HIS Assessment Tools
This database is a guide to several tools that serve to assess different aspects of health information systems (HIS). The database is meant to describe each tool’s purpose, its prescribed uses, and the area of HIS that it is designed to assess. This database is meant for country and HIS managers to aid in choosing the tool to best fit their needs.
The database contains a variety of publicly available tools. These tools were selected by performing a search of available HIS assessment tools and consulting with experts in the field. Download the database as an Excel file. This database was last updated in December of 2019.
| Name | Author | Description | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRISM (Comprehensive) | MEASURE Evaluation | The Performance of Routine Information System Management (PRISM) framework consists of tools to assess routine health information system (RHIS) performance; identify technical, behavioral, and organizational factors that affect RHIS; aid the design of priority interventions to improve performance; and improve the quality and use of routine health data. The comprehensive PRISM framework may be used in totality-or through individual modules, as needed-for routine monitoring and targeted spot- or cross-checks. It is designed to be flexible and adaptable, and can be used to evaluate health information system strengthening interventions and for regular or ad hoc monitoring. | 2018 |
| PRISM RHIS Overview Tool | MEASURE Evaluation | The PRISM RHIS Overview Tool is mainly for use at the national level, but can be used at subnational levels. This tool examines technical determinants, such as the structure and design of existing information systems in the health sector, information flows, and the interaction between different information systems. It looks at the extent of RHIS fragmentation and redundancy, and helps to initiate discussions on data integration and use. | 2018 |
| PRISM Performance Diagnostic Tool | MEASURE Evaluation | The PRISM Performance Diagnostic Tool determines the overall level of RHIS performance, i.e., the level of data quality and use of information. It also captures technical and organizational determinants, such as indicator definitions and reporting guidelines; the level of complexity of data collection tools and reporting forms; and the existence of supervision and feedback mechanisms. The Performance Diagnostic Tool is for use at health facility and district or higher levels. | 2018 |
| PRISM eRHIS Tool | MEASURE Evaluation | The PRISM Electronic Routine Health Information System (eRHIS) Performance Tool is a new module in the updated PRISM Toolkit that examines the functionality and the user-friendliness of the technology used for generating, processing, analyzing, and using routine health data. Tools are intended for use at the central level, and results are compared against the eRHIS functions intended by the ministry of health (or similar authority). This tool also assesses whether RHIS staff are able to carry out intended functions. This assessment can be applied to any eRHIS and customized accordingly. | 2018 |
| PRISM MAT | MEASURE Evaluation | The PRISM Management Assessment Tool (MAT) is designed to take rapid stock of RHIS management practices and aid in developing action plans for better management. This module measures the effectiveness of RHIS management functions, including governance, planning, training, supervision, and finance. | 2018 |
| PRISM Facility/Office Checklist | MEASURE Evaluation | The PRISM Facility/Office Checklist assesses the availability and status of resources (equipment, supplies, infrastructure, and human resources) necessary for RHIS implementation at the facility and district levels. | 2018 |
| PRISM OBAT | MEASURE Evaluation | The PRISM Organizational Behavioral Assessment Tool (OBAT) identifies behavioral and organizational determinants, including motivation, confidence, task competence, problem-solving skills, and the organization environment promoting a culture of information. OBAT is conducted in four parts, Part 1 is used at all levels of the health system, Part 2 is to be used at district and higher levels and Part 3 and 4 at the health facility level. | 2018 |
| RHIS Rapid Assessment Tool | MEASURE Evaluation, World Health Organization (WHO) | The RHIS Rapid Assessment Tool can be implemented as a stand-alone assessment tool or as part of a larger performance assessment (such as the PRISM Framework). As the name suggests, the RHIS Rapid Assessment Tool provides rapid assessment to identify gaps and facilitate planning. Local information systems are judged against global best practices. Implementation of the tool does not require special skills; ideally it will be administered by RHIS staff with knowledge of the local health system. The tool includes an Implementation Guide and two Excel workbooks for data entry and analysis. Results from this tool are not meant to be comparable across regions or countries. | 2018 |
| Demand and Readiness Tool for Assessing Data Sources in Health Information Systems (HIS DART) | MEASURE Evaluation | The purpose of the HIS DART is to guide HIS managers in a systematic review across the main HIS data sources that generate data needed to monitor the health system. The results are intended to inform stakeholders of (1) which data sources bear the highest demand for generating data; and (2) the performance of the data source to determine which data sources need to be strengthened. The HIS DART consists of a set of 12 HIS data source modules, with each module containing a questionnaire accompanied by detailed instructions, question by question, to help the administrator and respondents to elicit, convey, and record valid information. | 2018 |
