Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals 3: Assessing the Readiness of Low- and Middle-Income Countries
<span class="fontstyle0">Background</span><br /> <span class="fontstyle0">The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) availed opportunities for scaling up service coverage but called for stringent monitoring and evaluation (M&E) focusing mainly on MDG rela...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Kerman University of Medical Sciences
2020-07-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Health Policy and Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.ijhpm.com/article_3725_17dd011315b8db790ed021abf8219a56.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818922635961040896 |
|---|---|
| author | Joy Belinda Nabukalu James Avoka Asamani Juliet Nabyonga-Orem |
| author_facet | Joy Belinda Nabukalu James Avoka Asamani Juliet Nabyonga-Orem |
| author_sort | Joy Belinda Nabukalu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <span class="fontstyle0">Background</span><br /> <span class="fontstyle0">The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) availed opportunities for scaling up service coverage but called for stringent monitoring and evaluation (M&E) focusing mainly on MDG related programs. The Sustainable Development Goals 3 (SDGs) and the universal health coverage (UHC) agenda present a broader scope and require more sophisticated M&E systems. We assessed the readiness of low- and middle-income countries to monitor SDG 3.<br /></span><br /> <br /> <span class="fontstyle0">Methods</span><br /> <span class="fontstyle0">Employing mixed methods, we reviewed health sector M&E plans of 6 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Region to assess the challenges to M&E, the indicator selection pattern and the extent of multisectoral collaboration. Qualitative data were analysed using content thematic analysis while quantitative data were analysed using Excel.<br /></span><br /> <br /> <span class="fontstyle0">Results</span><br /> <span class="fontstyle0">Challenges to monitoring SDG 3 include weak institutional capacity; fragmentation of M&E functions; inadequate domestic financing; inadequate data availability, dissemination and utilization of M&E products. The total number of indictors in the reviewed plans varied from 38 for Zimbabwe to 235 for Zanzibar. Sixty-nine percent of indicators for the Gambia and 89% for Zanzibar were not classified in any domain in the M&E results chain. Countries lay greater M&E emphasis on service delivery, health systems, maternal and child health as well as communicable diseases with a seeming neglect of the non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Inclusion of SDG 3 indicators only ranged from 48% for Zanzibar to 67% for Kenya. Although monitoring SDG 3 calls for multisectoral collaboration, consideration of the role of other sectors in the M&E plans was either absent or limited to the statistical departments.<br /></span><br /> <br /> <span class="fontstyle0">Conclusion</span><br /> <span class="fontstyle0">There are common challenges confronting M&E at county-level. Countries have omitted key indicators for monitoring components of the SDG 3 targets especially those on NCDs and injuries. The role of other sectors in monitoring SDG 3 targets is not adequately reflected. These could be bottlenecks to tracking progress towards SDG 3 if not addressed. Beyond providing compendium of indicators to guide countries, we advocate for a more binding minimum set of indicators for all countries to which they may add depending on their context. Ministries of Health (MoHs) should prioritise M&E as an important pillar for health service planning and implementation and not as an add-on activity.</span> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T01:56:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-449dadf354ad47cba9aab4284bbe490d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2322-5939 2322-5939 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T01:56:41Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | Kerman University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Health Policy and Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-449dadf354ad47cba9aab4284bbe490d2022-12-21T19:57:27ZengKerman University of Medical SciencesInternational Journal of Health Policy and Management2322-59392322-59392020-07-019729730810.15171/ijhpm.2019.1343725Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals 3: Assessing the Readiness of Low- and Middle-Income CountriesJoy Belinda Nabukalu0James Avoka Asamani1Juliet Nabyonga-Orem2HealthNet Consult, Kampala, UgandaWorld Health Organization (WHO), Inter-Country Support Team for Eastern & Southern Africa, Harare, ZimbabweWorld Health Organization (WHO), Inter-Country Support Team for Eastern & Southern Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe<span class="fontstyle0">Background</span><br /> <span class="fontstyle0">The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) availed opportunities for scaling up service coverage but called for stringent monitoring and evaluation (M&E) focusing mainly on MDG related programs. The Sustainable Development Goals 3 (SDGs) and the universal health coverage (UHC) agenda present a broader scope and require more sophisticated M&E systems. We assessed the readiness of low- and middle-income countries to monitor SDG 3.