Meeting Objectives: To share experiences, tools and approaches in using data to inform decision-making. To identify common challenges to using data to inform decisions. To identify priorities for advancing data use. To develop a community of practice.

To share experiences, tools and approaches in using data to inform decision-making.

To identify common challenges to using data to inform decisions.

To identify priorities for advancing data use.

To develop a community of practice.

Why Now? The Importance of Evidence-based Decision-making Tara Nutley & Scott Moreland MEASURE Evaluation From Data to Impact: Using Data for Results Symposium Arusha, Tanzania January 28, 2009

Setting the Stage Context Response Challenge Changing the paradigm

Context

Response

Challenge

Changing the paradigm

Context HIV epidemic Resurgence of TB Continued prevalence of malaria Pockets of stalled fertility decline Population burden Shortage of health care workers

HIV epidemic

Resurgence of TB

Continued prevalence of malaria

Pockets of stalled fertility decline

Population burden

Shortage of health care workers

Context HIV epidemic Resurgence of TB Continued prevalence of malaria Pockets of stalled fertility decline Population burden Shortage of health care workers

HIV epidemic

Resurgence of TB

Continued prevalence of malaria

Pockets of stalled fertility decline

Population burden

Shortage of health care workers

Context HIV epidemic Resurgence of TB Continued prevalence of malaria Pockets of stalled fertility decline Population burden Shortage of health care workers

HIV epidemic

Resurgence of TB

Continued prevalence of malaria

Pockets of stalled fertility decline

Population burden

Shortage of health care workers

Context HIV epidemic Resurgence of TB Continued prevalence of malaria Pockets of stalled fertility decline Population burden Shortage of health care workers

HIV epidemic

Resurgence of TB

Continued prevalence of malaria

Pockets of stalled fertility decline

Population burden

Shortage of health care workers

Context HIV epidemic Resurgence of TB Continued prevalence of malaria Pockets of stalled fertility decline Population burden Shortage of health care workers

HIV epidemic

Resurgence of TB

Continued prevalence of malaria

Pockets of stalled fertility decline

Population burden

Shortage of health care workers

Context HIV epidemic Resurgence of TB Continued prevalence of malaria Pockets of stalled fertility decline Population burden Shortage of health care workers

HIV epidemic

Resurgence of TB

Continued prevalence of malaria

Pockets of stalled fertility decline

Population burden

Shortage of health care workers

Context HIV epidemic Resurgence of TB Continued prevalence of malaria Pockets of stalled fertility decline Population burden Shortage of health care workers

HIV epidemic

Resurgence of TB

Continued prevalence of malaria

Pockets of stalled fertility decline

Population burden

Shortage of health care workers

Context Pressing need to develop health policies, strategies and interventions

Context Increased financial investments for service delivery Increased accountability requirements Improved national HMIS Increased demand for evaluation and other research New technologies

Increased financial investments for service delivery

Increased accountability requirements

Improved national HMIS

Increased demand for evaluation and other research

New technologies

Evidence-based Decision Making Process

Level of Dissatisfaction that Policy is Based on Scientific Evidence

Challenges Integrated HMIS still not fully functioning Little or no communication between data producers and data users Low capacity to collect, analyze & interpret data Limited or no culture of data use Data collection and use not a priority

Integrated HMIS still not fully functioning

Little or no communication between data producers and data users

Low capacity to collect, analyze & interpret data

Limited or no culture of data use

Data collection and use not a priority

Response Development of international frameworks that put data use at the center National commitment Project and organizational commitment

Development of international frameworks that put data use at the center

National commitment

Project and organizational commitment

Changing the Paradigm of Data Demand and Information Use Business Unusual

The “traditional way” Top-down approach Data collected with little or no regard to its use Limited stakeholder involvement

Top-down approach

Data collected with little or no regard to its use

Limited stakeholder involvement

The ‘traditional steps” Gather data Analyze data Prepare report Disseminate the report [Stakeholders]

Gather data

Analyze data

Prepare report

Disseminate the report [Stakeholders]

A New Paradigm Decisions identified first, then what data are needed Transparency Stakeholder involvement

Decisions identified first, then what data are needed

Transparency

Stakeholder involvement

The new paradigm steps Identify decision [Stakeholders] identify relevant data [Stakeholders] gather data analyze & discuss results [Stakeholders] make decisions [Stakeholders]

Identify decision [Stakeholders]

identify relevant data [Stakeholders]

gather data

analyze & discuss results [Stakeholders]

make decisions [Stakeholders]

There is no single “right way” to use data to support decisions Multiple stakeholders Multiple and/or conflicting goals Different ways to measure success Ambiguous interpretation of what the data mean

Multiple stakeholders

Multiple and/or conflicting goals

Different ways to measure success

Ambiguous interpretation of what the data mean

Decisions are influenced by factors other than information and data. Power and influence of sectional interests; Corruption; Political, cultural or religious ideology; Arbitrariness; Anecdote

Power and influence of sectional interests;

Corruption;

Political, cultural or religious ideology;

Arbitrariness;

Anecdote

What can we do? Help to insure that data collected are relevant to decisions Facilitate the involvement of stakeholders in the identification of data needs Insure that decision-makers and stakeholders have access to that information

Help to insure that data collected are relevant to decisions

Facilitate the involvement of stakeholders in the identification of data needs

Insure that decision-makers and stakeholders have access to that information

Decisions, decisions…. Problem identification and advocacy Policy making Strategizing and planning Program management

Problem identification and advocacy

Policy making

Strategizing and planning

Program management

Remember…. The ultimate goal is not to gain information, but to improve action.