| Health Information Systems Stages of Continuous Improvement Assessment Tool (SoCI) | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MEASURE Evaluation, Health Data Collaborative | This toolkit responds to the research question: What are the stages of HIS development in the context of low and middle income-countries? The toolkit facilitates: 1) the identification of HIS components and subcomponents; 2) assessment of HIS status; and 3) the creation of an HIS improvement plan in relation to the future HIS improvement goals. The toolkit includes a measurement scale, data collection tool, and a user guide. The scale outlines key components and sub-components of HIS improvement. It defines attributes of each sub-component on a five-point scale. The version currently available is the draft version first developed by MEASURE Evaluation; a new version is under development in a joint undertaking by the CDC, MEASURE Evaluation, and the HDC's Digital Health and Interoperability Working Group. Check back in 2018 for updates. | 2018 |
| Assessing the Capacity of Monitoring and Evaluation and Health Information Systems | MEASURE Evaluation | This guidance is intended for use by those working with individuals, teams, organizations, or systems to improve capacity in M&E or HIS. This capacity building work may be explicit (for example, in response to a formal request from the beneficiary or donor) or it may be implicit (as in the case of collaborative implementation of an evaluation). The guidance and its associated tools focus on the assessment of the capacity of individuals, teams, organizations, and systems. The guidance can help users decide whether a formal capacity assessment is appropriate for their needs and links to examples of formal capacity assessment (e.g., MECAT). | 2018 |
| SCORE for health data | World Health Organization | SCORE is a technical package of essential interventions, recommended actions, tools, and resources that aim to support countries in addressing challenges in meeting HIS needs. The package encourages national policymakers and development partners to invest in a select number of interventions and tools required to have the greatest impact on the quality, availability, analysis, use, and accessibility of data in countries. SCORE's five key strategies focus on the following areas: survey populations and health risks; count births, deaths, and causes of death; optimize health service data; review progress and performance; and enable data use for policy and action. The technical package is accompanied by an assessment tool designed to collect baseline information, target interventions, and track and monitor progress in country health information over time. | 2018 |
| Master Facility List Resource Package | United States Agency for International Development, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, World Health Organization | The Master Facility List (MFL) Resource Package was created to guide countries through the process of establishing or strengthening their MFL. The resource describes necessary elements for a function MFL including governance structure, facility lists, and a software platform to house and share the data. This resource includes an MFL assessment tool, as well as case studies from various countries and practical resources helpful for implementation teams. | 2018 |
| OneHealth Tool | Avenir Health | The OneHealth Tools in a model for supporting national strategic health planning in low- and middle-income countries. The tool facilitates an assessment of resources needed for key strateic activities and their associated costs, with a focus on integrated planning and strengthening health systems.. It can be used as part of a comprehensive approach to planning health system strengthening, or more narrowly by disease-area plans. This tool includes a Health Information Systems Module; users can choose modules which suit their assessment needs | 2018 |
| Global Digital Health Index (GDHI) | Multiple stakeholder initiative led by the Global Development Incubator and Health Enabled | The GDHI is an interactive web-based resource that aims to track, monitor, and assess the enabling environment for digital health throughout the world. Data are collected through a web-based survey, in collaboration with the ministry of health or country digital health agency. This resource provides a platform for country-to-country learning to inform and target investments in digital health. This tool is modeled after the WHO International Telecommunication Union National eHealth Strategy Toolkit. | 2018 |
| Digital Health Investment Review Tool | United States Agency for International Development, Maternal Child Survival Program, and the Health Data Collaborative | The Digital Health Investment Review Tool provides guidance for strategic investment in digital technologies to support public health based on best practices. The tool uses quantitative scoring to review proposal or workplans. The results are then used to structure requests for proposal, inform the language of grants and contracts, and support procurement officers' decisions on digital health proposals. | 2018 |
| Global Good Maturity Model | Digital Square, Health Data Collaborative | The Global Good Maturity Model for digital health tools helps to identify areas in which investment is needed in global goods. The model specifies common metrics for understanding how advanced a digital health tool is and assigns a level of low, medium, or high across three dimentions: global utility, community support, and software maturity. | 2018 |
| Assessing Barriers to Data Demand and Use in the Health Sector: A Toolkit | MEASURE Evaluation | MEASURE Evaluation developed this suite of tools to help data users, producers, and policymakers understand the barriers that impede widespread data use in the health sector and develop action plans to address them. | 2018 |
| Health Information Systems Strengthening: Standards and Best Practices for Data Sources | MEASURE Evaluation | The Standards and Best Practices Guide is intended to help health authorities and health information officers align HIS data sources with standards and best practices. This guide is primarily directed to national health authorities and health information officers in ministries of health. It may also be informative for a wider range of technical and policy-oriented professionals. Each HIS data source module covers an HIS data source, summarizes best practices and standards for data from that source, and offers additional references to tools and resources. | 2018 |
