The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) was launched by President Clinton in 2002 with the aim of increasing access to treatment for those living with HIV/AIDS and strengthening health systems. It has now expanded its work to include the provision of treatment and diagnostic tests for a range of other diseases, by reducing the cost of healthcare commodities and delivery.
The aims of the programme
DFID is supporting CHAI in the implementation of a £35m programme entitled ‘Market-Shaping for Access to Safe, Effective and Affordable Health Commodities’. The programme, which began in July 2012, aims to make markets for key health commodities for HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, as well as for vaccines and contraceptives, work more effectively through both supply and demand-side interventions. Better-functioning markets support enhanced access to health commodities for the poor as well as increasing value for money for donors, governments and other funders. A particular focus of the programme is to increase the supply of commodities from high-quality, lower-cost suppliers.
The evaluation
In 2014, DFID decided to contract a supplier to carry out the evaluation of the programme to contribute to its oversight of the programme and also contribute to strengthen and adjust approaches that CHAI is deploying in this programme as necessary. Further, the evaluation is also intended to contribute to better understanding, decision-making and tools among the broader set of players active in market dynamics for health commodities through the identification of best practice and other lessons learned.
Our approach
Itad is leading this evaluation that covers a sample of four programme areas – HIV Point of care diagnostics, HIV treatment, Malaria treatment, and Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) – and a review of one – the Value for Money in HIV spending. Our approach is based on a Theory of Change which provides the overarching framework for the evaluation. The methodology for data collection consists of a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods, including modelling, key informant interviews and most significantly, in-depth country case studies.
For this challenging assignment, we have mobilised a team of highly respected and qualified experts specialised in evaluation (including of access to medicines interventions, particularly market-shaping programmes), health, market dynamics of health commodities, pharmaceutical supply issues, regulatory and licencing frameworks, procurement, supply chain, Health economics and Value for Money, and with sectoral expertise in HIV, malaria and Long-Active Contraceptives.
The duration of the evaluation is 12 months, with the final report expected for October 2015.
Contact Sam McPherson (sam.mcpherson@itad.com) if you would like to discuss this project.
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