EVAL-HEALTH

Description

Developing and testing of new methodologies to monitor and evaluate health related EU-Funded interventions in cooperation partner countries (EVAL-HEALTH) 

Background

EVAL-HEALTH is a research and development project funded by the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Commission which aims to support monitoring and evaluation of health research and to help develop understanding of the role of evidence in public health and health systems.

Aims & Objectives

EVAL-HEALTH is an collaborative research project which has two main goals:

i) to contribute to strengthening the monitoring and evaluation of European Union funded interventions in developing countries in the specific area of public health research and
ii) to contribute to a better understanding of the role of different types of evidence, including research, in health policy development in developing countries.

For each project goal, different objectives have been set with the final aim of providing the European Commission and developing countries with:

i) improved systems to monitor and evaluate the impact of EU funded research projects in public health and
ii) a better knowledge of the role of evidence in health policy and practice. The University of Leeds is leading on the evidence component.

Methods

This research was conducted in India and Nigeria using qualitative research methods such as document reviews and in-depth semi-structured interviews with various policy actors. Selecting more than two countries provided an opportunity to apply findings to many different contexts to help develop a better understanding of the preconditions of health policy making. A case study approach based on (a) an area of international prominence (HIV/AIDS in India and MCH in Nigeria) (b) a neglected area NTCP in India and Oral health in Nigeria) and (c) an aspect/component of the health system (ASHA in India and HRH I Nigeria) was conducted in both countries.  By choosing the above we avoided focussing only on areas of international prominence and comparing findings between the case studies facilitated generation and dissemination of lessons between the three different (in their nature) case study areas. 

The selection of one specific policy/strategy within each case study was clearly driven by the following factors (a) existence of a clear written policy or strategy statement (document, strategy, programme), (b) timing of the policy or strategy development (c) availability of national and international evidence around this particular issue and (d) views of priority areas by the MOH in India and Nigeria.  The study was guided by a conceptual framework to understand the role of evidence in health policy and strategy development, building on existing theories and frameworks.

Partners and Collaborators

9 participants from Spain, Portugal, UK, The Netherlands, South Africa, Nigeria, Thailand, India and Colombia. 

• Sociedad para el Fomento de la Innovación Tecnológica (INNOVATEC, Spain) [Coordinator]
• Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, University of Leeds (NCIHD, U.K.)
• New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD, South Africa)
• Royal Tropical Institute (KIT, The Netherlands)
• Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), The New University of Lisbon (IHMT, Portugal)
• ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University (AIHD, Thailand)
• Association for Stimulating Know How (ASK, India)
• Health Policy Research Group, University of Nigeria (COMUNEC, Nigeria)
• Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, Universidad del Rosario (CMNSDR , Colombia)

Impact

EVAL-HEALTH has two research components, each of which is expected to produce its own results. Major results and applications expected for each component are: 

(a)  Development of robust and tested methodology and tools to guide EC services in the impact identification and assessment of individual research projects in the areas of public health. This methodology named as the Impact Oriented Monitoring (IOM) is intended to identify and capture impacts throughout the project life and beyond. 

(b)  Analysis of the role of evidence in health policy development, conducting case studies within, and between, two developing countries (India and Nigeria), thus increasing knowledge re what forms evidence,  the characteristics of different types of evidence, the role of these in health policy processes, and perceptions of robust evidence by different policy actors.

The findings of the work will guide an analysis of how evidence feeds into health policy and will reflect contextual differences between India and Nigeria: e.g. the more prominent role of international agencies in Nigeria, who often rely on formal assessments, and the more advanced role of civil society in India, where informal evidence is likely to be disseminated through advocacy work. Future efforts to enhance the role of evidence in policy and strategy development will require thorough understanding of local contexts, relative roles and influences of policy actors and a clear understanding of evidence preferences by policymakers and other influential actors.

The longer-term benefits of studying the evidence base for health policy-making are two-fold. Firstly, the study will inform better practices re evidence/knowledge communication from EC-funded research into policy and practice in developing countries. Secondly, the study should help strengthen the evidence-informed nature of health policies within the study countries and beyond.

The preliminary findings of the research have been presented at the Health Systems in Asia: Equity, governance and Social impact, in Singapore 2013 and at the Health Services Research Conference at London, July, 2014, The final output is due to be presented at various sessions in the Third Health systems Symposium in Cape Town, October 2014 and the Global symposium on global health and Governance in September, New Delhi.  Future dissemination of the findings is also being planned through national workshop(s), conferences and publications in peer reviewed international journals.