International Assignments | Amaltas | Research & Development Consulting

Learning Review of UP-TSU's Family Planning Program // Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Amaltas was commissioned by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to conduct a high level learning review of the Uttar Pradesh Technical Support Unit’s progress on key aspects of its Family Planning strategy. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been investing in Family Planning in Uttar Pradesh through the Technical Support Unit platform. The learning review has informed thinking of the UP-TSU as it moves forward with its work on FP.

Rapid Review of Assistive Technologies for people with Disabilities in India // Department for International Development
Amaltas were selected by Department for International Development to carry out a desk review supplemented by Key Informant Interviews to assess the significant evidence gaps on Assistive Technology for persons with disabilities. The 5 th and 6 th disability charter identified through the Global Disability Summit, 2018 referred to the growing need for ensuring access to Assistive Technologies for persons with disabilities. Additionally, Amaltas will collect grey literature from experts to better understand the contexts and identify best practices.

Social Contracting mechanism for HIV Programs to fast track achievement of the 90-90-90 goals through community-led Services // UNAIDS India
Amaltas was commissioned by UNAIDS to document India’s experience in Social Contracting mechanisms for HIV programs in order to fast track achievement of the 90-90-90 goals through community-led services. The UNAIDS and the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) work closely to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in India. In commissioning this study, UNAIDS was responding to a request by NACO in light of widespread interest in other countries to learn about India’s work on Social Contracting. The study offers learning that could be useful in the preparation of phase V of the program. The documentation provides practical information for governments and civil society organizations and promotes South-South learning towards Social Contracting by countries interested in setting up or improving their public funding mechanism for civil society organizations-based service delivery.

Mid Term Evaluation of programme to strengthen research capacity during Myanmar’s political transition // IDRC
Amaltas has been tasked by the IDRC to carry out the mid-term evaluation of the portfolio of projects under their Knowledge 4 Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) Initiative. The program aims to strengthen research capacity in Myanmar for the purpose of creating an enabling environment in Myanmar for evidence-based and gender-inclusive policy.

A Review of Evidence for Implementation of Disability Programmes in South Asia // Department for International Development
IHD and Amaltas were selected by Department of International Development (DFID) to carry out a desk review of the evidence to help support the operationalization of a response to intellectual and development challenges. The specific areas of enquiry have been identified based on the Global Disability Summit, 2018 and World Disability Report which will guide the literature review. Additionally, Amaltas will collect grey literature from each country with the help of local experts to better understand the contexts and recognize best practices.

Documenting IDRC’s work with private sector to inform its future approach and strategy for greater private sector engagement//International Development Research Centre, Canada
Amaltas was approached by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) to document its engagement with the private sector entities for furthering research for development. The IDRC is mandated to encourage, support and conduct research into problems of developing regions of the world. The Board of Governors of the IDRC has advised that in light of the germinal role of the private sector in development, the Centre should consider a strategy for Private Sector Engagement. Based on the information collected and framework developed, Amaltas provided observations and recommendations to inform IDRC’s approach to private sector engagement.

MENA And West Africa Project Cohort Support Team // International Development Research Centre, Canada
Following a call for implementation research proposals on Health Information Systems and Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health challenges in Middle East and North Africa and West Africa regions issued by IDRC’s Maternal and Child Health program, a cohort of 10 proposals were selected, later expanded to 17 for the purposes of this project. Amaltas was selected by IDRC to develop mechanisms to support quality and relevant research results across implementation research projects. IDRC is a Crown Corporation, mandated to encourage, support and conduct research into problems of the developing regions of the world, bringing about economic and social advancement of those regions. Amaltas was selected to apply mechanisms to support to ensure research rigor and research standards across the implementation projects over the 4-year implementation cycle.

Process Review and Stakeholder Perceptions of the Coalition for Food and Nutrition Security // The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Amaltas worked with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to carry out a process review and stakeholder perception study of the Coalition for Food and Nutrition Security (CFNS). The BMGF is an international charity working to improve the lives of people globally. BMGF had been supporting the CFNS since April 2016 through an independent grant to help the Coalition fulfil its mandate, and facilitate food and nutrition security discourse in India. The grant focused on three key activities of the CFNS: membership and stakeholder engagement, awareness on Sustainable Development Goals and World Health Assembly targets, and knowledge management. The review will help BMGF in assessing CFNS’ progress and processes over the grant period.

Supporting BMGF contribution to leadership and ownership of health and nutrition goals by the Bihar government // Access Health International Inc.
Amaltas was asked to assist the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to suggest how theirinvestments in the state of Bihar could be better tuned to spur rapid improvements in state’s healthand nutritional status. Bihar is a focus state of BMGF in India where it partners with stategovernment to support improvements in health and nutritional outcomes. Despite substantialinvestment in health and nutrition, Bihar was witnessing slow progress in improvement of criticalindicators. The Policy and Strategic Partnerships group at BMGF was tasked to find ways to fosteractive leadership and ownership of the government and deepen engagement with key players in the state.

Development of Critical Path Tracking Tool to track investment by BMGF in GOI health goals // The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Amaltas was invited by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to develop a Critical Path Tracking Tool (CPTT) which summarizes the state of play on elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis and immunization related health goals of the Government of India (GOI) at three increasingly aggregate level of review. BMGF undertakes various investments to assist the Indian government in achieving several of its health goals. Investments are made not only by BMGF but also by other organizations such as technical partners and other funders.

Political Economy Analysis of Tuberculosis in India // Abt Associates
Amaltas was invited by Abt Associates to undertake a Political Economy Analysis (PEA) of Tuberculosis in India to examine how the private sector can be leveraged to meet the goals of India’s TB program. The main purpose of the study was to enhance public and private sector partnership in to improve TB outcomes.

Documentation of Nutrition Missions in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh// Unicef
Unicef commissioned the consortium of Amaltas and Results for Development Institute to undertake the documentation of the Nutrition Missions in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. The study documented the evolution of these Missions, the extent to which their advocacy has influenced the understanding of state, district and local officials of the importance of nutrition, and their stimulus on programmatic activity. The study is being utilized by Unicef and the state governments to strengthen the Nutrition Missions. It will also be available to other Indian states which could identify successful components and/or processes which may be useful in the initiation of their own Nutrition Missions.

Research and Innovation in India on Sustainable Cities and Rapid Urbanisation & Public Health and Well Being // Research Councils UK India
Amaltas was invited to carry out a mapping exercise in areas of urbanisation and public health that were identified as priority themes for research collaboration by the UK-India task force on research and innovation. RCUK India has, since 2008, supported an impressive portfolio of research in collaboration with the Government of India. It plays a key role in enhancing the collaboration between India and the UK in science and research through the Science and Innovation Network (SIN).

Experienced discrimination and its relationship with life chances and socio-economic status of sexual minorities in India // Nordic Trust Fund, World Bank
Amaltas had been invited by the World Bank to carry out a study of the socio-economic situation and life chances of sexual minorities in the face of discrimination in their everyday lives. Reliable information and data on these hard-to-reach populations is crucial for government and development agencies to design policies and programs for the inclusive development of these communities, increase government revenues and promote social cohesion.

