The health theme is working with UNICEF on a formative evaluation of their health systems strengthening (HSS) approaches. They are examining two separate but inter-related domains of UNICEF’s engagement in HSS – how UNICEF as an organisation is supporting the changes sought in its approach, and how programme implementation is supporting HSS at country-level. We also continue to work with the Global Fund. After undertaking a review of the Global Fund’s strategy in 2015, we conducted a follow-up Strategic Review in 2017, assessing progress and analysing how lessons learned are contributing to the Global Fund’s implementation of its 2017–2022 Strategy. With Euro Health Group, Itad is also delivering the Global Fund Prospective Country Evaluations (PCEs). The aim of the PCEs is to enable more in-depth, real-time monitoring and evaluation, learning and problem solving, and will enable ongoing programme adaptation.
The Organisational Effectiveness theme is evaluating the Harvard Ministerial Leadership programme (HMLP) on behalf of Big Win Philanthropy. The HMLP is an initiative that aims to stimulate transformational leadership capacities and political acumen among education, health and finance ministers from across South East Asia, Latin America and Africa. Itad will be working with HMLP to better understand how the programme is performing, what is working well and where there are challenges. The theme is also evaluating the DFID/SIDA jointly funded Strengthening Research and Knowledge Systems (SRKS) programme, assessing the effectiveness of the programme in increasing sustainable access to, and production of, research literature in low-income countries, and its contribution to economic and social development. We have recently started evaluating the Norwegian Aid administration’s practice of Results-Based Management, its link with improved partner effectiveness and improved development outcomes, and we are working with consortium leader GFA on support to Quality Monitoring Systems used the EC Development Directorate.
Building on the monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) activities that the FCAS theme is rolling out with the FCO CSSF in East Africa, we are also working with the FCO to develop MEL for the CSSF across 7 countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
The Gender theme is working with the UNFPA, a new client for Itad. We are evaluating UNFPA support to the prevention, response to and elimination of gender-based violence, which includes case studies in 6 countries worldwide. The theme is also delivering an external assessment of value for money, sustainability and coordination of DFID’s funding to the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme to end FGM.
