Training Resources

Available Trainings

This webpage provides details on strategic information trainings available from CDC/GAP and its SI implementing partners. It includes descriptions of objectives and modules and identifies the target audience for the various trainings.

The contacts listed can provide additional information and answer any questions you may have regarding the trainings. Please contact your SI liaison and/or SI advisor to request trainings for your program.

Table of Contents


Data Use for M&E
CDC/GAP M&E and ORC Macro

Data Use for M&E is an instructor-led course that is designed to enhance the data use skills of participants for the effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of HIV/AIDS programs. This course was designed for the following participants:
  • National AIDS coordinating organizations
  • HIV/AIDS program managers
  • Ministry of health administrators
  • M&E officers
  • District or regional health directors or managers
  • Community leaders

At the end of this training, participants will be able to—
  • Describe the importance of data use for monitoring and evaluating HIV/AIDS programs
  • Understand that different user groups have different uses for different types of data
  • Use a systematic process that will help identify user groups and their data needs and uses
  • Develop strategies for communicating data to different user groups
  • Provide appropriate data to key stakeholders

This course is composed of three modules, listed below. The modules can be taught individually or as a group. The approximate amount of time needed for each module is indicated below and is dependent on the audience.
  • When all modules are delivered, the course takes about 3 days.
  • Two instructors are needed for any combination of the modules. In addition, a country counterpart may be assigned for capacity building.
  • For a training-of-trainers event, 1 to 2 days should be added to the length of the course (or modules), and a training specialist should be included for every 10 participants.
  • A lead time of several months is needed for scheduling, consultation, planning, and preparation.
  • The following materials are available: facilitator guide, handouts, and slides. Participant manuals are in process.

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Economic Evaluation and Decision Analysis
CDC/GAP M&E and ORC Macro

Economic Evaluation and Decision Analysis is an instructor-led course that is designed to introduce participants to economic evaluation and decision analysis of HIV/AIDS programs. Economic evaluation in public health uses cost, epidemiologic, and evaluation data to assess the return on public health inputs for clinical, behavioral, and preventive services. A principal method of economic evaluation is decision analysis, and the information gained from this type of analysis, such as cost-effectiveness and cost-utility ratios, has become a key in public health decision-making. This course provides an introduction to these methods and the principles used to assess the costs and effectiveness of public health programs, with an emphasis on applications to interventions in HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. The course is led by an instructor but relies on the extensive use of case studies and other hands-on learning approaches geared toward health professionals; no prior training in economics is required. This course was designed for the following participants:
  • National AIDS coordinating organizations
  • HIV/AIDS program managers
  • Ministry of health administrators and planners
  • Monitoring and evaluation officers
  • District or regional health directors or managers

At the end of this training, participants will be able to—
  • Define concepts of economic evaluation and decision analysis
  • Construct and use a decision tree
  • Identify three economic methods that can be used to evaluate prevention programs
  • Plan a prevention-effectiveness study for a specific public health intervention
  • Calculate and interpret average and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios

Background Information:
  • When all modules are delivered, the course takes about 3 to 5 days.
  • Two instructors are needed for any combination of the modules. In addition, a country counterpart may be assigned for capacity building.
  • For a training-of-trainers event, 1 to 2 days should be added to the length of the course (or modules), and a training specialist should be included for every 10 participants.
  • A lead time of several months is needed for scheduling, consultation, planning, and preparation.

Status:
Draft versions of the facilitator guide, handouts, and slides are in the early stages of development. Pilot testing is tentatively scheduled for fall or winter 2006.

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M&E for Program Managers
CDC/GAP M&E and Tulane University

M&E for Program Managers is an instructor-led course that aims to strengthen knowledge and practice of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) at the subnational and program levels. It will provide practical step-by-step guidance for effective planning and implementation of M&E systems. This course was designed for the following participants:
  • Program managers working at the subnational/district level
  • Civil society, including managers of workplace programs and faith-based organizations
  • Nongovernmental organizations
  • Recipients of National AIDS Council disbursements, probably at the district level
  • Program managers of special prevention, care, and support programs (e.g., Home Care Team services, Home Based Care, Orphans and Vulnerable Children)

This training is designed to help participants to—
  • Strengthen their knowledge and practice of M&E at the subnational level
  • Provide step-by-step guidance for effective planning and implementation of M&E systems at the program level
  • Answer the question, “Is the program doing what we intended it to do?”