Evaluation of the Ecohealth Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Initiative // IDRC
Amaltas undertook an external evaluation of the Ecohealth Emerging Infectious Diseases (EcoEID) global Initiative across 7 countries in South East Asia, namely, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Laos PDR, Thailand, Vietnam and China that studied how ecosystem disruptions and social and demographic changes associated with development, affect infectious disease transmission dynamics and emergence. Amaltas evaluated the results of 4 regional subprojects that make up theEcoEID Initiative and has delivered the report satisfactorily to IDRC and its partners. It studied the organization, management and implementation of the multi-sectoral and multi-scalar applied research.

Resilience of college going Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender students on Delhi-NCR Campuses // Education Resilience Research Training- World Bank
Amaltas won a grant to conduct a study on resilience strategies of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) students in higher education under the World Bank run Education Resilience Research Training in South Asia. It aimed to build capacity of local researchers to collect relevant evidence to inform policy and programming for education systems in situations of violence and conflict. Amaltas studied LGBT students on Delhi-NCR campuses through a mixed methods research approach to gain a better understanding of the stigma and discrimination experienced by young persons.

Evaluating Research Excellence: Testing the Research Quality Plus Framework // IDRC
Amaltas was asked by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) to refine the draft ‘Research Quality Plus’ or RQ+ framework by running it on a sample of Governance Equity Health Systems (GEHS) projects. This framework was being designed to assess the scientific quality, attention to research ethics, and research influence strategies of research projects that it funds, intended to be used for external program reviews of its portfolio. Amaltas provided inputs on the appropriateness and utility of the framework, and advised on its possible improvement.

Measurement, Learning and Evaluation Support Services to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Programs in India // BMGF
Amaltas was asked to provide Measurement, Learning and Evaluation (MLE) support services to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)’s work in India on to upscale its capacity. This was aimed to provide support to program officers to carry out MLE to improve project performance; measure project progress, outputs and outcomes; and mine learning for use in the same or other projects. Amaltas has established a unit within the organization to perform on-going support services for BMGF projects.

External Evaluation of the Sustainable Textiles for Sustainable Development project // Traidcraft Exchange
Amaltas was commissioned by Traidcraft Exchange to carry out an evaluation of the European Union (EU) funded project titled ‘Sustainable Textiles for Sustainable Development’. The project worked with over 500 textile related SMEs in Rajasthan to explore low cost, eco-friendly technologies in partnership with the All India Artisans and Craftworkers Association. The independent end-of-project evaluation was designed to assess the project against its stated goals and objectives and to derive learning for Traidcraft and its partners.

Technical Assistance for the National Rural Health Mission, Government of India // BMGF
Amaltas was asked to provide support to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)’s engagement at the national level with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI. The aim was to reduce maternal and child mortality in 2 large states of India - Bihar and Uttar Pradesh through program support. The first task was to provide technical documentation support to the NRHM, GoI.

Strategic Evaluation on Research Excellence: Perspectives of the Global South // IDRC
Amaltas was asked by International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada to carry out research to investigate what defines ‘excellence’ in development research settings particularly in the global South. As it was concerned that existing methods of determining research quality such as bibliometrics and peer review are incomplete, it undertook a strategic evaluation on research excellence. The objectives of the study were to: better understand trends in evaluating research excellence; learn from approaches being used by other research funders; and identify frameworks that could be useful in evaluating IDRC supported research.

Evaluation of Support to Positive Women’s Network // UNWomen
Amaltas was commissioned by UNWomen to carry out an evaluation of its support to Positive Women’s Network (PWN+) on HIV and AIDS projects in India. It was aimed to gain insights about their future grant-making. The evaluation examined the support provided by UNWomen to PWN+ between 2006- 2011 with a view to feed into the identification of strategies and operational approaches to guide UNWomen’s mandate in the area of gender and HIV/AIDS.

Charting a Programmatic Road Map for Sexual Minority groups in India // World Bank
Amaltas and the Humsafar Trust partnered with the World Bank to develop a programmatic roadmap for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community to establish an enabling environment for improved access to sexual and reproductive health services under its Regional Program. The Integrated Network of Sexual Minorities platform was utilized to reach out to groups and organizations working for same sex rights in India. The report formed part of the Bank’s regional support to improve access of marginalized communities to sexual and reproductive rights in particular, and to their human rights in general.

Scoping the Landscape for HIV and AIDS Work in India // JHPIEGO
Amaltas was commissioned by Jhpiego to develop a report outlining opportunities in the HIV/AIDS space in India and the region. Having developed expertise in HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases in addition to infection prevention and control, family planning and reproductive health, it intended to explore the feasibility of involvement in HIV/AIDS projects in India. The assignment entailed documentation review to scope the donor landscape vis-à-vis the strategic priorities of individual donors, develop donor profiles, and identification of opportunities for operations research in which Jhpiego could play a possible role.

Monitoring and Evaluation of the Asian Development Bank funded Second Rural Water Supply and Sanitation project, Cambodia // Ministry of Rural Development, Royal Government of Cambodia
Amaltas has been commissioned as the international evaluation consultant, to undertake monitoring & evaluation of the Asian Development Bank funded Second Rural Water Supply and Sanitation project in 6 provinces of Cambodia (RWSSP2), in collaboration with a local partner, Golden Hall Services& Co. It is also required to design and help install a Project Performance Monitoring System in the 6 provinces, namely, BanteayMeanchey, Battambang, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Thom, Pursat and Siem Reap. Amaltas has designed a Project Performance Monitoring System which is in use across the 6 project provinces of Cambodia after training of master trainers.

Support to Prospectus 2011 – 2015 of the Governance, Equity and Health Systems Program // IDRC
Amaltas CEO, Dr. Suneeta Singh was assigned by International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Canada to provide support to an external review of its Governance Equity and Health Systems (GEHS) program draft prospectus that set out its priorities for the next 5 years (2011 - 2015). Dr. Singh and Dr. Sarah Macfarlane from UCSF participated in these consultations as well as attended the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research to feed into IDRC’s discussions on the prospectus. They reviewed the concept note providing targeted inputs regarding the appropriateness of the program’s strategic choices, modalities of research support and evaluability.

Health Sector Support Program II in Cambodia // World Bank
Amaltas CEO, Dr. Suneeta Singh was asked by the World Bank to advise on the feasibility and recommend a prioritized action plan for civil works financing with limited resources for their assignment on Health Facility Planning. It included a review of the updated Health Facility Master Plan and proposed civil works construction under Health Sector Support Program. These were assessed in light of the Health Sector Strategic Plan; existing health facilities at all levels; available Geographic Information Systems information, population base/ projected populations against resource requirements and constraints; and available program budget for civil works.

