Implementation of Saksham Pramaan 2021-2024:

Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies, Osmania University, Hyderabad successfully implemented Saksham Pramaan during 2021-2024. During the project implementation RCUES, Osmania University recruited the project staff, built the capacities, established partnerships with State AIDS Control Societies of Southern Region as Regional Institute of Capacity Building and Evaluation (RICE). The RCUES-RICE team supported the State AIDS Control Societies in Planning, Scheduling the evaluations as per the timelines. The RCUES-RICE team also provided technical support to SACS in conducting, monitoring and addressing the issues of evaluation on ground. Further, RCUES-RICE team visited the TIs during the evaluations and understood the performance of evaluators, gaps in evaluation and documented the best practices and challenges in TI Evaluation. The RCUES-RICE team participated in briefing and de-briefing meetings and facilitated the process of finalisation of TI evaluation.  

Also submitted the reports to TISS for onward transmission to NACO and Global Fund. During the project implementation period, RCUES-RICE empanelled 279 evaluators. Among them 195 evaluators (Programme and Finance) were trained in 08 (Eight) training programmes during 2021 – 2024. Out of 08 (eight training programme 04 (Four) batches were held online and another 04 (Four) batches were held offline (Please find enclosed the FIC report ending March, 2024 as an annexure for complete details). Some of the best practices to mention, RCUES-RICE avoided the old evaluators who has been continuing in the TI evaluation with various SACS for longer period. It has established and followed the practices to bring as much as new evaluators into the programme from the Universities, Research Organisations and Individuals as per the NACO guidelines. After identification of the New Evaluators RCUES, OU has organised intensive training programmes.

The detailed sessions were facilitated on

1) Overview of TI Interventions Evaluations – Role of NACO, SACS and RICE (SAKSHAM PROJECT);

2) Sensitization on Sex and Sexuality, MSM, FSW and IDUs;

3) Basics of HIV/AIDS/STI transmission, prevention, myths, misconceptions, Services provided by the Government;

4) Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS/STI (Low risk, Bridge Population and High risk groups);

5) Concepts and Skills of Evaluation;

6) Understanding TI Programme and LWS;

7) How to conduct TI Evaluations? What NACO Guidelines say?;

8) Tools and Evaluation formats;

9) Scoring;

10) Report Writing;

11) Ethical Issues in TI Evaluations (Do’s and Don’ts);

12) Planning for Evaluation;

13) Practice session on evaluation.

The methodologies adopted in the training programme were power point presentations, group discussions, presentation by the participants, brainstorming, role plays. The training programmes conducted by RCUES-RICE helped the evaluators to conduct effective, transparent and timely evaluations and it has been found by RCUES-RICE and SACS, a great impact in conducting evaluations. RCUES-RICE received a great appreciation from various SACS on the conduction of training programmes. RCUES-RICE, Osmania University utilised the funds effectively and organised all the activities cost effectively with in the stipulated timelines.