This course is composed of four modules, listed below. The modules can be taught individually or as a group. The approximate amount of time needed for each module is indicated below and is dependent on the audience.
  • When all modules are delivered, the course takes about 4 days.
  • Two instructors are needed for any combination of the modules. In addition, a country counterpart may be assigned for capacity building.
  • For a training-of-trainers event, 1 or 2 days should be added to the length of the course (or modules), and a training specialist should be included for every 10 participants.
  • A lead time of several months is needed for scheduling, consultation, planning, and preparation.
  • The facilitator guide, participant manual, handouts, and slides are in development.

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Monitoring And Evaluation (M&E) Capacity Building for
Program Planning, Management, and Improvement
CDC/GAP M&E and ORC Macro

This is an instructor-led course designed to be tailored to specific country contexts and audiences. Through presentations and small group exercises, participants gain hands-on experience in the fundamentals of M&E, which can be applied at the national, regional, and district levels. Participants are given tools, such as templates for project-specific M&E plans and M&E readiness assessments, which can provide a starting point for action planning and can be developed further with colleagues upon their return to the workplace.

This course can be adapted to meet the needs of the following participants:
  • National AIDS coordinating organizations
  • HIV/AIDS program managers
  • Ministry of health administrators
  • M&E officers
  • District or regional health directors or managers
  • Community leaders

Depending on audience needs, the training may be designed to meet some or all of the following objectives:
  • Describe the use of M&E data for program management and improvement
  • Understand and initiate program monitoring and other evaluation activities as standard program components within technical strategies
  • Develop a strategy-specific M&E plan, which can be expanded to other strategies
  • Participate and provide leadership for M&E activities as standard components of programs/projects
  • Develop an M&E technical assistance plan

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Qualitative Methods for M&E
CDC/GAP M&E and Tulane University

Qualitative Methods for M&E is an instructor-led course that provides an introduction to qualitative data and the role of these data in monitoring and evaluation (M&E). This course was designed for the following participants:
  • National AIDS coordinating organizations
  • HIV/AIDS program managers
  • Ministry of health administrators
  • M&E officers
  • District or regional health directors or managers
  • Community leaders

At the end of this training, participants will be able to—
  • Describe the importance of qualitative data use in monitoring and evaluating HIV/AIDS programs
  • Describe how qualitative and quantitative research are both different and complementary
  • Write qualitative research or evaluation questions
  • Determine when to use qualitative methods for program management and M&E
  • Disseminate qualitative data (e.g., presentations, written reports, success stories)
  • Make program decisions on the basis of qualitative data

This course is composed of four modules, listed below. The modules can be taught individually or as a group. The approximate amount of time needed for each module is indicated below and is dependent on the audience.
  • When all modules are delivered, the course takes about 3 days.
  • Two instructors are needed for any combination of the modules. In addition, a country counterpart may be assigned for capacity building.
  • For a training-of-trainers event, 1 to 2 days should be added to the length of the course (or modules), and a training specialist should be included for every 10 participants.
  • A lead time of several months is needed for scheduling, consultation, planning, and preparation.
  • The participant manual, handouts, slides, and the facilitator guide are in development.

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Triangulation: Integration and Analysis of Multiple Data Sets to Support HIV/AIDS Program and Policy Planning
CDC/GAP M&E and University of California, San Francisco

This is an instructor-led training course that follows a longer data triangulation analysis activity. This analysis and training activity combines a 6-month hands-on analysis of strategic information with a 5-day didactic training workshop. This course was designed for the following participants:
  • National AIDS coordinating organizations
  • HIV/AIDS program managers
  • Ministry of health administrators
  • Monitoring and evaluation officers

At the end of this training, policy-makers will be able to—
  • Understand triangulation as a tool and know what to ask for and when
  • Know what is required to support triangulation
  • Know how to interpret results of triangulation analyses

At the end of this training, analysts and technical staff will be able to—
  • Understand triangulation as a process and know what is required
  • Walk through the steps of the triangulation process, using their own data
  • Know how to interpret and communicate results

This course is composed of five units and four practicums, listed below. All practicums use country-specific data from the triangulation analysis. The approximate amount of time needed for each module is indicated below and is dependent on the audience.
  • The course takes about 4½ days.
  • Policy-makers are requested to come for the first day and the last ½ day.
  • Analysts and technical staff will attend all 4½ days.
  • Four to five instructors are needed for the units and to lead breakout groups (practicums). In addition, a country counterpart may be assigned for capacity building, particularly for the practicums.
  • The following materials are in development: participant manual and slides. Practicums are country specific and need to be tailored for each individual country.

