TY - JOUR
T1 - Monitoring and evaluating transition and sustainability of donor-funded programs
T2 - Reflections on the Avahan experience
AU - Bennett, Sara
AU - Ozawa, Sachiko
AU - Rodriguez, Daniela
AU - Paul, Amy
AU - Singh, Kriti
AU - Singh, Suneeta
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation under grant OPPGH5190 . Foundation staff advised the study team, but did not substantively affect the study design, instruments or interpretation of data. We particularly appreciate the advice and guidance of Hari Menon, Alkesh Wadhwani, Ganesh Ramakrishnan and Gina Dallabetta of the Foundation who provided advice and guidance. Gina Dallabetta also reviewed and commented on an earlier draft of this paper. The study team would like to thank respondents in all study sites for the time and insights they contributed to this project, without which this study would not be possible
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015.
Copyright:
Copyright 2015 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2015/10/1
Y1 - 2015/10/1
N2 - Purpose: In low and middle-income countries, programs funded and implemented by international donors frequently transition to local funding and management, yet such processes are rarely evaluated. We reflect upon experience evaluating the transition of a large scale HIV/AIDS prevention program in India, known as Avahan, in order to draw lessons about transition evaluation approaches and implementation challenges. Results: In terms of conceptualizing the transition theory, the evaluation team identified tensions between the idea of institutionalizing key features of the Avahan program, and ensuring program flexibility to promote sustainability. The transition was planned in three rounds allowing for adaptations to transition intervention and program design during the transition period. The assessment team found it important to track these changes in order to understand which strategies and contextual features supported transition. A mixed methods evaluation was employed, combining semi-structured surveys of transitioning entities (conducted pre and post transition), with longitudinal case studies. Qualitative data helped explain quantitative findings. Measures of transition readiness appeared robust, but we were uncertain of the robustness of institutionalization measures. Finally, challenges to the implementation of such an evaluation are discussed. Conclusions: Given the scarceness of transition evaluations, the lessons from this evaluation may have widespread relevance.
AB - Purpose: In low and middle-income countries, programs funded and implemented by international donors frequently transition to local funding and management, yet such processes are rarely evaluated. We reflect upon experience evaluating the transition of a large scale HIV/AIDS prevention program in India, known as Avahan, in order to draw lessons about transition evaluation approaches and implementation challenges. Results: In terms of conceptualizing the transition theory, the evaluation team identified tensions between the idea of institutionalizing key features of the Avahan program, and ensuring program flexibility to promote sustainability. The transition was planned in three rounds allowing for adaptations to transition intervention and program design during the transition period. The assessment team found it important to track these changes in order to understand which strategies and contextual features supported transition. A mixed methods evaluation was employed, combining semi-structured surveys of transitioning entities (conducted pre and post transition), with longitudinal case studies. Qualitative data helped explain quantitative findings. Measures of transition readiness appeared robust, but we were uncertain of the robustness of institutionalization measures. Finally, challenges to the implementation of such an evaluation are discussed. Conclusions: Given the scarceness of transition evaluations, the lessons from this evaluation may have widespread relevance.
KW - Evaluation
KW - HIV/AIDS
KW - India
KW - International donor
KW - Sustainability
KW - Transition
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84935010429&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84935010429&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2015.05.003
DO - 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2015.05.003
M3 - Article
C2 - 26099560
AN - SCOPUS:84935010429
SN - 0149-7189
VL - 52
SP - 148
EP - 158
JO - Evaluation and Program Planning
JF - Evaluation and Program Planning
ER -