External Review of the Governance, Equity and Health Program // IDRC
Amaltas CEO, Dr. Suneeta Singh was requested by International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada to be one of the 3 international reviewers to carry out an independent external review of its work on Governance, Equity and Health and to do summative evaluation on the performance of the program in terms of accountability and learning. The primary purpose was to determine accountability to the Centre’s Board of Governors for implementation of program Prospectus; and to provide inputs to programming for learning and improvement. The approach provided for an external review of internal assessments of the work through triangulation of data with primary respondents and secondary data.

Country Progress Report India 2010 to the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV and AIDS // UNAIDS
Amaltas was asked by UNAIDS to draft India’s report to UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV and AIDS. The timeline of the assignment was challenging; Amaltas worked closely with UNAIDS to meet with UN and other multilateral and bilateral agencies to gather data. A substantial effort was to consult with civil society in order to complete sections of the required report.

Growth of Community Collectivization among Sexual Minority groups in India // UNDP
Amaltas was commissioned by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to carry out a study on community collectivization and mobilization among sexual minority groups in India, in particular Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and Transgender (TG) groups. The study, carried out in partnership with the Humsafar Trust, aimed to expand the program for People Living with HIV with the goal of reducing stigma, fostering inclusion, and ensuring greater involvement. Amaltas traced the evolution of collectivization and mobilization of these communities in India covering key events and processes that have shaped the movement.

Evaluative Assessment of phase II of the Gates funded Avahan Program: Transition and Influence // BMGF
Amaltas was invited by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to undertake an Evaluative Assessment of its Avahan Program Phase II: Transition and Influence, jointly with the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore. This was linked to its decision to make an orderly exit from its commitments on HIV/AIDS in India by transitioning its prevention program to the government or other donors, and influencing HIV policy in India and globally. The multi-level assessment aimed both to inform transition and influence processes in India and generate global learning to inform similar processes else where.

Support to a Consultation on Agriculture, Food and Social Security in India for a White Paper by the UK Department for International Development // IFPRI
Amaltas was commissioned by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) to produce a report on the key highlights and the future steps discussed during the consultation to generate ideas on food and social security in India from a range of stakeholders. This was as a response to a request made by the UK Department for International Development in India. The overall aim of the consultation was to discuss evidence, experience and lessons learned on food and social security in India, with an emphasis on their global significance.

Background paper for a Policy on Public-Private Partnerships for Health and Family Services // WHO Maldives
Amaltas was asked by the World Health Organization (WHO), Maldives to provide technical advice to the Government of Maldives to develop a background paper to form the basis of the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) policy in the health and family services sector. WHO was assisting the Government of Maldives to pursue its goal to introduce private sector involvement into its public health agenda. The challenging task involved attention at the level of the President’s Council on Privatization.

Support to a Stakeholder Consultation on the Agriculture and Health Research Platform // IFPRI
Amaltas was invited by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) to provide technical and logistical support to aStakeholder Consultation on the Agriculture Health Research Platform (AHRP). The consultation was aimed at bringing stakeholders together to develop the AHRP’s knowledge hub on agriculture, nutrition and health in India. The objectives of the Consultation were to clarify the linkages between economic growth, agriculture, nutrition and health in India.

Preparation team of the West Bengal Health System Development project // World Bank
Dr. Suneeta Singh, CEO Amaltas worked closely with the World Bank team to prepare the project documentation focusing on the technical aspects spanning urban and public health systems of the ‘West Bengal Health System Development Project’. The World Bank was working with the state government to develop this project to support the health systems of the state. She worked closely with the team to design various project components and supported definition of the indicators for the results framework.

Technical Review of work by the Naz Foundation India // World Bank
Dr. Suneeta Singh, CEO Amaltas, was requested by the World Bank to carry out an implementation progress review of their Institutional Development Fund grant to the Naz Foundation India. The grant was aimed to create a more sustainable and effectual response to improve sexual and reproductive health and reduce the spread of HIV among Men who have Sex with Men in South Asia. This was to be achieved by developing capacity in 4 key areas which also formed the monitoring indicators of the program namely, Technical Support, Knowledge Management, Advocacy and Financing.

Second Joint Implementation Review of the National AIDS Control Program // World Bank
Dr. Suneeta Singh, CEO Amaltas was asked by the World Bank to assist in its review of the third phase of the National AIDS Control Program as part of the Bank’s mission. This Second Joint Implementation Review of the program was carried out by the Department for International Development, UNAIDS, United States Government and World Bank. Dr. Singh joined the World Bank team to review implementation status of the targeted interventions in terms of improved focus on High Risk Groups, contracting mechanisms for NGO and CBO and quality of the interventions.

India’s application to The Global Fund for Prevention of Parent-to-Child Transmission // UNICEF
Amaltas was commissioned by UNICEF to assist National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) to develop a 6 year proposal to scale up Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS. The task was to develop a conceptual and implementation model to scale up integrated HIV testing and referral services across the country, to integrate programs for prevention, care, support and treatment and strengthen the overall institutional arrangements by improving infrastructure and human resources at district state and national levels. The process involved drafting the proposal as per GFATM guidelines for review by NACO and further transmission to GFATM for their consideration under the Rolling Continuation Channel facility.

State HIV Epidemic Report of Madhya Pradesh // UNAIDS
Amaltas developed a report for UNAIDS to create a template for effective analysis of the progress on HIV prevention and treatment. This was to be used in different parts of the country enabling an in-depth situational analysis of the identified areas. The report provided crucial inputs in designing the response by the state to the HIV situation.

India’s application to GAVI for Health Systems Strengthening // WHO
Dr. Suneeta Singh, CEO Amaltas was commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop Government of India’s application to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI) for funding support under the Health Systems Strengthening window. In light of India’s commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes, the GoI had resolved to apply for the same. Amaltas provided assistance to carry out epidemiological and institutional analysis necessary to define the needs, undertook state and district level consultations, and developed costed plans for the proposal.

Planning for a UN Joint Program on HIV/AIDS in Nepal // UNFPA
Amaltas was assigned by the United Nations Population Fund to support the planning of a Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS, Sex Work, Migration and Mobility 2008-2010 for Nepal. This was in response to the country’s specific vulnerabilities to a growing epidemic of HIV/AIDS. Dr.Suneeta Singh, CEO Amaltas, assisted the United Nations in developing the Joint HIV/AIDS Program for Nepal.

Learning Review of UP-TSU's Family Planning Program // Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Amaltas was commissioned by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to conduct a high level learning review of the Uttar Pradesh Technical Support Unit’s progress on key aspects of its Family Planning strategy. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been investing in Family Planning in Uttar Pradesh through the Technical Support Unit platform. The learning review has informed thinking of the UP-TSU as it moves forward with its work on FP.

Amaltas has used an innovative Outcomes Harvesting Approach to collect evidence of changes over time and worked backwards to determine how interventions made contributed to the changes. The learning review carried out by a high-powered team assembled for the purpose, employed Amaltas appreciative inquiry and triangulation approaches to provide robust findings to the Foundation. Findings were sense- checked with the Foundation and recommendations made in light of learning gathered. The learning review has enabled the Foundation to make course corrections in current investment work plans and select future Family Planning technical assistance investments in UP. Further, findings of this learning review were also used in development of the FP strategy more widely in the Foundation.