| mHealth Data Security, Privacy, and Confidentiality Guidelines: Companion Checklist | MEASURE Evaluation | The mHealth Data Security, Privacy, and Confidentiality Checklist will help mHealth project managers and health information systems (HIS) officials from ministries of health assess security, privacy, and confidentiality concerns of mHealth programs. This checklist is designed to be used hand in hand with the mHealth Data Security, Privacy, and Confidentiality Guidelines. | 2018 |
| National Social Service Systems for Orphans and Vulnerable Children: Tool for Data Management, Analysis, and Use | MEASURE Evaluation | MEASURE Evaluation developed a framework for planning, monitoring, and evaluation to fill part of the gap that exists in demonstrating the impact that system strengthening has on child outcomes, by providing indicators and guidance for measuring system performance. These indicators measure the outcome of system-strengthening interventions in five core areas. This is an Excel-based tool to support data management, analysis, and use upon implementing the indicators. This tool should be used to collect and store information for all the indicators. It should also be used to support interpretation and application of results to strengthen the system. | 2018 |
| Use of Community Health Data for Shared Accountability: Guidance | MEASURE Evaluation | This is a guidance document on how to use health data to be more responsible and accountable to communities for their health status. The guidance also includes a scorecard for shared community-health system accountability for data use and actions. The guidance is designed for community leaders and community activists, and it can also be used by ministry of health officials to support communities in developing tools, procedures, and processes to support community health systems. | 2018 |
| Digital Health Atlas | World Health Organization | The Digital Health Atlas (DHA) is a WHO global technology registry platform aiming to strengthen the value and impact of digital health investments, improve coordination, and facilitate institutionalization and scale. The DHA is an open-source web platform designed to help governments, technologists, implementers and donors coordinate digital health activities globally. The atlas is not an assessment; it characterizes health system interventions, using a list of indicators, and is an important resource for those working in health information system strengthening. | 2018 |
| Routine Data Quality Assessment (RDQA) Tool | MEASURE Evaluation, the World Health Organization, the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and the Global Fund to Fights AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria | The Routine Data Quality Assessment (RDQA) is a simplified, self-assessment version of the DQA Tool. It allows programs and projects to assess the quality of their own data and strengthen their data management and reporting systems. The RDQA is generic with regard to indicators and programs. It is intended for use with or without rigorous sampling methods. It is designed to be flexible and can be used by program managers, supervisors, and monitoring and evaluation staff at national and subnational levels, and by donors and stakeholders. | 2017 |
| Improving Data Quality in Mobile Community-Based HIS: Guidelines for Design and Implementation | MEASURE Evaluation | This data quality assessment resource is specific to mobile community-based health information systems (CBHIS). The mobile CBHIS data quality guidelines aid in the design and implementation of a mobile data collection system. The toolkit includes two checklists to asses mobile data collection forms, systems, feedback loops, and motivation practices. It can be used by both mobile developers and community-based program implementers to inform design and implementation; assess mobile CBHIS; develop and implement an action plan with correction measures; and monitor capacity and improvements in performance. The toolkit also includes guidance on adapting a community trace and verify tool to confirm that individuals who are reported as have been provided with services have actually received them. | 2017 |
| Spatial Quality and Anomalies Diagnosis (SQUAD) Tool | MEASURE Evaluation | The Spatial Quality and Anomalies Diagnosis (SQUAD) Tool looks for anomalies in the data that may indicate data quality issues. The SQUAD Tool can be used to assess facility site coordinate locations by comparing point location data against district areas for GIS data quality. The tool identifies possible issues with location coordinate data, such as missing or duplicate coordinates, duplicate facility names, or points plotting outside of their expected districts on the map. The tool produces a list of which records must be corrected, and it also gives feedback on what may be wrong with the data. The downloadable package contains a ZIP file with the ArcGIS Toolbox, a sample geodatabase, and a sample file map. | 2017 |
| Capacity Building Tool Matrix | MEASURE Evaluation | This MEASURE Evaluation resource compiles and categorizes multiple capacity building tools in one spreadsheet. The spreadsheet describes many of the tools included in this database, and additional resources and guides for building capacity. | 2017 |
