The MERG appoints ad-hoc TWGs of up to one year duration to address specific M&E issues for which a global solution is deemed necessary. In November 2008, the MERG Executive Council endorsed the permanent status of the Indicator TWG.
Each TWG develops a work plan for the upcoming year including key tasks, products, and timeline. The membership of the TWG is not representational, but shall be limited in numbers and consist of recognized technical experts. The Chair of the TWG is selected from the MERG membership. UNAIDS Monitoring and Evaluation Division shall provide a liaison person from amongst its staff and modest resources to support the work of each TWG. Additional resources, as needed, are sought from the MERG Executive Council or other interested parties. For practical and financial reasons, the MERG shall not convene more than four TWGs in any given year.
The TWGs meet twice a year, and as often as deemed necessary. In addition, electronic discussion (email and e-wrk space) and regular bi-weekly conference calls will be used in support of the TWG work plan implementation.
2006 MERG Technical Working Groups
Indicator Harmonization Technical Working Group
The goal of this TWG was to guide a multi-agency process for harmonization and prioritization of HIV/AIDS indicators for national level monitoring and donor/international agency reporting.
Chair: Greet Peersman (Tulane University)
Indicator Registry Technical Working Group
Thegoal of this TWG was to guide the multi-agency development of an on-line Registry of HIV/AIDS Indicator Definitions
Chair: Svetlana Negroustoueva (MACRO International)
2007 MERG Technical Working Groups
Indicator Harmonization and Registry Technical Working Group
The two goals of this TWG were: 1) to provide guidance to countries to simplify and focus their national monitoring efforts and 2) to reduce the data collection and reporting burden at country level. The three objectives of the TWG were: 1) to provide easy access to indicator guidance; 2) to provide guidance on prioritizing indicators for national monitoring of the HIV/AIDS epidemic; and 3) to harmonize HIV/AIDS indicators for reporting to international agencies / donors
Chairs: John Novak (USAID/USG) and Greet Peersman (Tulane University)
Coverage Indicators Technical Working Group
The Goal of this TWG were to improve the definition, collection, review, interpretation and use of coverage indicators
Co-Chairs: Sun Gang (UNAIDS RST, Asia Pacific) and John Stover (Futures Institute)
M&E Assessment Technical Working Group
The two goals of this TWG were: 1) To develop guidelines on the use of existing M&E assessment tools and consolidate assessment tools, where appropriate and 2) To establish a process for coordination of the support for M&E assessments by various development partners
Chair: Greet Peersman (Tulane University and Chair)
Evaluation Technical Working Group
The two goals of this TWG were: 1) To provide support to selected countries in establishing a national AIDS evaluation agenda and 2) To develop guidelines on establishing a national AIDS evaluation agenda
Co-Chairs: Roger Myrick (UCSF) and Yves Souteyrand (WHO)
2008 MERG Technical Working Groups
1. Indicator Development and Revision Technical Working Group
The three goals of this TWG were: 1) To rationalize further indicator development (i.e. identifying the need for new indicators); 2) To ensure that indicators are based on agreed quality standards; and 3) To maximize the functionality and use of the on-line Indicator Registry. The two objectives of the TWG were: 1) to establish a process for indicator development and revision that adheres to agreed standards, and is both transparent and responsive to evolving needs. The process should be: (a) evidence-based; (b) country-focused; and, (c) consensus-driven to ensure that new indicators and revisions of existing indicators are essential, feasible, sustainable, useful and used in monitoring trends in the HIV epidemic and response over time in countries, regions, and globally; 2) to enhance the capacity of the Indicator Registry to serve as the main tool to facilitate the indicator development and revision process and to serve as a global dissemination mechanism for the outputs from this process.
TWG membership: [in alphabetical order]: Priscilla Akwara (UNICEF), Bernard Barrere (MEASURE DHS), Paul Bouey (OGAC/USG), Katherine L. Bourne (International Women's Health Coalition), Pepukai Chikukwa (UNAIDS/Malawi), Roger Drew (DFID and TWG Co-Chair), Marelize Gorgens-Albino (The World Bank Global HIV/AIDS Program), David Hales (Tulane University)Chika Hayashi (WHO Geneva), Ulrich Laukamm-Josten (WHO – Regional Office for Europe), Mary Mahy (UNAIDS Geneva), Adama Ndir (Ministère de la Santé et de la Prévention, Senegal), Svetlana Negroustoueva (Macro International), Teymur Noori (ECDC), John Novak (USAID), Annette Reinisch (GFATM), Eleni Seyoum (Federal HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office Ethiopia), Michelle Sherlock (OGAC/USG) Petchsri Sirinirund (Ministry of Public Health Thailand), Wilza Vieira Villela (Paulista Medical School, Brazil)
2. M&E Capacity-building Technical Working Group
The TWG consisted of 3 Task Teams, each with its own scope of work:
Task Team: M&E Assessment Tool
The goal of this Task Team was to promote the use of a single, harmonized tool for assessing the overall national HIV M&E system. Its objective was to finalize the development of and pilot the tool for assessing the national HIV M&E system.
