Improve Metrics, Monitoring & Evaluation

The Global Health Initiative (GHI) promotes the collection and use of high-quality data to improve programs and inform decision making. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) should be incorporated throughout the program process, beginning with the assessment of needs and program planning through routine monitoring of implementation with a robust evaluation agenda. This ongoing feedback and analysis allows for necessary changes to be made in a timely manner and ultimately will lead to improved health outcomes.

U.S. Government Approaches to M&E
The U.S. Government works to incorporate M&E in all its work, from collaboration with international organizations at a global level, to strengthening host country government systems, to building the capacity of local community organizations to routinely monitor and evaluate their programs. Examples of interventions the U.S. Government supports to ensure a strong evidence base include:

• Strengthening of routine host country government health information systems through support for development of systems architecture, standards, analysis, training, and other technical assistance
• Support to population-based surveys, both tool development at the central level and implementation of the survey at the country level
• Ongoing technical assistance and funding to further strengthen targeted and routine surveillance systems at facilities and in the community
• Building a strong evidence base through program and impact evaluations
• Development of tools and training materials to support routine program monitoring

Holding Ourselves Accountable
In terms of monitoring and evaluating our own efforts, GHI reinforces the imperative that U.S. Government investments be results-based through routine reporting and rigorous evaluations. The interagency GHI M&E Working Group has identified measures – largely drawn from internationally accepted indicators – that demonstrate the achievements of the U.S. Government across the element areas and principles. 

Routine reporting is complemented by a Learning Agenda, which is designed to answer priority policy-relevant questions through evaluation and research. The GHI approach is to apply the seven core principles to our work to achieve better health outcomes. The Learning Agenda focuses on evaluating this intersection.

Achieving GHI Health Goals and Principles
The U.S. Government works in close collaboration with host country governments, other donors, and implementing partners on both improving M&E systems globally as well as achieving the ambitious targets established at the onset of the GHI. These systems are complex to develop and maintain and therefore require the resources (human and financial) of many partners.

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