| Gender-Integrated Routine Data Quality Assessment (RDQA+G) | MEASURE Evaluation | The gender-integrated routine data quality assessment (RDQA+G) tool is the newest addition to MEASURE Evaluation's suite of capacity building and self-assessment tools that strengthen the monitoring and evaluation of public health interventions. The RDQA+G builds on the routine data quality assessment (RDQA) tools. It enables national programs or donor-funded projects to evaluate their own data quality with a special focus on gender data (including sex and age disaggregation), while continuing to improve reporting performance and prepare for data quality audits. The RDQA+G facilitates the identification of problem areas for selected indicators related to gender and data quality, and guides the creation of M&E system strengthening action plans. The RDQA+G is a Microsoft Excel-based tool that consists of a checklist and an automated dashboard to assist in interpreting assessment results. Users of this tool should also consult the standard Routine Data Quality Assessment Tool: User Manual. | 2017 |
| HIS Interoperability Maturity Toolkit for Low-Resource Settings | MEASURE Evaluation, Health Data Collaborative | This resource offers a set of tools and guidance to assess capacity to implement interoperable HIS in low-resource settings. The guidance defines the factors critical to successful implementation of interoperable information systems apart from technology. The toolkit contains three pieces: the maturity model, assessment tool, and user guide. The HIS interoperability maturity model identifies the main components of HIS interoperability and lays out an organization's growth pathway through these components. Countries can use the accompanying assessment tool to systematically determine their HIS interoperability maturity level. Using the assessment results, countries can create a developmental path toward strengthening their HIS interoperability and having resilient systems. | 2017 |
| Guide to a Team Approach to Building Capacity for Health Information Management | MEASURE Evaluation | The guide begins with a discussion of the purpose of an HIS, the desired attributes of a fully functional HIS, and how this compares with the HIS of a typical developing country. It then describes how a facility or a health office can effectively manage and use an HIS. Tools and references with illustrative examples are provided in the appendixes. The resource also includes a self-assessment of HIS capacity. | 2017 |
| Health Information Systems Indicator Registry | MEASURE Evaluation | The Health Information System Indicator Registry is a repository of indicators that are used to evaluate the performance of health information systems (HIS). Indicators listed here have been drawn from existing tools, reports, and guidance. The indicators range from national to facility level and are categorized by area of the HIS Strengthening Model, method of collection, and scoring mechanism. | 2017 |
| Data Quality Review (DQR) | World Health Organization, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund), Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), MEASURE Evaluation | The Data Quality Review (DQR) is a tool designed to examine data quality from different sources, over time, and across regions, and to verify that information is transmitted correctly across levels of reporting. The DQR assesses a core set of tracker indicators across multiple program areas to meet the needs of a variety of stakeholders. Indicator data are assessed for completeness and accuracy against other data sources, both internal and external to the information system being evaluated. The DQR provides valuable information for health sector strategic planning and measures the capacity of a system to produce good-quality data. The DQR can be implemented in two formats: 1) The crosscutting DQR identifies errors in reporting and the plausibility of trends by using one core indicator per program area; and 2) the in-depth DQR measures multiple indicators, usually to emphasize a specific program area. | 2016 |
| Quick Investigation of Quality: Monitoring the Quality of Care in Family Planning | MEASURE Evaluation | This user's guide contains materials needed to design and implement the Quick Investigation of Quality (QIQ) in a given country. QIQ refers to the set of three related data-collection instruments designed to monitor 25 indicators of quality of care in clinic-based family planning programs. This volume includes an overview of the QIQ (including objectives, short list of indicators, and methodological and ethical issues); guidelines for sampling and training of field personnel; instruments and guidelines for data collection; and summary results from the short list of indicators in tabular and graphic form. | 2016 |
| Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) | World Health Organization, United States Agency for International Development | The Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) is designed to assess and monitor service availability and readiness of the health sector and generate evidence for planning and management of the health system. The SARA generates information on service delivery; availability of basic equipment; amenities; essential medicines; diagnostic capacities; and the readiness of health facilities to provide basic healthcare interventions relating to family planning, child health services, basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric care, HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and noncommunicable diseases. This assessment builds on several existing tools, including the service availability mapping tool from the WHO and the service provision assessment tool developed by ICF International under the USAID-funded Demographic and Health Surveys program. In its full implementation, the SARA is meant to be accompanied by a data quality review comparing reported data at different levels of the health system. | 2015 |
| The Monitoring and Evaluation Capacity Assessment Tool (MECAT) | MEASURE Evaluation | The Monitoring and Evaluation Capacity Assessment Tool (MECAT) is a toolkit that captures organizational, technical, and behavioral dimensions of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) capacity using a design framed around the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 12 components M&E system assessment tool. The MECAT provides a set of tools to guide organizations through an assessment of their organizational M&E capacity to meet health sector information needs, while identifying gaps and indicating areas to strengthen. The tool is useful for organizations that have an M&E team or unit, such as the national M&E unit, subnational M&E team or unit, or national health programs. The MECAT also assesses individual staff member capabilities to carry out M&E functions. The results are useful in prioritizing steps to strengthen organizational capacity. | 2014 |