Rapid Review of Assistive Technologies for people with Disabilities in India // Department for International Development

Amaltas were selected by Department for International Development to carry out a desk review supplemented by Key Informant Interviews to assess the significant evidence gaps on Assistive Technology for persons with disabilities. The 5 th and 6 th disability charter identified through the Global Disability Summit, 2018 referred to the growing need for ensuring access to Assistive Technologies for persons with disabilities. Additionally, Amaltas will collect grey literature from experts to better understand the contexts and identify best practices.

The review carried out by Amaltas will aim to provide a better understanding of the situation and discourse on Assistive Technology among persons with disabilities in India. It will also include an analysis on the policies and practices that enable availability and accessibility of assistive technology. A review of the research gaps will help is identifying the growing needs around assistive technology in India and how they can be met by a potential Centre of Excellence. It would integrate information and perspectives from various disciplines and will form an inter and multi-disciplinary evidence base for potential debates on assistive technology.

Social Contracting mechanism for HIV Programs to fast track achievement of the 90-90-90 goals through community-led Services // UNAIDS India

Amaltas was commissioned by UNAIDS to document India’s experience in Social Contracting mechanisms for HIV programs in order to fast track achievement of the 90-90-90 goals through community-led services. The UNAIDS and the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) work closely to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in India. In commissioning this study, UNAIDS was responding to a request by NACO in light of widespread interest in other countries to learn about India’s work on Social Contracting. The study offers learning that could be useful in the preparation of phase V of the program. The documentation provides practical information for governments and civil society organizations and promotes South-South learning towards Social Contracting by countries interested in setting up or improving their public funding mechanism for civil society organizations-based service delivery.

A primarily qualitative approach was taken to the study. Amaltas carried out an intensive review of documents relating to Social Contracting used in the HIV/AIDS programme in India. Another key method was a series of Key Informant Interviews and Dialogues with experts in the field. Grey literature was sought from experts. In order to capture state level views and insights, field visits to 2 states were undertaken. The study adapted the Lean Mission Model Canvas to explore the nature of the Social Contracting response. The short report provides a primer on Social Contracting’s strengths and challenges, and offers a tool to deliver public sector services to hard to reach, vulnerable groups in India.

Mid Term Evaluation of programme to strengthen research capacity during Myanmar’s political transition // IDRC

Amaltas has been tasked by the IDRC to carry out the mid-term evaluation of the portfolio of projects under their Knowledge 4 Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) Initiative. The program aims to strengthen research capacity in Myanmar for the purpose of creating an enabling environment in Myanmar for evidence-based and gender-inclusive policy.

Amaltas is carrying out the evaluation through document review, stakeholder interview, and a field visit to Myanmar during the programme’s KnowledgeHub. At this event, beneficiaries from think tanks, universities, and civil societies will convene together to showcase the work done through the program so far. The evaluation will identify successes and learnings at the halfway mark of the Initiative, as well as develop a strategy moving forward. Findings from the evaluation take into account interests and constraints among stakeholders across the programme of work, as well as the unique fragile context of Myanmar within which the programme is operating under.

Mid Term Evaluation of programme to strengthen research capacity during Myanmar’s political transition // IDRC

Documenting IDRC’s work with private sector to inform its future approach and strategy for greater private sector engagement//International Development Research Centre, Canada

Amaltas was approached by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) to document its engagement with the private sector entities for furthering research for development. The IDRC is mandated to encourage, support and conduct research into problems of developing regions of the world. The Board of Governors of the IDRC has advised that in light of the germinal role of the private sector in development, the Centre should consider a strategy for Private Sector Engagement. Based on the information collected and framework developed, Amaltas provided observations and recommendations to inform IDRC’s approach to private sector engagement.

Amaltas undertook in-depth interviews with the program officers, principal investigators and private sector partners for projects in which IDRC has engaged with the private sector in the last few years. The aim was to gather insights into the identity, position, and value added by the private sector actors to the projects. The review parsed the engagement strategies used in IDRC, and challenges faced and opportunities realized by the project teams through such engagements. Amaltas developed a paper documenting the mechanisms for engagement of the private sector entities and how these can be fine-tuned for greater impact by the IDRC.

MENA and West Africa Project Cohort Support Team // International Development Research Centre, Canada

Following a call for implementation research proposals on Health Information Systems and Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health challenges in Middle East and North Africa and West Africa regions issued by IDRC’s Maternal and Child Health program, a cohort of 10 proposals were selected, later expanded to 17 for the purposes of this project. Amaltas was selected by IDRC to develop mechanisms to support quality and relevant research results across implementation research projects. IDRC is a Crown Corporation, mandated to encourage, support and conduct research into problems of the developing regions of the world, bringing about economic and social advancement of those regions. Amaltas was selected to apply mechanisms to support to ensure research rigor and research standards across the implementation projects over the 4-year implementation cycle.

Amaltas assisted IDRC to create a collaborative environment to strengthen cross-grants learning and rigorous research results and dissemination from the cohort using a structured, systematic and responsive approach. Existing processes were leveraged to solicit inputs from the research teams, and support was light-touch and easily accessible. A major effort was to go into the development and application of cohort wide monitoring and learning framework and a communications strategy. In addition a participatory mechanism was put in place to identify areas for capacity building support, which were provided by Amaltas through webinars. This assisted improved outcomes and dissemination for all the projects in the cohort.

Process Review and Stakeholder Perceptions of the Coalition for Food and Nutrition Security // The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Amaltas worked with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to carry out a process review and stakeholder perception study of the Coalition for Food and Nutrition Security (CFNS). The BMGF is an international charity working to improve the lives of people globally. BMGF had been supporting the CFNS since April 2016 through an independent grant to help the Coalition fulfil its mandate, and facilitate food and nutrition security discourse in India. The grant focused on three key activities of the CFNS: membership and stakeholder engagement, awareness on Sustainable Development Goals and World Health Assembly targets, and knowledge management. The review will help BMGF in assessing CFNS’ progress and processes over the grant period.

A detailed document review complemented evolving in-depth interviews with stakeholders such as CFNS Board and Secretariat, CFNS membership (individual and institutional) and the wider nutrition community. A customized Stakeholder Perception Tool captured stakeholders’ views on the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and impact of CFNS’ activities, opinions on its current efforts and future activities. Results were analyzed using The Core Capacities framework for coalitions developed by The Conservation Company Group. A final presentation outlined the key findings of the review, which were also disseminated with the CFNS Board. The review will assist BMGF in not only assessing CFNS’ progress over the grant period but more importantly the processes undertaken to achieve its outcomes. It will also help BMGF calibrate its support to the CFNS.

Supporting BMGF contribution to leadership and ownership of health and nutrition goals by the Bihar government // Access Health International Inc.

