Introduction to human capacity for HIV M&E systems

 "The primary stakeholders are policymakers like us because without information, things are done arbitrarily and one becomes unsure of whether a policy or program will fail or succeed. If we allow our policies to be guided by empirical facts and data, there will be a noticeable change in the impact of what we do."
Director of Policy, National Action Committee on AIDS, Nigeria

Both capacity and capacity development focus on three levels: individual, organisational, and systems – see Figure 2.1. This Component focuses on the level of an individual– on building human resource skills in the HIV M&E system. It therefore focuses on all those individuals at the national level, sub-national level, and HIV service delivery level (project level) involved in executing HIV M&E functions, or managing employees with HIV M&E functions.

Figure 2.1: Three-fold focus of capacity and capacity development

Level 1: is the broader HIV response environment within which the HIV M&E system needs to be implemented. Other methodologies often refer to this level as the "situation", the "market", the "action enviroment", or simply the "enviroment". Level 2: consists of organisations (formal and informal, their internal sub-organisational units) responsible for functions associated with the HIV M&E system. Level 3: comprises the individual(s) functioning within the various organisations. As noted, a major dimension of capacity is at the individual level - people. This covers individuals both within organisations involved in executing HIV M&E functions. as well as those who are benificiaries or are otherwise impacted by the HIV M&E system and HIV response activities (e.g. persons living with  HIV).

Adapted from: BPPS/MDGD and FMP International, 1997

Human capacity is part of the ‘People, Partnerships and Planning’ ring of the 12 components of an HIV M&E system. Just as it is essential to have a network of organisations with individuals in it, responsible for HIV M&E (Component 1) so it is essential for these individuals to have the necessary skills to execute their tasks well.

Although this Component focuses on HCD, it does not exist in isolation. HIV M&E systems need to be developed holistically; basic infrastructure needs to be put in place (e.g. electricity); and the capacity of organisations needs to be developed too.