| IPPF Data Quality Assessment (RDQA) Tool | International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), MEASURE Evaluation | Adapted from the Routine Data Quality Assessment (RDQA) Tool to improve data quality and uniformity in the reporting of indicators, and to improve data quality among the IPPF member associations (responsible for reporting to the IPPF central office). The IPPF RDQA Tool is flexible and useful in identifying weaknesses in data quality flow. This tool is meant to rapidly verify the quality of reported data for selected indicators, facilitate development of an action plan, and then monitor capacity improvement and performance of the data management and reporting system to produce data quality over time. | 2014 |
| Data Quality Assessment (DQA) Checklist | United States Agency for International Development | This document provides users with access to a data quality assessment checklist that can be used by Operating Units when conducting DQAs. The checklist is designed to assist in the assessment of the five aspects of data quality and provides a means to document the Operating Unit's data quality assessment findings. | 2014 |
| Standards and Benchmarks for Tuberculosis Surveillance and Vital Registration Systems: Checklist and User Guide | World Health Organization | This resource was developed to assess a national surveillance system's ability to accurately measure TB cases and deaths and to identify gaps in national surveillance systems that must be addressed to improve TB surveillance. The results of national assessments can be used to identify which countries have surveillance systems that already provide an accurate measure of the number of TB cases and deaths that occur each year, and define the actions needed to strengthen surveillance in countries in which gaps are identified. Assessments can be timed to coincide with periodic reviews and monitoring and evaluation planning periods. | 2014 |
| Referral Systems Assessment and Monitoring (RSAM) Toolkit | MEASURE Evaluation | The Referral Systems Assessment and Monitoring Toolkit (RSAM) was developed to assist health and program managers to obtain and use information on the performance of their referral systems. The RSAM has two main components: 1) a referral system assessment to obtain an in-depth examination of referral performance and assess overall functioning of the referral system; and 2) referral system monitoring for routine monitoring of referrals. The RSAM examines various components of the referral system, including referral networks, protocols, processes and procedures, referral documentation, and data collected and barriers to referral completion. | 2013 |
| WHO Data Quality Report Card (DQRC) and Data Quality Assessment (DQA) Tools | World Health Organization | WHO's Data Quality Report Card (DQRC) examines the quality of data generated by a health facility-based information system for four core tracer indicators: antenatal care first visit, health facility deliveries, diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus third dose, and outpatient department visits. The tool quantifies problems of data completeness, accuracy, and external consistency, and provides valuable information on fit-for-purpose of health facility data to support planning and annual monitoring. The desk review component of the DQRC can be done using the WHO Data Quality Assessment (DQA) Tool, an Excel-based tool that compares health facility records against health information system reported data. There are two levels of assessment for the indicators in the DQRC: 1) an assessment of each indicator at the national level; and 2) performance of subnational units (mostly districts, provinces, or regions) on the selected indicator. | 2013 |
| SCORE ME Individual M&E Capacity Self-Assessment | MEASURE Evaluation | This tool allows an individual to complete a self-assessment of his/her ability to serve in an organizational M&E capacity. | 2013 |
| SCORE ME Individual M&E Capacity Self-Improvement Plan | MEASURE Evaluation | This tool allows an individual to create a self-improvement plan after assessing his/her M&E capacity. It accompanies the SCORE ME Individual M&E Capacity Self-Assessment tool. | 2013 |
| Data Quality Audit (DQA) Tool | The Global Fund, MEASURE Evaluation | The Data Quality Audit (DQA) Tool is the formal version of the Data Quality Audit Toolkit. It includes indicator-specific audit templates and guidelines to be used by an external audit team to assess a program or project's ability to report quality data. The DQA looks at programmatic data specific to malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS to assess data accuracy, reporting performance, and the strengths and weaknesses of the underlying monitoring and evaluation system that generates the data. | 2012 |
| Health Systems Assessment Approach (HSAA) | Health Systems 20/20 (HS 20/20) | The Health Systems Assessment Approach (HSAA) assesses a country's health system through seven modules, one of which focuses on HIS. Technical modules (including HIS) can be used, as needed, but should always be accompanied by the overview assessment. The purpose of the HIS module is to understand the capacity of the country's HIS to produce reliable information for decision makers. The assessment does not review, interpret, or analyze the health statistics of data; rather, it looks at how the system functions. The HSAA is flexible and can be applied by a variety of audiences, including government organizations and international donors. | 2012 |