Amaltas was asked to assist the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to suggest how their investments in the state of Bihar could be better tuned to spur rapid improvements in state’s health and nutritional status. Bihar is a focus state of BMGF in India where it partners with state government to support improvements in health and nutritional outcomes. Despite substantial investment in health and nutrition, Bihar was witnessing slow progress in improvement of critical indicators. The Policy and Strategic Partnerships group at BMGF was tasked to find ways to foster active leadership and ownership of the government and deepen engagement with key players in the state.

Amaltas undertook interviews with stakeholders of the Bihar program to explore the state of play of mechanisms through which health and nutrition leadership of the state engaged with partners and implementation units. The work also explored perceptions of key stakeholders about BMGF’s work in the state and what they see as the chief bottlenecks to success. The findings are being used to inform strategy on how ownership of the Government of Bihar can be enhanced and which investments could help improve the same.

Documentation of Nutrition Missions in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh// Unicef

The Indian states of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh have established ‘Nutrition Missions’ that operationalise policy and strategy focusing intensively on the reduction of malnutrition through an integrated and multi-sectoral approach. Unicef provides high-level advocacy and support to these Nutrition Missions to ensure effective implementation of ongoing interventions. In partnership with Results for Development Institute, Amaltas was asked to review, consolidate, and document information on the Nutrition Missions in the two states.

Amaltas, with Results for Development, documented the evolution of these Missions, the extent to which their advocacy influenced the understanding of state, district and local officials of the importance of nutrition, and their stimulus on programmatic activity. The process involved extensive field visits to the two states for in-depth interviews with key stakeholders at the state, district and village level. In addition, an analysis of secondary data from the two states was conducted. Two reports provide an analytical commentary on the activities, successes and challenges of the mission, drawing lessons from the states to improve governance for nutrition. The study is being utilized by Unicef and the state governments to strengthen the Nutrition Missions. It will also be made available to other Indian states which could identify successful components and/or processes which may be useful in initiating their own Nutrition Missions.

Rapid Appraisal of Immunization Technical Support Unit to assess its sustainability and explore transition pathways.

Amaltas was invited by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to undertake a rapid evaluation of the Immunization Technical Support Unit (ITSU) to understand the context, processes, performance and impact of ITSU in carrying out its purpose and suggest possible pathway for its transition. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is supporting this technical support unit to rapidly improve capacity of India’s National Immunization program. Operated by the Public Health Foundation of India, the Immunization Technical Support Unit (ITSU) provides technical and managerial support to the Immunization Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to strengthen, revitalize and support successful implementation of routine immunization nationally and in 4 states, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

To evaluate ITSU, Amaltas undertook a rapid mixed methods evaluation and scenario development exercise which mapped key features including strengths, weaknesses, uniqueness, communication and data culture of ITSU’s work. Tools like Secondary Data Analysis, Self-Assessment (Likert Scale questionnaires), Qualitative Data Collection, Delphi Scenario Building and Costing Analysis were used. The resultant report reviews performance of the ITSU, documents the sustainability of ITSU and transition pathways for the future.

Research and Innovation in India on Sustainable Cities and Rapid Urbanisation & Public Health and Well Being // Research Councils UK India

Amaltas was invited to carry out a mapping exercise in areas of urbanisation and public health that were identified as priority themes for research collaboration by the UK-India task force on research and innovation. RCUK India has, since 2008, supported an impressive portfolio of research in collaboration with the Government of India. It plays a key role in enhancing the collaboration between India and the UK in science and research through the Science and Innovation Network (SIN).

Amaltas conducted this exercise in 2 tracks: Track 1 relating to the mapping of researchers linked to universities/ institutions or not; and Track 2 relating to the mapping of Indian funders. For both tracks, data was collected through an extensive online search, followed by bibliometric analyses and key informant interviews. The final compiled matrix and dossiers of funders was used to inform the UK Government’s future funding for collaborative research. The mapping was expected to be of interest to the 7 research councils that RCUK represents, Indian and UK policy makers, public and private companies, and researchers in this sector.

Amaltas undertook a bibliometric search on Web of Science and Google Scholar to identify researchers, institutes, universities and funders in areas of research on urbanization and public health in India. Key informants were interviewed to gain a better understanding of the scope and nature of research in the 2 areas. After developing a bibliometric scoring matrix of researchers based on data collected, Amaltas carried out analyses to determine top researchers, institutes, universities and funders in India. Finally, it also conducted analyses of top institutions and universities through search of established institutional rankings.

Evaluation of the Ecohealth Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Initiative // IDRC

Amaltas undertook an external evaluation of the Ecohealth Emerging Infectious Diseases (EcoEID) global Initiative across 7 countries in South East Asia, namely, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Laos PDR, Thailand, Vietnam and China that studied how ecosystem disruptions and social and demographic changes associated with development, affect infectious disease transmission dynamics and emergence.

Amaltas evaluated the results of 4 regional subprojects that make up theEcoEID Initiative and has delivered the report satisfactorily to IDRC and its partners. It studied the organization, management and implementation of the multi-sectoral and multi-scalar applied research. It assessed the degree by which Ecohealthresearch approaches were applied and described its achievements and the challengesencountered. It identified gaps and opportunities in EID research, thereby building upon knowledge and informing the priorities and strategies of the donors.

Amaltas undertook extensive document review of project materials and carried out data collection from all 7 countries – on-site in 5 countries. It conducted in-depth interviews with the researchers, project leaders, project staff, donor representatives and other key stakeholders. Email discussions, in-person and virtual interviews were undertaken to review activities and outputs of 3 multi-country projects. The Performance Measurement Framework was taken into account during the evaluation. An Advisory Committee consisting of eminent Ecohealth experts and donor partners reviewed the report prior to finalization. The report captures the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of the results of the Initiative.

Resilience of college going Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender students on Delhi-NCR Campuses // Education Resilience Research Training- World Bank

Amaltas won a grant to conduct a study on resilience strategies of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) students in higher education under the World Bank run Education Resilience Research Training in South Asia. It aimed to build capacity of local researchers to collect relevant evidence to inform policy and programming for education systems in situations of violence and conflict.

Amaltas studied LGBT students on Delhi-NCR campuses through a mixed methods research approach to gain a better understanding of the stigma and discrimination experienced by young persons. The study proposed to identify the issues that they face in fulfilling their academic goals; system-level reforms needed to ensure that they can do so; and the tipping points which can help make their academic environments more friendly and enabling. This unique research methodology was utilized not only to identify the risks to LGBT students, but also the assets and resilience strategies adopted by them. The report submitted by Amaltas will be published by the World Bank on its website. Other dissemination products such as academic papers are planned.

Amaltas undertook literature review on LGBT students in India and resilience research methods. A resilience research study was undertaken that included focus group discussions, web based survey and key informant interviews with LGBT students. The collected data was analyzed and a final report was developed which captured resilience strategies of college going LGBT students on Delhi-NCR campuses.

