization, requirements definition and high level design of a HIV/AIDS care and treatment database system.

Subpartners Total: $0
Regenstrief Institute, Inc.: NA
University of Washington: NA
Cross Cutting Budget Categories and Known Amounts Total: $200,000
Human Resources for Health $200,000