| Health System Rapid Diagnostic Tool (RDT) | FHI 360 | The Health System Rapid Diagnostic Tool (RDT) examines the links between the concrete problems in performance experienced at a subnational level and overarching health system issues. This assessment will result in a better understanding of strengths and weaknesses that stakeholders at national and subnational levels can address through health system strengthening interventions. The RDT includes an assessment section dedicated to HIS as part of the overall health system assessment. The RDT can be used to focus on particular levels of the health system, specific priority health outcomes, and different geographic locations. | 2012 |
| Capacity Development Evaluation | PACT | The Organization Performance Index (OPI) was developed to measure the change in partner performance, an outcome level change. The Index is based on the IDRC/ Universalia Capacity Development Outcomes Framework, which includes four key metrics: Effectiveness - Achieving Results & Meeting Standards; Efficiency - Delivering Services & Increasing Reach; Relevance - Engaging Target Populations & Promoting Learning; and Sustainability - Mobilizing Resources & Increasing Social Capital. An organization's performance level is captured under four prisms of performance with scores ranging from Level 1 (low performing) to Level 4 (high performing). | 2012 |
| Handout 1: Sustainability Planning Workshop Pre/Post-Test | ICF International | This is a pre/post workshop questionnaire to determine changes in M&E knowledge from participation in a workshop. This questionnaire can be adapted to specific workshop needs. For more information on the workshop that the questionnaire was created for, see: http://cedarscenter.com/resources/Facilitator's_Manual_for_Sustainability_Planning_Workshop_for_Co-ops.pdf. | 2012 |
| Program Sustainability Assessment Tool | Washington University, Center for Public Health Systems Science/George Warren Brown School of Social Work, St Louis, Missouri | This tool enables the completion of an organizational self-assessment of eight sustainability domains: environmental support, funding stability, partnerships, organizational capacity, program evaluation, program adaptation, communication, and strategic planning. It provides tools to assess domains and develop action plans to increase the likelihood of sustainability. | 2012 |
| SCORE ME Organizational M&E Capacity Self-Assessment | MEASURE Evaluation | This tool allows an organization to complete a self-assessment of its M&E capacity. | 2012 |
| SCORE ME Organizational M&E Capacity Self-Improvement Plan | MEASURE Evaluation | This tool allows an organization to create a self-improvement plan after assessing its M&E capacity. It accompanies the SCORE ME Organizational M&E Capacity Self-Assessment tool. | 2012 |
| The Organizational Capacity and Viability Assessment Tool (OCVAT) | ICF International and Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation | This tool is designed as an assessment of NGO organizational capacity and viability across thirteen capacity areas covering technical and operational functions. It has been adapted by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation to be used in the organizational development process for local NGOs, community-based organizations, and Foundation affiliates. The tool can be used to conduct assessments of country offices prior to the development of an affiliate, and as an organizational development tool later in the life of the organization. The OCVAT is conducted as a facilitated self-assessment, in conjunction with optional external assessment. It encourages cross-functional discussion on difficult issues in an effective manner. | 2012 |
| Assessment of Data Use Constraints | MEASURE Evaluation | This assessment is one component of a toolkit to improve data demand and use in the health sector. The assessment of data use constraints is a rapid assessment tool that serves three key purposes: it identifies existing barriers and constraints to data use; it identifies existing best practices in data use; and it helps in designing and prioritizing approaches for addressing barriers and constraints. The assessment is intended to be a rapid assessment and is not representative of all barriers that may exist in the country, region, district, or organization being assessed. This tool can be used in a stand-alone assessment or as a component of a larger assessment-or parts of it can be extracted to serve specific purposes, such as for use in a workshop with M&E staff. | 2011 |
| Applicability and Transferability of Evidence Tool (A&T Tool) | National Collaborating Center for Methods and Tools (NCCMT) | This tool aims to help public health managers and planners use evidence to choose an appropriate program for their community. It provides a framework to assess the applicability and transferability of evidence to public health practice and policy. | 2011 |
| Communication for Change Participatory Assessment of Behavior Change Programs | Communication for Change (C-Change) | The participatory quality improvement (QI) approach outlined in this document assisted Communication for Change's partners in Namibia to improve the quality of their social and behavior change communication (SBCC) programs and group sessions conducted by field staff and volunteers to promote HIV prevention. Through the participatory process, C-Change civil society partners crafted their own set of quality performance standards and indicators for the planning and design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of their SBCC programs and group sessions, then applied them to improve their quality. | 2011 |
| TIPS: Measuring Institutional Capacity | USAID Center for Development Information and Evaluation | This tool gives USAID managers information on measuring institutional capacity, including some tools that measure the capacity of an entire organization and others that look at individual components or functions of an organization. | 2011 |