Evaluating Research Excellence: Testing the Research Quality Plus Framework// IDRC

Amaltas was asked by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) to refine the draft ‘Research Quality Plus’ or RQ+ framework by running it on a sample of Governance Equity Health Systems (GEHS) projects. This framework was being designed to assess the scientific quality, attention to research ethics, and research influence strategies of research projects that it funds, intended to be used for external program reviews of its portfolio.

Amaltas provided inputs on the appropriateness and utility of the framework, and advised on its possible improvement. It produced a report on the assessment of research quality using frameworks and its applications; and adjustments to the RQ+ framework that IDRC could utilize in order to provide a fair and rigorous assessment of research quality/ excellence. The outputs produced under this consultancy are expected to be used primarily by IDRC-hired External Program Evaluators and IDRC program staff to evaluate the quality of the research being produced at the project and program levels.

Amaltas undertook an assessment of a sample GEHS project using a draft RQ+ framework. It participated in a workshop in Ottawa to review the simulation experience of all consultants. A detailed assessment was provided on the assessment of research quality of the sampled projects using the framework. Amaltas produced a report on the simulation experience and contributed to the IDRC report on the RQ+ framework.

Measurement, Learning and Evaluation Support Services toBill and Melinda Gates Foundation Programs in India // BMGF

Amaltas was asked to provide Measurement, Learning and Evaluation (MLE) support services to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)’s work in India on to upscale its capacity. This was aimed to provide support to program officers to carry out MLE to improve project performance; measure project progress, outputs and outcomes; and mine learning for use in the same or other projects.

Amaltas has established a unit within the organization to perform on-going support services for BMGF projects. The overall task involves supporting program officers to enhance the MLE of BMGF programs, and ensure its translation into project performance. Amaltas is providing techno-managerial support to the Foundation by carrying out key functions such identifying suitable human resources to develop and scale its MLE capabilities. To date it has carried out 9 assignments ranging from literature review, analysis of program data, to a dossier on robust large data sources. Technical support comprises of designing and conducting meta- evaluation studies. Dissemination of the learning of these meta-evaluation studies forms another part of technical support.

Amaltas is providing overall support to enhance MLE of BMGF programs. Its work is related to establishing specific capabilities in Management Information Systems, data visualization, documentation and dissemination. It has identified suitable experts to support project MLE on an as-needed basis, including processes for recruitment. Documents to enhance evidence based project management are constantly being developed. Amaltas will carry out meta-evaluations and other thematic studies.

External Evaluation of the Sustainable Textiles for Sustainable Development project // Traidcraft Exchange

Amaltas was commissioned by Traidcraft Exchange to carry out an evaluation of the European Union (EU) funded project titled ‘Sustainable Textiles for Sustainable Development’. The project worked with over 500 textile related SMEs in Rajasthan to explore low cost, eco-friendly technologies in partnership with the All India Artisans and Craftworkers Association.

The independent end-of-project evaluation was designed to assess the project against its stated goals and objectives and to derive learning for Traidcraft and its partners. The specific objectives of the evaluation were to identify areas of impact and ways it can be sustained; analyze the effectiveness and efficiency of funds use; provide recommendations and guidance for similar projects in future; and contribute to the organizational learning of Traidcraft and its partners through key lessons learned. Amaltas presented the findings at a seminar of high-level stakeholders in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Amaltas undertook document review of project materials and reviewed web based resources on sustainable raw materials developed by the project. It conducted in-depth interviews with representatives of donor, implementing agency and partners and other stakeholders across project locations. Focus group discussions and beneficiary case studies with artisans trained under the project were carried out. Amaltas provided an assessment of risk mitigation, achievement and efficiency in the form of ratings. A report recommending sustainable strategies in the textile sector was developed and presented at a high level stakeholders’ dissemination seminar.

Technical Assistance for the National Rural Health Mission, Government of India // BMGF

Amaltas was asked to provide support to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)’s engagement at the national level with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI. The aim was to reduce maternal and child mortality in 2 large states of India - Bihar and Uttar Pradesh through program support.

The first task was to provide technical documentation support to the NRHM, GoI. A document summarizing key messages from Call to Action report was developed, which was disseminated to state level NRHM directors to roll out the strategic approach to Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) for improved survival and health of mothers and children. The next task was to review and document innovative pilots/projects utilizing ICT to improve maternal and child health outcomes through imaginative supervision formats for field based workers. Six projects were chosen from among 33 ICT initiatives across South Asia and Africa. An evaluation framework was designed to examine the projects in consultation with the Foundation. The dissemination was in the form of a report describing the studies, which was discussed with, among others, the NRHM management at the national level.

Amaltas conducted document review of program materials and developed a summary of Call to Action report for state rural health mission directors along with a short report for the state rural health missions. It developed dossiers on effective global ICT based interventions in the health sector and carried out case studies of select ICT based interventions to influence national policy-makers.

Strategic Evaluation on Research Excellence: Perspectives of the Global South // IDRC

Amaltas was asked by International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada to carry out research to investigate what defines ‘excellence’ in development research settings particularly in the global South. As it was concerned that existing methods of determining research quality such as bibliometrics and peer review are incomplete, it undertook a strategic evaluation on research excellence.

The objectives of the study were to: better understand trends in evaluating research excellence; learn from approaches being used by other research funders; and identify frameworks that could be useful in evaluating IDRC supported research. Amaltas completed a study on Southern perspectives on Research Excellence over a 17-month period which included data collection from over 200 respondents. A feature of the project was a significant consultation and dissemination effort to discuss the results of the study at several international conferences.

Amaltas undertook a literature review on research quality and desk review of resource materials. It carried out web based surveys to collect data from researchers from the global South, and carrying out in-depth interviews with key research leaders from Latin America, Africa, Middle East, South Asia and East Asia. Amaltas participated and lead panels at international conferences in Helsinki, Beijing and Kathmandu. Amaltas developed a detailed report presenting the findings of the study. It contributed to a synthesis report prepared by IDRC which will inform its future external reviews.

Evaluation of Support to Positive Women’s Network // UNWomen

Amaltas was commissioned by UNWomen to carry out an evaluation of its support to Positive Women’s Network (PWN+) on HIV and AIDS projects in India. It was aimed to gain insights about their future grant-making.

The evaluation examined the support provided by UNWomen to PWN+ between 2006- 2011 with a view to feed into the identification of strategies and operational approaches to guide UNWomen’s mandate in the area of gender and HIV/AIDS. Amaltas provided a narrative report with recommendations for UNWomen to broaden its support to women in the area of HIV/AIDS. The task was completed in a timely way and to high quality. United Nations Evaluation Group ethical standards were adhered to at every stage of data collection and reporting. UNWomen utilized the insights from the evaluation to take forward its work under the Ending Violence Against Women pillar in India.

Amaltas undertook document review of program materials of PWN+ and UNWomen. It conducted In-depth interviews with key resource persons of PWN+ and donor representatives. Focus group discussions with members of the network were carried out. Coding and analysis of data was done using ATLAS.ti software. A summative report for the donor agency, capturing main achievements and recommendations for strategizing further support to PWN+ was developed. The report was released and findings presented at a dissemination event organized by the donor agency.