Task Team membership: [in alphabetical order]: Lela Baughman (ORC Macro International, USA); David Boone (John Snow); Nibretie Gobezie Workneh (GFATM); Marelize Gorgens-Albino (World Bank); Tendayi Mharadze (Zimbabwe AIDS Network,); Greet Peersman (Tulane University); Tom Scialfa (Task Team Lead / Tulane University); Otilia Scuteliniuc (National Centre for Health Management, Moldova).
Task Team: M&E Capacity-building Guidance and Coordination
The two goals of this Task Team were: 1) To facilitate quality assurance and coordination of HIV-related M&E capacity-building support by key agencies/organizations and 2) To promote the development and implementation of a national M&E capacity-building plan. Its objectives included: 1) To develop a strategy and mechanism/tool for standardization and coordination of M&E capacity-building support by key agencies/organizations; 2) To develop a generic template and implementation guidance for a national M&E capacity building plan.
Task Team membership: [in alphabetical order]: Andy Beke (University of Pretoria, South Africa); James Guwani (UNAIDS, Geneva); Anne LaFond (John Snow); Annie LaTour (OGAC/USG); Greet Peersman (TWG Chair / Tulane University); Cyril Pervilhac (WHO, Geneva); Omar Rahman (Independent University, Bangladesh); Tsvetana Yakimova (Ministry of Health, Bulgaria).
Task Team: M&E Resource Library
The goal of the Task Team is to improve access3 to quality-assured electronic M&E resources for use in M&E system strengthening and M&E capacity building. Its key objectives were: 1) To develop guidelines for library developers/owners to improve the usability and user friendliness of electronic libraries 2) To develop an inventory of existing libraries of electronic M&E resources 3) To recommend mechanisms that can be used to improve access to existing M&E resources and 4) To develop criteria for ‘quality-assured’ M&E resources.
Task Team Membership: [in alphabetical order]: Claude Cheta (International HIV/AIDS Alliance, UK), Houssine El Rhilani (UNAIDS, Morocco), Marelize Gorgens-Albino (TWG Task Team Lead / The World Bank), Nkateko Okwera (Macro International), Thomas Scialfa (Tulane University), and Kifle Woldemichael (Jimma University, Ethiopia).
3. M&E of Prevention Programmes for Most-at-Risk Populations Technical Working Group
The three goals of the TWG were: 1) To extend and strengthen technical assistance in M&E of HIV prevention for most-at-risk populations in selected middle- and low income countries; 2) To clarify how to increase utilization of the Framework for monitoring and evaluating HIV prevention programmes for most-at-risk populations; and 3) To develop a strategy that reflects the roles and responsibilities of principal MERG partners with respect to M&E of prevention programmes for most-at-risk populations. Its objectives included: 1) To increase the level of understanding of the main principles and related methods to gather and analyze strategic information on HIV prevention programmes for most-at-risk populations in middle and low-income countries; 2) To document lessons learned and experience gained from the country-level implementation of M&E principles presented in the Framework for monitoring and evaluating HIV prevention programmes for most-at-risk populations; 3) To strengthen inter-agency coordination in terms of development of strategic approaches and technical assistance provision regarding M&E of HIV prevention programmes for most-at risk populations; and 4) To clarify and define the questions to be addressed through operational research in order to fill existing informational gaps on HIV prevention programmes for most-at-risk populations, such as quality and intensity of services provided.
TWG membership [in alphabetical order]: Abu Abdul-Quader CDC), Philippe Adam (National Centre in HIV Social Research, University of New South Wales), Mabel Bianco (Foundation for Studies and Research on Women) Jenny Butler (UNFPA), ThuVan Dinh (USAID/USG and Chair), Roger Drew (DfID) Riku Lehtovuori (UNODC), Bradley Mathers (National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales), Magomed Nashkhoev (UNAIDS), Kevin O’Reilly (WHO), Otilia Scutelniciuc (National Centre for Health Management, Moldova), Martha Tholanah (Zimbabwe AIDS Network), Igor Toskin (UNAIDS) and Sharon Weir (MEASURE Evaluation)
4. Prevention Evaluation Technical Working Group
The Goal of the TWG was to contribute to advancing national and global evaluation agendas by supporting international standards setting; systematization of the planning of evaluations; and, utilization of evaluation findings. The two objectives of were: 1) To develop standards for the preparation of Terms of Reference for prevention evaluations and 2) To develop a user-friendly, annotated template for the standards to maximize their functionality and utilization.
TWG Membership[in alphabetical order]: Gregory Ashefor (NACA/Nigeria); Savina Ammassari (UNAIDS, Cambodia); Rachel Baggaley (Christian AID); Réne Bonnel (World Bank); Michel Carael (Consultant); Henry Damisoni (UNAIDS, Nigeria), Wayne Gill (UNAIDS, Botswana), James Guwani (UNAIDS, Guyana), Eva Kiwango(UNAIDS, Geneva), Matthew Warner-Smith (UNAIDS, Geneva); Nicole Fraser (GAMET Consultant); Cedric Mahe (GFATM); Kola Oyediran (Measure Evaluation/Nigeria); Kayode Ogungbemi and Hernán Rosenberg (PAHO/WHO); Rosalía Rodriguez-García (TWG Lead/The World Bank); Otilia Scutelniciuc (MOH, Moldova); Annick Wouters (Consultant); and Serge Xueref (GFATM). Masauso Nzima (UNAIDS, ESA) and Ilene Speizer (Measure Evaluation).