| Comprehensive Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Assessment | World Health Organization | The Comprehensive Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Assessment tools guide the country in a standards-based review of the national CRVS system. This comprehensive assessment is a detailed tool that includes guidance for a comprehensive review (building on the rapid assessment) and developing a roadmap for strengthening weak areas. The aim is to help responsible authorities obtain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of their CRVS systems and generate the evidence base for corrective action. These tools are largely directed at countries with an established civil registration but with some inadequacies. (The tools do not assess vital statistics obtained from household surveys, censuses, and sample registration.) | 2010 |
| Rapid Comprehensive Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Assessment | World Health Organization | The Rapid Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Assessment may be used prior to the comprehensive assessment to provide a quick overview of how the overall system is functioning and determine priority areas of focus during the comprehensive assessment. The rapid assessment consists of 25 questions addressing 11 areas of the system. Assuming that key informants are readily available to contribute, the rapid assessment can be conducted within a couple of hours, using an automated spreadsheet for immediate results. | 2010 |
| 12 Components M&E Tool (HIV Tool) | The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Global Monitoring and Evaluation Reference Group for HIV and AIDS (MERG) | The 12 Components Monitoring and Evaluation Tool provides a comprehensive assessment of an overall national HIV M&E system. This tool is a consolidation of existing assessment tools and has been endorsed by MERG. It is meant to replace multiple tools with the same intent and standardize assessment. | 2010 |
| Community-Level Program Information Reporting (CLPIR) for HIV/AIDS Programs: Rapid Situation and Needs Assessment | MEASURE Evaluation | The Community-Level Program Information Reporting (CLPIR) for HIV/AIDS Programs: Rapid Situation and Needs Assessment supports harmonized monitoring and reporting systems that capture indicator data from community-level programs and systems that are essential for effective program management and decision making (and that facilitate the reporting of high-quality program performance data to host country governments and donors). The CLPIR also includes three other modules. This assessment guide is designed to provide the necessary direction and supporting materials to the CLPIR steering committee (or a task force of the steering committee) to determine gaps in performance of the existing system. | 2010 |
| Introduction to Organizational Capacity Development: Pact Organizational Development Toolkit | Pact | This toolkit is a package of organizational development tools (e.g., strategic planning, project planning, monitoring and evaluation, and financial management) that can be adapted to the local context of an NGO. | 2010 |
| Management and Organizational Sustainability Tool (MOST) | Management Sciences for Health | The Management and Organizational Sustainability Tool (MOST) is a structured, participatory process that allows organizations to assess their own management performance, develop a concrete action plan for improvement, and carry out their plan. | 2010 |
| Standards for a Competency-Based Approach to M&E Curricula & Trainings | The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS Global Monitoring and Evaluation Reference Group for HIV and AIDS | This tool provides standards for capacity building in M&E through human resource training. It specifically addresses the essential competencies for those in M&E leadership positions, covering both technical and managerial abilities along with standards for the development and implementation of M&E curricula aimed at improving M&E competencies. | 2010 |
| Organizational Capacity Assessment (OCA) Tool for USAID-Funded Organizations Facilitator's Copy | John Snow, Inc. | The Organizational Capacity Assessment (OCA) tool was designed to enable organizations to define a capacity-building improvement plan, based on self-assessed need. The OCA was initially designed to measure overall capacity of organizations funded by PEPFAR under the New Partners Initiative (NPI). The tool provides organizations with a set of criteria to assess their current management capacity to implement quality health programs and to identify key areas that need strengthening. | 2009 |
| HIS Assessment Tool, Health Metrics Network | World Health Organization | The Health Metrics Network's framework and associated Health Information System Assessment Tool lay out the core elements of a country HIS. The tools do not formally assess the performance of health facilities' data reporting (facilities and reported data are not formally assessed), but are designed to give stakeholders an understanding of their HIS, identify strengths and weaknesses, build consensus, and identify priority areas for improvement. The assessment tool can be used to establish a baseline, monitor progress, and evaluate targeted interventions. | 2008 |
| Assessing the National Health Information System | World Health Organization - Health Metrics Network | The purpose of this tool is to help countries and other partners improve global health by strengthening the systems that generate health-related information for evidence-based decision making. This is done by enhancing health information and statistical systems, and concentrating efforts on strengthening country leadership for health information production and use through the use of the HMN Framework. | 2008 |