Charting a Programmatic Road Map for Sexual Minority groups in India // World Bank

Amaltas and the Humsafar Trust partnered with the World Bank to develop a programmatic roadmap for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community to establish an enabling environment for improved access to sexual and reproductive health services under its Regional Program. The Integrated Network of Sexual Minorities platform was utilized to reach out to groups and organizations working for same sex rights in India.

The report formed part of the Bank’s regional support to improve access of marginalized communities to sexual and reproductive rights in particular, and to their human rights in general. Amaltas gathered insights to develop a programmatic road map that encourages and supports expression of the rights of the LGBT people as citizens of India. AWorld Bank publication entitledCharting a Programmatic Roadmap for Sexual Minority Groups in India. (http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2012/07/16514787/charting-programmatic-roadmap-sexual-minority-groups-india)was developed as a result of the study. It was launched at a dissemination meeting linked to the International AIDS Conference 2012 at the World Bank.

Amaltas undertook document review of program materials and literature review of articles and documents regarding the LGBT community. Open Space Technology workshops with over 100 members from the LGBT community were organized and conducted in-depth interviews with key resource persons. Amaltas facilitated National Round Tables with lawyers, development partners and policy makers to identify ways to provide citizenship privileges to LGBT persons. A report outlining steps to be taken by the state, the community itself and society at large to mainstream the LGBT community into polity of India was developed.

Scoping the Landscape for HIV and AIDS Work in India // JHPIEGO

Amaltas was commissioned by Jhpiego to develop a report outlining opportunities in the HIV/AIDS space in India and the region. Having developed expertise in HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases in addition to infection prevention and control, family planning and reproductive health, it intended to explore the feasibility of involvement in HIV/AIDS projects in India.

The assignment entailed documentation review to scope the donor landscape vis-à-vis the strategic priorities of individual donors, develop donor profiles, and identification of opportunities for operations research in which Jhpiego could play a possible role. Amaltas produced a Position Paper to describe the programming context of HIV programs in India, the main participants in HIV/AIDS programs, the issues and likely future scenario of HIV programs in India, and the possible role of Jhpiego in India in the years to come. The report received much appreciation as it played a key role in Jhpiego’s strategy development.

Amaltas undertook document reviews to understand the nature and scale of work by various donors working in the HIV/AIDS space in India and the South Asia region. Dossiers of all major donors active in HIV/AIDS were developed. It outlined priorities of the HIV/AIDS program in India and expectations of future programming. Amaltas worked closely with Jhpiego to identify their niche role in the HIV/ AIDS domain.

Monitoring and Evaluation of the Asian Development Bank funded Second Rural Water Supply and Sanitation project, Cambodia // Ministry of Rural Development, Royal Government of Cambodia

Amaltas has been commissioned as the international evaluation consultant, to undertake monitoring & evaluation of the Asian Development Bank funded Second Rural Water Supply and Sanitation project in 6 provinces of Cambodia (RWSSP2), in collaboration with a local partner, Golden Hall Services& Co. It is also required to design and help install a Project Performance Monitoring System in the 6 provinces, namely, BanteayMeanchey, Battambang, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Thom, Pursat and Siem Reap.

Amaltas has designed a Project Performance Monitoring System which is in use across the 6 project provinces of Cambodia after training of master trainers. This is being done in collaboration with the Project Coordination Unit of the Ministry of Rural Water Supply. Further, the baseline and midline studies have been done and reports submitted to the Ministry and ADB. Findings of the surveys have helped the implementers to make mid-course corrections. The endline study and final analysis of monitoring results will be carried out in mid-2015. It is expected that the PPMS will be adapted for use as a monitoring tool across Cambodia.

Support to Prospectus 2011 – 2015 of the Governance, Equity and Health Systems Program // IDRC

Amaltas CEO, Dr. Suneeta Singh was assigned by International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Canada to provide support to an external review of its Governance Equity and Health Systems (GEHS) program draft prospectus that set out its priorities for the next 5 years (2011 - 2015).

Dr. Singh and Dr. Sarah Macfarlane from UCSF participated in these consultations as well as attended the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research to feed into IDRC’s discussions on the prospectus. They reviewed the concept note providing targeted inputs regarding the appropriateness of the program’s strategic choices, modalities of research support and evaluability. Additionally, they undertook review of successive drafts of the prospectus before it was submitted to the IDRC management for approval.

Dr. Singh reviewed the Governance Equity and Health Systems (GEHS) 5-year prospective plan and conducted consultations with program staff to understand existing commitments and discuss possible options. To identify areas of consideration for future planning, she attended the Health Research Symposium at Montreux. In collaboration with the GEHS team, a prospectus was developed for the program.

Health Sector Support Program II in Cambodia // World Bank

Amaltas CEO, Dr. Suneeta Singh was asked by the World Bank to advise on the feasibility and recommend a prioritized action plan for civil works financing with limited resources for their assignment on Health Facility Planning. It included a review of the updated Health Facility Master Plan and proposed civil works construction under Health Sector Support Program.

These were assessed in light of the Health Sector Strategic Plan; existing health facilities at all levels; available Geographic Information Systems information, population base/ projected populations against resource requirements and constraints; and available program budget for civil works. This entailed drawing on global experiences and lessons on alternatives to efficient health system facility planning, for making recommendations in the Cambodian context. The work involved close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and donors providing sector-wide support to the Royal Government of Cambodia.

Dr. Singh reviewed the Health Facility Master Plan and proposed civil works construction under HSSP II. Consultations were held with government officials, active donors in the area, health sector program partners and other interested parties. Data was actively sought from sources within government and elsewhere. Analysis of data was undertaken to provide practical advice on next steps for facility planning. A detailed, evidence based report of suggestions for improvement of health facilities in Cambodia to address the issue of high maternal deaths was submitted.

External Review of the Governance, Equity and Health Program // IDRC

Amaltas CEO, Dr. Suneeta Singh was requested by International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada to be one of the 3 international reviewers to carry out an independent external review of its work on Governance, Equity and Health and to do summative evaluation on the performance of the program in terms of accountability and learning. The primary purpose was to determine accountability to the Centre’s Board of Governors for implementation of program Prospectus; and to provide inputs to programming for learning and improvement.

The approach provided for an external review of internal assessments of the work through triangulation of data with primary respondents and secondary data. The external review was intended to provide an independent judgment of the program by expert reviewers drawn from across the world. The other 2 reviewers were from Ethiopia and USA. The review report was primarily expected to be useful to Centre Board of Governors and senior management.

Dr. Singh undertook review of project documentation and documents pertaining to mandate, approach and operational plan of the Governance, Equity and Health program. A framework for assessment of quality of research for development was finalized and a quality review of a sample of completed and uncompleted projects was conducted. In-depth interviews with key stakeholders regarding planning, implementation and performance of projects were carried out. Dr. Singh undertook coordination and discussion with other external reviewers and attended meetings in Ottawa. A report capturing the review processes and findings was developed.

