Implementation of regional and international HIV prevention - SAfAIDS

6.2 Monitoring and evaluation6.2.1 National capacity to monitor and evaluate effectiveness of HIV andAIDS strategiesHIV and AIDS co-ordinating bodies in Swaziland and Zambia have strong M&E units backed bytheir central statistical offices with a capacity to monitor the HIV and AIDS national responses.However there are various challenges specific to each country that needs strengthening inorder to ensure that this capacity is realised.In Swaziland, although NERCHA has a strong M&E unit, monitoring and evaluation systemsof implementing agencies of HIV and AIDS interventions are not homogenous and, in mostcases, weak. A recent assessment of M&E capacity of HIV and AIDS organisations in Swazilandidentified M&E technical skills as a common gap. There was lack of experience in advancedareas of research methodology, design, data management and use of qualitative data analysissoftware. This translated to a limited capacity for adequate management of M&E processes atorganisational level.Government agencies’ capacity to monitor and evaluate were found to be generally weakerthan that of NGOs’. Further, there was less support for M&E activities for departments notdealing with traditional health and welfare issues, compared to those operating under MoHSW.Funding for M&E is generally low. However, a comprehensive picture has not been developedsince NERCHA’s financial system is only able to track projects that it funds directly, and thusleaving out projects funded by or through other sources. Even though the plan does notspecifically state the targeted annual funding resources for HIV and AIDS interventions that isto be earmarked for M&E, the realisation of the need to dedicate resources to the componentis evidenced by its inclusion as one of the core indicators. Human resource capacity has alsobeen a major challenge to the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the nation’sresponses to HIV and AIDS.For Zambia, the capacity of the M&E unit at NAC has grown in recent years into a reasonablywell-staffed unit with some levels of specialisation. The current establishment and staffinglevels of the Unit are outlined below:Organisational structure of the NAC M&E unit in Zambia 5DIRECTOR OF M&EM&E Advisor (UNAIDS)38Resource CentreManagerLibrarian/IEC OfficerM&E SpecialistM&E OfficerResearch SpecialistData Entry clerk5 Adopted from NAC OCA Report, 2009