Regional Workshop on Monitoring and Evaluation of Malaria Programs Activity Report

The workshop brought together 17 M&E professionals from seven countries to explore concepts and practical approaches to M&E in malaria programs. The objectives of the workshop were to provide training on fundamental concepts and practical approaches to M&E in malaria programs, discuss the application of tools and data systems used to monitor and evaluate malaria programs, provide participants with hands-on experience in developing M&E plans, and share M&E experiences from other countries. The workshop originated in 2010, when MEASURE Evaluation partnered with the University of Ghana, School of Public Health (UGSPH) to design and implement an Anglophone workshop on M&E to build the capacity of professionals involved in malaria M&E programs in sub-Saharan Africa. The partnership between MEASURE Evaluation and UGSPH supports the UGSPH mission to produce skilled public health professionals who will be agents of change and help transform the health sector. To prepare for the workshop, MEASURE Evaluation and UGSPH sought facilitators, set the date based on the availability of facilitators, revised the modules to incorporate previous participants' suggestions and lessons learned, held a facilitators' workshop, advertised the workshop, sent invitations, and selected participants. The facilitators' meeting, held June 3-4 at the Maa Sankofa Hotel, Aburi, provided an opportunity for facilitators to review previous workshops and offer ideas for improvement. The workshop received applications from 38 professionals from 15 countries and accepted 17 applications from candidates in 7 countries. Of these participants, 7 were female and 10 male. The content of the workshop included course modules taught as didactic lessons, plenary sessions, and group discussions. Facilitators led individual and group exercises, and participants received reports of pre- and post-test results. The workshop was conducted in partnership with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), and the World Health Organization (WHO) country office. The facilitators included experts from UGSPH, NMCP, and WHO, who provided training and support to the participants. The workshop was advertised through various channels, including routine messages to workshop alumni, previous applicants, funders, and other interested parties, as well as advertisements in The Daily Graphic and on list servs. The workshop aimed to improve the capacity of professionals involved in malaria M&E programs in sub-Saharan Africa. The partnership between MEASURE Evaluation and UGSPH has been instrumental in building the capacity of professionals in the region. The workshop has been conducted annually since 2010, and the partnership has been successful in achieving its objectives. The workshop was supported by the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the terms of MEASURE Evaluation cooperative agreement AIDOAA-L-14-00004. MEASURE Evaluation is implemented by the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in partnership with ICF International, John Snow, Inc., Management Sciences for Health, Palladium, and Tulane University.