USAID/Ghana Evaluate for Health (E4H) Quarterly Report, April 1 – June 30, 2015

E4H works to ensure that local capacity is built to sustain monitoring, evaluation, and research functions and provides overall evaluation support to the entire health portfolio. This includes establishing baselines, developing and implementing studies and evaluations, building the capacity of Ghana's research institutions, and rapidly implementing operations research to guide continual programmatic improvement. The National Health Research Dissemination Symposium (NHRDS) was cohosted by E4H, the Ghana Health Service (GHS), and the Ministry of Health (MOH) on May 27-28 in Accra. The event, themed "Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths in Ghana," was attended by over 150 participants and was the culmination of more than six months of planning by the event steering committee. Participant feedback was highly positive, and there was strong endorsement for hosting similar events on a biannual or annual basis to encourage collaboration and learning among policymakers, researchers, and practitioners operating in Ghana's health sector. E4H subcontractor TNS RMS Limited (TNS) completed data collection for the Health, Population, and Nutrition Office (HPNO) baseline survey, achieving a facility completion rate of 98 percent (597 out of 610 target facilities). E4H subcontractor Mathematica completed and submitted preliminary data tables and a final report outline for HPNO, E4H, and key IP review and comment. The IP M&E Workshop was hosted by E4H to review proposed approaches to harmonization of the HPNO IPs monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system. The workshop focused on activity M&E plans (AMEPs), data quality assessments, integrating performance measures and data, harmonization of work planning, and knowledge management. E4H submitted a final draft of the Koko Plus Scalability Assessment to USAID/HPNO on June 8, 2015. The purpose of the report is to inform USAID investment decisions related to the development of the Koko Plus nutritional supplement as a social business initiative. The NHRDS provided a rare forum for Ghanaian health researchers and policymakers to share their experiences. Participants reviewing the event strongly endorsed the idea that similar events be hosted on a biannual or even annual basis to further encourage collaboration and learning among policymakers, researchers, and practitioners operating in Ghana's health sector, with a particular focus on encouraging the participation of young researchers. USAID/HPNO and its implementing partners have also strongly endorsed the idea of a shared database or knowledge portal that would encourage information-sharing and help harmonize activities and reporting. However, identifying a secure and cost-effective platform that is compliant with the data-sharing requirements of the U.S. Government (USG) remains a challenge. It is also important that any knowledge-sharing portal remain useful, active, and supported after the end of the E4H project. Component 1: Evaluation Studies and Assessments is focused on organizing national research symposia, such as the NHRDS, to promote collaboration and learning among policymakers, researchers, and practitioners operating in Ghana's health sector. E4H also supports the development and implementation of studies and evaluations, including the HPNO baseline survey, to inform USAID investment decisions and guide programmatic improvement. The E4H project is working to strengthen local capacity for research management by building the capacity of Ghana's research institutions and rapidly implementing operations research to guide continual programmatic improvement. The project is also focused on improving accountability, learning, and evidence-based decision-making in the health sector through monitoring and evaluation support to the Mission, its implementing partners, and selected local partners. The E4H project is making progress in its activities, including the completion of the HPNO baseline survey, the hosting of the IP M&E Workshop, and the submission of the Koko Plus Scalability Assessment. However, challenges remain, including identifying a secure and cost-effective platform for a shared database or knowledge portal that is compliant with the data-sharing requirements of the U.S. Government (USG).