USAID/Ghana Evaluate for Health (E4H) Quarterly Report, October 1 – December 31, 2015

In support of this, Evaluate for Health (Evaluate) assists USAID/Ghana's Health, Population and Nutrition Office (HPNO) in improving accountability, learning and evidence-based decision-making. Evaluate also builds Ghana's local capacity to sustain monitoring, evaluation and research functions, and provides overall evaluation support to the entire health portfolio. Evaluate achieved major milestones across all three components this quarter. Component 1: Evaluation Studies and Assessments included the Health Systems Baseline Survey (HSBS), where Evaluate delivered regional data tables and analysis to HPNO and IPs. Evaluate also presented baseline results to the director general of Ghana Health Service (GHS) and its department directors, and reviewed options for HSBS dissemination. Additionally, Evaluate submitted a draft report for the Resiliency in Northern Ghana (RING) Gender Operations Research and discussed potential concepts for the next National Health Research Symposium with HPNO. Component 2: Performance Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Assistance involved procuring an ArcGIS Online multi-user license and instructing HPNO IPs on how to access and use the platform during a three-day workshop. Evaluate also facilitated a HPNO-sponsored partnership with CERSGIS to collaborate on GIS activities, reviewed IP M&E plans and tools when requested, developed and implemented the HPNO data management and GIS strategy, and provided technical assistance to IPs. Furthermore, Evaluate held two M&E Community of Practice (MECOP) meetings this quarter, where the group discussed data quality assessments (DQAs), the Development Information System, and data management and GIS strategy. Component 3: Strengthening Local Capacity for Research Assessment involved submitting a proposed budget and scope of work for capacity-building activities for two local research institutes. Evaluate's senior capacity development adviser met with GHS's Research and Development Division (RDD) and Dodowa Health Research Center to discuss their priorities for capacity development and cost-sharing opportunities. Evaluate received approval from HPNO to move forward with the proposed activities. Scheduling challenges impacted the timeliness of several of Evaluate's work products this quarter. The RING Gender OR was Evaluate's first major operations research activity, and Evaluate's senior capacity development adviser had to reschedule a meeting with Navrongo Health Research Center due to dust storms. Evaluate's team worked diligently to meet the challenges and deliver quality results.