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BED HIV-1 Incidence Assay
CDC/GAP Surveillance

BED HIV-1 Incidence Assay is a workshop that is based on the use of the BED HIV-1 incidence assay for HIV-1 incidence surveillance in resource-limited countries. This use is informed by the BED assay protocol developed at CDC. The workshop includes both classroom and hands-on laboratory training. It was designed for surveillance and laboratory personnel.

Format:
  • Surveillance and lab personnel participate in a classroom setting the first day
  • For the rest of the workshop, surveillance personnel will continue with epidemiology training while lab personnel will have hands-on laboratory training with the BED assay.
  • The course also can be presented as surveillance only or lab only.

A participant manual and slides are available. A facilitator manual is planned.

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Behavioral Surveillance Courses
CDC/GAP Surveillance

The behavioral surveillance courses can be taught individually or combined. They were designed for the following participants:
  • Planners
  • Decision-makers
  • Senior surveillance officers
  • Epidemiologists

The approximate amount of time needed for each course is indicated below and is dependent on the audience.
  • Two instructors are needed for any combination of the courses. In addition, a country counterpart may be assigned for capacity building.
  • The participant manual and slides are available; a facilitator manual is planned.

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Electronic Data Processing, Analysis, and Reporting for HIV Sentinel Surveys
CDC/GAP Surveillance

The electronic data processing course is designed to provide participants with basic technical skills in data processing, analysis, and report writing for survey data. The course introduces best practice techniques for systematically collecting, managing, processing, and reporting HIV survey data from antenatal clinics. Participants learn the course content by planning and implementing the 2002 HIV sentinel surveillance in a fictitious country called Suri.

The course was designed for data managers.

To benefit from this course, participants should—
  • Be able to use the Microsoft Windows computing environment (i.e., move, copy, and rename files and file folders).
  • Be able to perform and interpret simple and more complex data analyses, using either computer- or paper-based statistical methods. Familiarity with Epi Info is not required.
  • Understand the basic approach to conducting antenatal care HIV sentinel surveillance in resource-limited settings. Familiarity with this type of surveillance can be obtained by reading the WHO Second Generation Surveillance Guidelines, your country’s HIV sentinel surveillance protocol, and other published literature.

A participant manual and slides are used. A facilitator manual is in development.

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HIV Drug Resistance
CDC/GAP Surveillance

HIV Drug Resistance (HIVDR), a workshop-style course, is being developed jointly by HIVDR experts at CDC and WHO. It will be composed of two modules:
  • Planning and Implementing Your Country’s HIV Drug Resistance Prevention and Evaluation Activities (3 days)
  • HIVDR Database Training (2 days)

The course is designed for national core groups that are implementing HIV drug resistance prevention and evaluation and data managers

A participant manual, slides, job aids, and worksheets are in development. A facilitator manual is planned.

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Introduction to HIV/AIDS and STI Surveillance
CDC/GAP Surveillance

Introduction to HIV/AIDS and STI Surveillance is an instructor-led course that provides a “big picture” look at surveillance issues and approaches. This foundation course was designed for the following participants:
  • Surveillance officers and others involved in universal and sentinel surveys
  • Pre-service public health personnel

The course is composed of four modules, which can be taught individually, combined into a 1-week training event, or used as self-study workbooks. The approximate amount of time needed for each module is indicated below and is dependent on the audience and application.
  • When all modules are delivered in an instructor-led setting, the course takes about 5 days.
  • Two instructors are needed for any combination of the modules. In addition, a country counterpart may be assigned for capacity building.
  • A participant manual, facilitator manual, and slides are available for each module.

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Training of Trainers
CDC/GAP Surveillance

A surveillance training-of-trainers event employs the Teachback Methodology to improve participants’ facilitation skills by blending learning training skills with teaching the course content of any of the CDC/GAP Surveillance courses. Course participants gain skills in training adults, teaching surveillance courses, and providing/receiving performance feedback.

The training-of-trainers course can be used as an add-on to any CDC/GAP Surveillance training and was designed for the following participants:
  • Surveillance officers
  • Epidemiologists
  • Others who are involved in surveillance activities (including training staff) and want to improve their facilitation skills

Background Information:
  • For a training-of-trainers event, 2 days should be added to the length of a CDC/GAP surveillance course (or module).
  • A surveillance expert and training specialist are used for every 9 to 12 participants.
  • A training-of-trainers event can be delivered either in-country or as a regional training. Four months are needed for proper scheduling and preparations.

A participant manual, slides, facilitator manual, Teachback slides, handouts, and videotape/DVD are available.

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