Developing core competencies for monitoring and evaluation tracks in South Asian MPH programs

It provides vital information for decision-making, assisting in reviewing the performance of government policies, programs, and projects. M&E is a continuous process that involves monitoring, which measures the progress of a program, and evaluation, which is a periodic measurement of the effectiveness of a project in terms of its objectives. M&E is crucial in the health sector, with the World Health Organization (WHO) partnering with several other agencies to develop better M&E systems across countries. Functional M&E systems consist of several components and require people with specialized skills. The complexity of modern public health systems necessitates different types of data from multiple sources spanning across several health system building blocks. M&E structures, systems, and processes are expected to be integrated throughout the life-cycle of public health programs. The acquisition of M&E skills should not be a natural culmination of experience within the health system but rather developed with specific and purposive mentoring and training. The presence of trained M&E personnel within health systems is a vital ingredient in building strong, yet flexible M&E systems in the health sector. This M&E capacity is deficient in many developing countries, including India. Postgraduate degree programs such as Masters of Public Health (MPH), which include courses on M&E, aim to offer the training needed to equip M&E leaders with necessary skills. A review of M&E tracks/concentrations available globally was undertaken to landscape the current teaching in M&E. Institutions offering M&E tracks/concentrations in MPH programs globally were mapped through an online search. The search strategy was developed independently by two members of the team and reviewed by an additional third member. The search was conducted by an intern as part of his coursework under the supervision of a team member. This search was supplemented by a snowballing approach to identify institutions offering these programs. The curricular contents of the M&E tracks/concentrations were extracted and compiled in a Microsoft Excel worksheet. The extraction and compilation of the data were done by two team members independently. The frequency of inclusion of a domain within the M&E track/concentration at the institutes was determined using the competency framework adopted by the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) for a Masters degree in public health. Four independent team members reviewed the curriculum of the track/concentration and matched the course contents to the corresponding core domains suggested in the ASPH framework. The depth of coverage for a specific core domain was assessed using the Miller's Triangle as a reference. Miller's Triangle is divided into four progressive steps of competency ranging from 'knows' to 'does.' The methodology for the analysis of the curricular content was finalized with an aim to minimize subjectivity and interpretation errors of the curriculum reviewers. Each available curriculum was independently reviewed by four reviewers. The reviewers were standardized in M&E by completing a standard course on M&E fundamentals available on the MEASURE Evaluation website. A consultative face-to-face meeting was held with experts from academics and M&E to evolve South Asia-specific M&E competencies. The meeting involved representation from 11 institutions across Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The group engaged in a focused discussion to reach consensus on a set of 15 core competencies for an M&E track in South Asian MPH programs. The core competencies were identified through a consultative group exercise involving representation from 11 institutions across Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The core competencies for an M&E track/concentration in MPH programs in South Asia include the ability to design and implement M&E systems, collect and analyze data, and use the results for decision-making. The competencies also include the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and projects, identify areas for improvement, and develop strategies for improvement. The competencies are essential for M&E leaders to equip them with necessary skills to develop and implement effective M&E systems in the health sector.