Background

Policymakers, program staff and researchers face many questions related to monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of public health programs in developing countries. M&E skills provide answers to these questions and are crucial to the successful design, implementation, and tracking of program progress and impact of public health programs. Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) offers an eCourse on Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Programs to strengthen the capacity of public health professionals actively engaged in the health sector. This eCourse is designed for global health professionals to develop core competencies to design and implement M&E activities in both government and non- government sectors.

Aim and Objectives

This program aims to provide comprehensive training in public health nutrition in a global setting with the choice of specializing in a number of topics and in a range of contexts.

Course Design and Duration

The eCourse on Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Programs is designed as a maximum Six months program. It is an interactive eLearning computer-based program, self-taught, complemented with online lectures and a comprehensive list of reference materials. The sessions are delivered in synchronous and asynchronous mode. There is also a discussion board to let ideas flow between participants to enable enhanced learning. The official language of course instructions is English. Participants are assessed based on successful completion of session examination at the end of each module, and development of M&E plan by the end of the course.

Eligibility Criteria

The course is open to:

• Applicants with graduate/ post-graduate qualifications with relevant understanding of public health.
• Applicants currently engaged in public health related activities such as health professionals working with National Health Mission (NHM) and directorates of health services at central, state, and district levels (Health Programs:- Integrated Disease Surveillance Project, National Vector Borne Disease Control Program, HIV/AIDS, Nutrition, Maternal and Child Health Programs etc.); international and local non-governmental agencies; and academic and research institutions.

Eligible candidates will be screened by a selection committee based on their application and statement of purpose. The decision of selection committee will be final.

Course Contents

The curriculum will cover the broad content areas of Monitoring and Evaluation including: Introduction to M&E, Overview of M&E Plans, Frameworks and indicators, Gender integration in M&E, Information sources and systems, Routine and non-routine data, Data demand and information use, and Evaluation designs. The course will enable participants to develop M&E Plan for any public health program in a stepwise manner.

Teaching and Training Methodology

The course utilizes a blended online teaching/learning technique. The basic course structure includes a combination of interactive online computer-based sessions, online virtual lectures, assessments, and recommended readings from journal articles and textbooks in a modular format. Online learning sessions will be conducted by designated faculty members and students will be able to log on from their laptops/personal computers. Participants will be assessed based on successful completion of session examination at the end of each session and development of M&E plan by the end of the course.

Evaluation

Students will be evaluated at the end of each session using multiple choice questions and also at the end of the course on the basis of completing a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. Online certificate will be awarded to candidates who successfully complete the course by securing 80% or more in the overall score.