title: Monitoring HIV and AIDS Related Policy Reforms: A Road Map to Strengthen Policy Monitoring and Implementation in PEPFAR Partner Countries.
abstract: Achieving an AIDS-free generation will require the adoption and implementation of critical health policy reforms. However, countries with high HIV burden often have low policy development, advocacy, and monitoring capacity. This lack of capacity may be a significant barrier to achieving the AIDS-free generation goals. This manuscript describes the increased focus on policy development and implementation by the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). It evaluates the curriculum and learning modalities used for two regional policy capacity building workshops organized around the PEPFAR Partnership Framework agreements and the Road Map for Monitoring and Implementing Policy Reforms. A total of 64 participants representing the U.S. Government, partner country governments, and civil society organizations attended the workshops. On average, participants responded that their policy monitoring skills improved and that they felt they were better prepared to monitor policy reforms three months after the workshop. When followed-up regarding utilization of the Road Map action plan, responses were mixed. Reasons cited for not making progress included an inability to meet or a lack of time, personnel, or governmental support. This lack of progress may point to a need for building policy monitoring systems in high HIV burden countries. Because the success of policy reforms cannot be measured by the mere adoption of written policy documents, monitoring the implementation of policy reforms and evaluating their public health impact is essential. In many high HIV burden countries, policy development and monitoring capacity remains weak. This lack of capacity could hinder efforts to achieve the ambitious AIDS-free generation treatment, care and prevention goals. The Road Map appears to be a useful tool for strengthening these critical capacities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.|School of Law, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.|Foster Pepper, PLLC, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.affiliation: Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verani
authors.affiliation: United States Agency for International Development, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Mai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hijazi
authors.affiliation: Division of Global HIV/AIDS, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hagopian
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Project, Futures Group, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Judice
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Project, Futures Group, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: MacInnis
authors.affiliation: School of Law, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: Sallie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanford
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zelek
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D009313:National Health Programs; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships; D014481:United States