Introduction to organisational structures for HIV M&E systems

“All organisations are perfectly designed to achieve the results that they do”
Ad Esse Consulting 2005

For an HIV M&E system to be functional, skilled personnel are required; without these people, there would be no system and no functionality. This aspect – within the ‘people, partnerships, and planning’ component of national HIV M&E system development – is therefore about the people involved in the M&E system.   It raise a series of important questions, including:

whether or not  organisations have the mandate and authority to carry out M&E functions?
Whether their staff feel as responsible for HIV M&E functions as they feel about other aspects of their work?
Whether the M&E functions for which they are responsible, are linked to the components of the national HIV M&E system?
Whether the organisations involved have relevant job descriptions with adequately defined HIV M&E functions included in them?
Whether these posts are filled?
And whether they are supported by their managers in carrying out their tasks?