Final Report: MEASURE Evaluation's Work on PEPFAR OVC Programs

Strengthening systems that support vulnerable children and families ensures that children living with HIV receive necessary services and that children who are affected do not acquire the virus. MEASURE Evaluation improves programs for OVC by improving the quality and accessibility of data on programs and target populations. The organization builds OVC monitoring and evaluation (M&E) capacity globally by developing indicators and tools, evaluating programs, triangulating data, and providing technical assistance and mentoring. Recent work includes a suite of activities covering routine monitoring, costing, size estimation, social service system strengthening, outcomes monitoring, and national OVC M&E system strengthening. MEASURE Evaluation has assessed M&E systems for collecting routine data on HIV testing and treatment for OVC. Findings were used to revise the PEPFAR monitoring, evaluating, and reporting (MER) indicator OVC_HIVSTAT and develop an HIV risk assessment prototype. The organization developed a set of resources to support the collection of Version 2.3 of PEPFAR's MER OVC routine monitoring indicators (OVC_SERV and OVC_HIVSTAT) and conducted trainings in six countries and for headquarters-based staff. An indicator framework, known as the OVC Indicator Matrix, outlines the path to better outcomes for HIV-positive and -affected children. Countries can use the matrix to develop custom indicators to fill information gaps. MEASURE Evaluation has provided technical support for collecting the PEPFAR OVC MER Essential Survey Indicators (ESIs) through guidance on design, implementation, and data analysis in eight countries. The organization has developed various tools and resources to support OVC programs, including a Household Vulnerability Prioritization Tool, an assessment tool to determine a household's readiness to graduate, and a strategic planning tool that estimates key OVC populations at the national and subnational levels. MEASURE Evaluation has also conducted research and evaluation studies, including a mixed-methods program evaluation of the Uganda Comprehensive Responses for Vulnerable Children and Their Families (SCORE) project, which found improvements in school enrollment and HIV testing and a decrease in food failure, child abuse, and child labor. MEASURE Evaluation has helped develop the Government of Kenya's Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS) and provided technical oversight for the development of OVC national M&E tools and the Nigeria OVC Management Information System (NOMIS). The organization's tools and resources are widely applicable and can be easily adapted and scaled to specific country circumstances.