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Impact assessment : measuring what matters

SARMA, Jaisankar
VICARY, Bernard
2003

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In program assessment, impact can refer to outcomes that are shown to be caused by a program, and which would not have occurred in the absence of the program. Evaluation of impact in this sense involves analysis of causal relationships. This has been most successfully accomplished when assessing empirical indicators, in comparison to other social and cultural indicators associated with development. Assessing causal relationships when evaluating community development programs remains very challenging. Evaluations often have credible conclusions about results, but only provide hints about impact, in this sense.
The concepts and principles in this paper apply more to long-term community based development programs rather than disaster response programs. They are written from the perspective of an NGO practitioner, where evaluation is seen as part of the overall program cycle and normal program activities

TIC y reducción de la pobreza en América Latina y el Caribe|[ICTs and poverty reduction in Latin America and the Caribbean]

FINQUELIEVICH, Susana
2003

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This research analyzes the impacts of ICT on poverty reduction in Latin America and the Caribbean and proposes strategies to plan policies for sustainable development and poverty reduction using IS, with a view to reduce social and gender inequalities. It presents a diagnosis of ICTs use in poverty reduction based on research developed from 1995 (year of introduction of Internet in most of the region) to June of 2003. A short version is available in English

Case study : the Tygerberg Children's Hospital and Rotary Telemedicine Project

2003

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The article describes the Tygerberg Children's Hospital and Rotary Telemedicine Project in South Africa which links specialists from Tygerberg Hospital to doctors at regional community or district hospitals to improve healthcare in rural areas. The initiative has assembled its own telemedicine system using off-the-shelf computer equipment and software that is more affordable than commercial telemedicine systems. It describes the local context, how the system was set up and how it works. It outlines the challenges faced by the project

Peer approach in adolescent reproductive health education : some lessons learned

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO)
2003

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This document pulls together what research and experience tell us about the peer education in promoting attitude and behaviour change in adolescents around sexual and reproductive health. It also offers guidelines for policy makers and programme implementers to learn from others and to adapt strategies that will be most effective in their setting. Chapter one defines peer education, and explains some of the theoretical models. Chapter two justifies using peer education and discusses advantages and benefits of this approach. Chapter three synthesizes research on the impact of peer education in the Asian region. Chapter four compiles lessons learned from many research studies, to show what makes a peer education programme work. Chapter five presents a series of guidelines for planning and implementing adolescent reproductive health interventions, including tips for working with youth and adults

Antiretroviral therapy in primary health care : experience of the Khayelitsha programme in South Africa. Case study

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
2003

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This case study outlines and assesses the Khayelitha programme, which focused on ART provision and aimed to document the feasibility of low-cost treatment and primary health care provision in developing countries. The document details the clinical outcomes of the programmes, the strategy used to ensure adherence and the contribution made by Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) to raise awareness and pressurise the government to develop an adequate response to the epidemic. The provision of ART in Khayelitsha had also a positive impact on prevention, making more HIV-positive people aware of their status, reducing stigma, being the catalyst of educational initiatives, improving the morale of health workers and keeping families intact and less at risk. The case study concludes with a comprehensive list of lessons learned and with key recommendations for the future, which include consolidation of nurse-based care, more training activities, integration of HIV/AIDS and TB services, educational programmes aimed at improving adherence to ART and a greater focus on paediatric AIDS and ART provision in rural remote areas

Quality assurance resource pack for voluntary counselling and testing service providers

LIVERPOOL VCT (LVCT)
CARE KENYA
2003

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This resource pack is a helpful tool aimed at services, organisations and health professionals involved in the voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) centres in Kenya. VCT services offer HIV testing to asymptomatic individuals, and pre- and post-testing counselling. Compliance with quality requirements in the provision of the service is crucial to the achievement of the objectives. The National Guidelines for VCT set minimum standards for the registration and accreditation of sites and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has devised a comprehensive quality assurance system to accompany the upscaling of the VCT programme, with an emphasis on individual and community involvement. This resource outlines the lessons learned in the implementation of quality assurance in VCT, and includes useful training materials and tools such as self-assessment and service supervision survey forms for the monitoring and evaluation of service delivery quality