| Monitoring and Evaluation System Strengthening Tool (MESST) | MEASURE Evaluation, The Global Fund, U.S. Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, Health Metrics Network | The Monitoring and Evaluation System Strengthening Tool (MESST) was designed as a global tool to assess M&E plans and systems. Its purpose is to assess the M&E plan and capacity for its implementation; evaluate how M&E activities are linked and integrated in the national M&E system; and help develop a costed action plan to strengthen M&E. Use of this tool is not intended to be a stand-alone activity, but is meant to occur in the context of other efforts to strengthen M&E systems at the country level. This tool can be used at the national level, within groups of projects, and within individual projects and organizations. | 2007 |
| Data Quality Assurance Tool for Program Level Indicators | MEASURE Evaluation | This tool addresses fundamental data quality challenges inherent in the process of compiling and summarizing data for the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) semiannual or annual program results, including: 1) the upstream and downstream framework for target setting and results reporting; 2) double counting; and 3) comparability of reported results over time. | 2007 |
| Country Harmonization and Alignment Tool (CHAT) | Joint United National Programme on HIV/AIDS | This guide to using the Country Harmonization and Alignment Tool (CHAT) was written for national AIDS coordinating authorities and other country-level partners involved in planning and monitoring progress in the national AIDS response. | 2007 |
| Data Demand and Information Use in the Health Sector Strategies and Tools | MEASURE Evaluation | This collection of data demand and use (DDU) strategies and tools is meant to be implemented in four distinct steps. This toolkit includes two key instruments for assessment. The first is a rapid appraisal to help stakeholders, policy makers, and M&E practitioners to intensify DDU needs and determine entry points for intervention (meant to be step 1 for facilitating DDU). The second tool in the assessment of data use constraints, which can be used during step 3 to gather information on data flow and data use from key stakeholders. The tools should be implemented as part of a concerted intervention to target DDU (as described in the guidance). | 2006 |
| Menu of Indicators on Management and Leadership Capacity Development | Management Sciences for Health, Leadership, Management, and Sustainability Program | Although it is not a measurement tool, the purpose of this menu is to serve as a reference tool to guide the selection of indicators in the areas of management and leadership capacity development. The Menu of Indicators offers examples that can be adapted to the specific circumstances of users. | 2006 |
| Immunization Data Quality Self-Assessment (DQS) Tool | World Health Organization | The Immunization Data Quality Self-Assessment (DQS) Tool is a flexible toolbox of methods to evaluate different aspects of the immunization monitoring system at district and health unit levels. The DQS aims to assist countries in diagnosing problems and to provide orientation to improve district monitoring, as highlighted in the Reaching Every District approach. This document is to be used primarily by staff who will adapt the toolbox for a specific area (usually staff at national and regional levels). The adapted tool should then be used by staff collecting and using immunization data at the national, provincial, or district levels. | 2005 |
| Workgroup Climate Assessment: Guide for Facilitators | Management Sciences for Health | The purpose of this tool is to help managers, supervisors, and others understand and measure their workgroup climate. A workgroup is defined as a group of people who work together on a routine basis toward the same goal. | 2005 |
| Joint External Evaluation Tool: International Health Regulations as part of the IHR (2005) Monitoring and Evaluation framework | World Health Organization | This evaluation tool allows countries to identify the most urgent needs within their health security system, to prioritize opportunities for increased preparedness, and to target resources more effectively. It is intended to assess country capacity to prevent, detect, and rapidly respond to public health threats. The first time the evaluation is completed, it will serve as a baseline measurement of the country's capacity and cabalbilities. Subsequent evaluations should occur every five years and will identify progress made and ensure any improvements in capacity are sustained. The joint external evaluation approach should include voluntary country participation, a multisectoral approach by both the external teams and host countries, and transparecy and openness of data and information sharing. | 2005 |
| A Guide to Rapid Assessment of Human Resources for Health | World Health Organization | This rapid assessment guide is designed to help users arrive at a global overview of a country's human resources for health (HRH) situation. In addresses issues generally considered to be major challenges for many countries, and is intended to help users assess current HRH constraints and challenges to scaling up health interventions. It is intended for health policy makers, regulatory bodies, and national and local health managers. | 2004 |
| A Guide to M&E of Capacity-Building Interventions | MEASURE Evaluation | The purpose of this guide is to assist health planners and evaluators to gain a clear understanding of the concepts of capacity and capacity building, critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of current approaches to capacity measurement, and design a capacity-building M&E plan that outlines a systematic approach to measuring capacity and assessing the results of capacity-building interventions in the health sector. | 2003 |
| Effective Capacity Building in Nonprofit Organizations | Venture Philanthropy Partners | This report provides a clear framework for defining capacity in non-profit organizations and a tool, the Capacity Assessment Grid, for measuring an organization's capacity. The framework and descriptions in the grid were developed based on the Partners' collective experience and the input of many non-profit experts and practitioners. | 2001 |
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