[afro-nets] Last reminder - Course on Monitoring and Evaluation

[Nicole Visser <nvisser@idasolutions.org>]

Last reminder: Course on Monitoring and Evaluation of
Antiretroviral Procurement and Supply Management Systems
--------------------------------------------------------


Dear Madam/Sir,

We would like to remind you that our course on Monitoring and
Evaluation of Antiretroviral Procurement and Supply Management
Systems will start within less then 6 weeks from today: March18
- March 24.

Please find the information again below or check our website at:
http://www.idasolutions.org/index.php?p=training

If you are interested in participating we strongly advise you to
take the necessary action as soon as possible since arranging
your participation will take some time and places are limited.

Finally we would like to take this opportunity to inform you
that IDA Solutions has just launched the IDA Solutions
Discussion Platform on Supply Chain Management. This platform
has been created in order to support field people by giving them
an opportunity to learn from each other by sharing experiences
and have a central place to find background reading concerning
SCM of Essential Medicines. On this discussion platform people
can exchange experiences and add/have access to relevant
information about supply chain management of essential medicines
including ARVs. This platform will operate as a central
communication tool for people working in the field of SCM of
essential medicines in low and middle income countries and to
support (former) course members (of the courses organized by IDA
Solutions) to share experiences and build a network/community.

The SCM Discussion Platform can be found at:
http://www.idasolutionsdplatform.org/

If you are interested in receiving the newsletter that will come
with this new tool, please send an e-mail to
mailto:info@idasolutionsdplatform.org
and we will keep you updated.

Kind regards,

Nicole Visser
Course Administrator
IDA Solutions
Bisonspoor 6003
3605 LV Maarssen, The Netherlands
Phone: +31-346-581-770
Direct: +31-346-581-783
Fax: +31-346-581-789
mailto:nvisser@idasolutions.org
http://www.idasolutions.org/

Please forward/share this message to/with anyone you think could
benefit from this training.

--
IDA Solutions and collaborating Partners are pleased to announce
the training course in Monitoring and Evaluation of
Antiretroviral Procurement and Supply Management Systems
Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 18 - 24 March 2007

Background
The global expansion in responses to human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS),
including antiretroviral treatment (ART) programmes, has been
made possible by increased funding >from a wide variety of
donors and financing organisations. While necessary for
accountability and progress monitoring, feedback reports to
donors are now creating a burden on recipients due to lack of
harmonisation. Consequently calls have been made to harmonise
the reporting requirements including the development of
monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools used in procurement and
supply chain management (PSM).

Recently there has been considerable interest in the development
and use of indicators as tools in health care for monitoring the
quality and performance of health services. Use of these tools
can assist countries to monitor progress in programme
implementation, evaluate performance objectively and revise
strategies on the basis of systematic assessment. Improved M&E
can contribute significantly towards better planning and
management of the supply chain in order to promote efficient and
sustainable access to medicines.

ART-PSM specific M&E systems need to be implemented in the
context of a global effective response to tackle the HIV/AIDS
pandemic, since ART is an essential component of comprehensive
HIV/AIDS care and support. Countries and partners, including
donor agencies can benefit from training programmes on how to
use the M&E tools for progress tracking and for determining
their own priorities for ART-PSM.

Course objectives
*     To discuss the major issues surrounding M&E of ART-PSM
systems such as accountability, continuous improvement, sharing
of "lessons learnt" and "best practices", avoiding duplication
through encouraging single M&E systems at country and regional
levels;
*     To provide practical tools to decision makers and staff
working in HIV/AIDS programs to ensure accountability and to
improve their level of performance;
*     To encourage the exchange of views and experiences between
senior officers and decision makers.

Major topics include:
*     Definition of monitoring and evaluation of antiretroviral
therapy procurement and supply management;
*     Definition of indicators for monitoring and evaluation of
procurement and supply management in the context of
comprehensive antiretroviral therapy;
*     Formulating indicators for monitoring and assessment of
antiretroviral therapy procurement and supply management;
*     Methods of collecting and processing indicator data for
antiretroviral therapy procurement and supply management;
*     Establishing a monitoring and evaluation unit for
antiretroviral therapy procurement and supply management.

Course Audience
The course is especially aimed at senior health system managers
and providers of technical assistance in governmental and non-
governmental organizations in both developed and developing
countries.

The primary target group includes all stakeholders (government,
faith based organisations, NGOs, donors) involved in
implementing as well as managing programs that involve the ART-
PSM. Program managers would benefit from using PSM indicators on
a more regular basis to track their programs for the purpose of
improvement.

Donor agencies, project leaders, technical and implementing
agencies can benefit from using the tools to harmonise
information demands and compare programs across different
countries.

Course Dates
18 - 24 March 2007
Hotel check-in: Sunday March 18th afternoon
Hotel check-out: Saturday March 24th morning

Registration and Information
Please note that strong English skills are necessary to take
part in this course. Space is limited. Registration is on a
first-come, first served basis.

For additional information and registration form, click on the
following link: http://www.idasolutions.org/?p=training
or contact us via:
mailto:training@idasolutions.org