Evaluating computerised health information systems : hard lessons still to be learnt

LITTLEJOHNS, Peter
WYATT, Jeremy C
GARVICAN, Linda
2003

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This article discusses the implementation of a hospital information system in Limpopo Province, South Africa and describes how it failed because of inadequate infrastructure and problems with the functioning of the system itself. Furthermore, users were not made sufficiently aware of the purpose of a computerised system and failed to appreciate the complexity of implementation and of the healthcare process. The paper calls for a better understanding of the unique nature of hospital information systems and for well designed evaluation to be built into the contracts from the beginning

World health report 2003 : shaping the future

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
2003

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This report argues that real progress in health depends on strengthening health systems, centred on the principles of primary health care. This requires effective use of existing knowledge and technologies and innovation to create new health tools, along with appropriate structures and strategies to apply them. Success will need new forms of cooperation between international health agencies, national health leaders, health workers and communities, and other relevant sectors. Chapter 1 of the report looks at the current state of global health, highlighting the gap between the poor and better-off everywhere. Chapter 2 reflects on the slow progress towards achieving the Millenium Development Goals. Chapter 3 looks at the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and demonstrates why HIV/AIDS control needs to drive the agenda for the global health community. Chapter 4 looks at the steps needed to achieve polio eradication within the next few years, and chapter 5 concentrates on the lessons learned from the SARS outbreak. The theme of chapter 6 is the the overlap between communicable and non-communicable diseases and injuries occurring throughout the developing world, leading to a crisis of priorities for health systems. The concluding chapter returns to the statement that stronger health systems are necessary, and that strengthening health systems should be based on the principles and practices of primary health care

Spreading the word further : guidelines for research disseminating development research

FISHER, Julie
ODHIAMBO, Frank
COTTON, Andrew
2003

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[Publisher's abstract] This book is a product of the second phase of a DFID-funded KaR project that is aimed at increasing the impact of research through improved dissemination of the research process and findings. It develops the ideas from phase one of the project 'Spreading the Word: Practical guidelines for research dissemination strategies' (Saywell and Cotton, 1999) (Source record number 35244). Based on in-depth consultation with Southern agencies about appropriate methods and formats by which to share information and knowledge relating to development research projects, this book provides dissemination checklists and guidelines. It also provides a useful overview of the issues and more specific advise for anyone engaged in development-related research, whether as contractors, practitioners or donors, at all stages of the project cycle

The cultural approach to HIV/AIDS prevention

SOMMA, Daryl B
KESSLER BODIANG, Claudia
2003

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This paper explores how culture can be used in various forms (theatre, music, dance, traditional medicine, and more) as a means to communicate and encourage behavior change for HIV/AIDS prevention. It highlights theater for development and collaboration with traditional healers as viable alternatives to more conventional communication and behavior change models. It presents several case studies, good practices from the field, and lessons learned. The authors' understanding of a cultural approach to HIV/AIDS prevention means understanding and using a community's cultural references as a framework for the design and implementation of prevention policies and programmes. Programmes that have employed this approach are characterized by their participatory approach that fosters community ownership and in turn, can result in both greater efficacy and sustainability within the community

Ancient roots, new shoots : endogenous development in practice

HAVERKORT, Bertus
VAN T' HOOFT, Katrien
HIEMSTRA, Wim
Eds
2003

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This book describes the approach of COMPAS, a network of partners that supports 'development from within', based on local knowledge and practices. The body of the book consists of case studies which illustrate how development can be based on locally available resources, knowledge, values and leadership institutions; how there can be genuinely local determination of development options; and how the benefits of development within local areas and communities can be fostered

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