USAID/Tanzania mid-term performance evaluation of the community health and social welfare systems strengthening program

and World Education, Inc. The program works with the Government of Tanzania (GoT) and other health and social system actors to achieve two objectives: 1) higher performing human resources for community health and social welfare services; and 2) more functional, better coordinated community structures and systems to better serve key and vulnerable populations. The purpose of the evaluation is to: 1) assess program performance and achievements; 2) analyze the effectiveness of program implementation; and 3) document good practices, gaps/limitations, and lessons. The evaluation concludes CHSSP demonstrated a flexible management approach and took effective measures to address the multiple changes to its program description to stay on track and meet key indicator targets each program year. In addition, CHSSP made important contributions to strengthening: 1) the health and social welfare enabling environment; 2) human resource capacity at the national, regional, council, ward, and village levels; and 3) community structures and systems for providing community health and social welfare services to priority and key populations. Several threats, however, exist to the ongoing functioning and institutionalization of the contributions made by CHSSP. While the program has taken a number of steps to address these threats, any followon program will need to consider how to consolidate gains achieved during CHSSP and move them toward institutionalization within the GoT and the relevant community-level structures and systems.