MEASURE Evaluation in Democratic Republic of the Congo
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MEASURE Evaluation has been working in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since 2009, with David Boone serving as Country Focal Person since 2010. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities in DRC have focused on tuberculosis (TB), malaria, reproductive health and family planning, and water and sanitation.
Population
71,712,867
Population Growth Rate
3.208%
Age Structure
44.4% (0–14 years)
53.0% (15–64 years)
2.6% (65 years and over)
Death Rate
11.06 deaths/1,000 population
HIV-RELATED DATA
Adult HIV Prevalence
1.5% (2007 est.)
People Living with HIV
450,000
OTHER RELEVANT DATA
Infant Mortality Rate
129 infant deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Total Fertility Rate
5.24 children born/woman
Maternal Mortality Ratio
670 maternal deaths/100,000 live births (2009 est.)
DRC has one of the world’s highest TB infection rates, and HIV-TB co-infection is prevalent, complicating the treatment of both diseases. MEASURE Evaluation has been working with partners in DRC to improve the quality of data related to TB countrywide. In January 2011, MEASURE Evaluation conducted a national training of trainers aimed at improving measurement and maintaining good data quality for TB reporting, with the future goal of conducting regional trainings throughout the country. A new TB data quality tool is being developed, and the project will conduct a data quality audit (DQA) to assess routine data sources on behalf of the National Tuberculosis Program.
Congolese face a high risk of malaria infection. In an effort to ensure that everyone in need of malaria treatment receives it, DRC has a community-level distribution program for artemisinin combination therapies (ACT), the drugs used to treat malaria. MEASURE Evaluation is designing and undertaking an assessment to help USAID understand the effectiveness of this program. To help USAID monitor the coverage of malaria commodities, including treatment drugs and bed nets, MEASURE Evaluation is developing a software tool to facilitate tracking of malaria commodities distribution.
Recently, MEASURE Evaluation assisted in drafting an M&E plan for the Ministry of Health’s Cellule d’Appui et du Gestion (CAG), the Principal Recipient for a round-9 grant from the Global Fund for Health Systems Strengthening (HSS). “We helped develop an M&E framework and indicators in response to requirements that the Global Fund asks to see prior to funding,” Boone explained.
MEASURE Evaluation continues to assist USAID in DRC in updating its performance monitoring plan, an important tool for planning, collecting, and documenting data collection. Activities planned for the future include data quality assessments for a water sanitation program, and providing M&E training for Family Planning and Reproductive Health implementing partners.
