Implementing Impact Evaluations of Malaria Control Interventions: Process, Lessons Learned, and Recommendations.

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Program Evaluation
• Malaria Control

Background:

• Increased global funding for malaria control over the past decade has expanded intervention coverage.
• This expansion created a need to measure the impact of investments on malaria morbidity and mortality.
• Limited guidance existed for conducting national-level malaria control program impact evaluations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of a streamlined process for conducting impact evaluations of national malaria control programs.
• To share lessons learned and recommendations from the President's Malaria Initiative's (PMI) experience in supporting these evaluations.
• To guide future impact evaluations of malaria control and other health programs.

Main Methods:

• The President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) provided financial and technical support for impact evaluations in 13 countries.
• Experiences from these evaluations informed the development of a streamlined process.
• Key lessons learned and recommendations were synthesized from these country-level experiences.

Main Results:

• PMI and partners developed a streamlined process for conducting national malaria control program impact evaluations.
• Key recommendations include ensuring country ownership, engaging stakeholders, coordinating efforts, tailoring evaluations, standardizing methodology, and developing tailored dissemination products.
• This process aims for efficient completion within a reasonable timeframe.

Conclusions:

• The developed process and recommendations offer a framework for future impact evaluations of malaria control programs.
• Emphasizing country ownership and stakeholder engagement is crucial for successful evaluations.
• Standardized yet adaptable evaluation methodologies are essential for measuring the impact of global health investments.