<br /></span><br /> <br /> <span class="fontstyle0">Methods</span><br /> <span class="fontstyle0">Employing mixed methods, we reviewed health sector M&E plans of 6 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Region to assess the challenges to M&E, the indicator selection pattern and the extent of multisectoral collaboration. Qualitative data were analysed using content thematic analysis while quantitative data were analysed using Excel.<br /></span><br /> <br /> <span class="fontstyle0">Results</span><br /> <span class="fontstyle0">Challenges to monitoring SDG 3 include weak institutional capacity; fragmentation of M&E functions; inadequate domestic financing; inadequate data availability, dissemination and utilization of M&E products. The total number of indictors in the reviewed plans varied from 38 for Zimbabwe to 235 for Zanzibar. Sixty-nine percent of indicators for the Gambia and 89% for Zanzibar were not classified in any domain in the M&E results chain. Countries lay greater M&E emphasis on service delivery, health systems, maternal and child health as well as communicable diseases with a seeming neglect of the non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Inclusion of SDG 3 indicators only ranged from 48% for Zanzibar to 67% for Kenya. Although monitoring SDG 3 calls for multisectoral collaboration, consideration of the role of other sectors in the M&E plans was either absent or limited to the statistical departments.<br /></span><br /> <br /> <span class="fontstyle0">Conclusion</span><br /> <span class="fontstyle0">There are common challenges confronting M&E at county-level. Countries have omitted key indicators for monitoring components of the SDG 3 targets especially those on NCDs and injuries. The role of other sectors in monitoring SDG 3 targets is not adequately reflected. These could be bottlenecks to tracking progress towards SDG 3 if not addressed. Beyond providing compendium of indicators to guide countries, we advocate for a more binding minimum set of indicators for all countries to which they may add depending on their context. Ministries of Health (MoHs) should prioritise M&E as an important pillar for health service planning and implementation and not as an add-on activity.</span>https://www.ijhpm.com/article_3725_17dd011315b8db790ed021abf8219a56.pdfmonitoringevaluationsustainable development goal 3universal health coveragelow- and middle-income countries |
| spellingShingle | Joy Belinda Nabukalu James Avoka Asamani Juliet Nabyonga-Orem Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals 3: Assessing the Readiness of Low- and Middle-Income Countries International Journal of Health Policy and Management monitoring evaluation sustainable development goal 3 universal health coverage low- and middle-income countries |
| title | Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals 3: Assessing the Readiness of Low- and Middle-Income Countries |
| title_full | Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals 3: Assessing the Readiness of Low- and Middle-Income Countries |
| title_fullStr | Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals 3: Assessing the Readiness of Low- and Middle-Income Countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals 3: Assessing the Readiness of Low- and Middle-Income Countries |
| title_short | Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals 3: Assessing the Readiness of Low- and Middle-Income Countries |
| title_sort | monitoring sustainable development goals 3 assessing the readiness of low and middle income countries |
| topic | monitoring evaluation sustainable development goal 3 universal health coverage low- and middle-income countries |
| url | https://www.ijhpm.com/article_3725_17dd011315b8db790ed021abf8219a56.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT joybelindanabukalu monitoringsustainabledevelopmentgoals3assessingthereadinessoflowandmiddleincomecountries AT jamesavokaasamani monitoringsustainabledevelopmentgoals3assessingthereadinessoflowandmiddleincomecountries AT julietnabyongaorem monitoringsustainabledevelopmentgoals3assessingthereadinessoflowandmiddleincomecountries |