Country Progress Report India 2010 to the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV and AIDS // UNAIDS

Amaltas was asked by UNAIDS to draft India’s report to UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV and AIDS. The timeline of the assignment was challenging; Amaltas worked closely with UNAIDS to meet with UN and other multilateral and bilateral agencies to gather data. A substantial effort was to consult with civil society in order to complete sections of the required report. Data access through National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) was another major activity. The report submitted by NACO, Government of India to UNGASS is in wide use in the country and elsewhere in the world.

Amaltas conducted document review of available resource materials, and collated and analyzed secondary data on the HIV situation in India. It undertook consultative meetings with a variety of stakeholders including technical partners, government officials and other interested parties. A data review workshop to arrive at agreement on indicators in use was conducted. Data collected through electronic consultations was triangulated. Amaltas developed India’s report to the UN General Assembly to share with government and UN stakeholders.

Amaltas undertook document reviews to understand the nature and scale of work by various donors working in the HIV/AIDS space in India and the South Asia region. Dossiers of all major donors active in HIV/AIDS were developed. It outlined priorities of the HIV/AIDS program in India and expectations of future programming. Amaltas worked closely with Jhpiego to identify their niche role in the HIV/ AIDS domain.

Growth of Community Collectivization among Sexual Minority groups in India // UNDP

Amaltas was commissioned by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to carry out a study on community collectivization and mobilization among sexual minority groups in India, in particular Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and Transgender (TG) groups. The study, carried out in partnership with the Humsafar Trust, aimed to expand the program for People Living with HIV with the goal of reducing stigma, fostering inclusion, and ensuring greater involvement.

Amaltas traced the evolution of collectivization and mobilization of these communities in India covering key events and processes that have shaped the movement. It examined the frameworks for growth adopted against the backdrop of other social movements such as the women’s movement, language identities and the role that the HIV epidemic has had in the evolution of the movement for alternative sexual rights. These were described in a way that took into account the sensitivities involved, maintaining the confidentiality of information and privacy of individuals. The resulting report was rich in historical information and elicited the personal journey that sexual minorities traverse. The report is published by Sage Publishers as a book entitled A People Stronger.

Amaltas undertook extensive literature review on collectivization and mobilization among sexual minority groups. It collated and analyzed available evidence, including accessing grey literature from peer organizations and popular media. Amaltas conducted Open Space Technology workshops with peers and carried out in-depth interviews with key resource persons, analyzing the data using Atlas.ti software. It conducted focus group discussions with MSM and TG across the country and developed a rich documentation of the history of collectivization of the sexual minority groups in India.

Evaluative Assessment of phase II of the Gates funded Avahan Program: Transition and Influence // BMGF

Amaltas was invited by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to undertake an Evaluative Assessment of its Avahan Program Phase II: Transition and Influence, jointly with the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore. This was linked to its decision to make an orderly exit from its commitments on HIV/AIDS in India by transitioning its prevention program to the government or other donors, and influencing HIV policy in India and globally.

The multi-level assessment aimed both to inform transition and influence processes in India and generate global learning to inform similar processes elsewhere. It provided timely information for use by local stakeholders within India to strengthen transition and influence strategies for HIV and other programs, and also derived generalizable knowledge to feed into strategies adopted by the Foundation and other donors across countries. A number of papers have been published in peer reviewed international journals and at least 2 dissemination events directed to national and international stakeholders are planned.

Amaltas developed a research protocol involving 6 major work packages and detailed work package descriptions, sub-studies and linked protocols, study tools and field guides. It applied for ethical review and ensured procedures were cleared both in India and the USA. Qualitative data collection through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions was undertaken. Amaltas contracted quantitative data collection agencies, provided training, quality assurance of the data collection and carried out data quality checks. It assisted in analysis of data and development of academic and briefing papers. It carried out briefing of in-country partners and Expert Advisory Groups as well. A number of papers have been published in peer reviewed international journals and at least 2 dissemination events directed to national and international stakeholders are planned.

Support to a Consultation on Agriculture, Food and Social Security in India for a White Paper by the UK Department for International Development // IFPRI

Amaltas was commissioned by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) to produce a report on the key highlights and the future steps discussed during the consultation to generate ideas on food and social security in India from a range of stakeholders. This was as a response to a request made by the UK Department for International Development in India.

The overall aim of the consultation was to discuss evidence, experience and lessons learned on food and social security in India, with an emphasis on their global significance. It was designed to capture the reality of food and social security in India as well as the Indian experiences that could help shape the policy proposals in the White Paper. It provided recommendations on how UK could promote sustainable growth through enabling food security, and nutrition and social protection through its aid assistance and policy dialogue.

Amaltas provided logistical and technical support to IFPRI and conducted a consultation using Open Space Technology. It developed a comprehensive report on the discussions and recommendations.

Experienced discrimination and its relationship with life chances and socio-economic status of sexual minorities in India // Nordic Trust Fund, World Bank

Amaltas had been invited by the World Bank to carry out a study of the socio-economic situation and life chances of sexual minorities in the face of discrimination in their everyday lives. Reliable information and data on these hard-to-reach populations is crucial for government and development agencies to design policies and programs for the inclusive development of these communities, increase government revenues and promote social cohesion.

Amaltas partnered with 5 community based organizations (CBOs) for data collection for which it had conducted intensive training of community-based data collectors to execute the survey. The study collected data from 8 cities, namely, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Mumbai, Rajkot and Vadodara. Statistical analysis of the large dataset obtained through the CBOs, was carried out by Indicus Analytics. The study was carried out in consultation with the National AIDS Control Organization. This was part of a larger task to develop a Knowledge Product exploring the interconnection between sexual orientation, gender identity and development.

Amaltas carried out literature review on discrimination and socio-economic status of sexual minorities in India. It had received ethical review clearance for the study. A questionnaire was developed based on international measures such as the Rosenburg Self-esteem Scale and the Everyday Decimation Scale. Amaltas used a wealth index to measure socio-economic status of urban. Data collection in 8 cities was conducted in partnerships with local CBOs. Data quality assurance visits to each CBO was carried out. Analysis of the data was done using SPSS software. Dissemination of the findings of the study was also undertaken.

Measurement, Learning and Evaluation Support Services to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Programs in India

Amaltas was asked to provide Measurement, Learning and Evaluation (MLE) support services to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)’s work in India on to upscale its capacity. This was aimed to provide support to program officers to carry out MLE to improve project performance; measure project progress, outputs and outcomes; and mine learning for use in the same or other projects.

Amaltas established a unit within the organization to perform on-going support services for BMGF projects. The overall task involved supporting program officers to enhance the MLE of BMGF programs, and ensure its translation into project performance. Amaltas provided techno managerial support to the Foundation by carrying out key functions such identifying suitable human resources to develop and scale its MLE capabilities. To date it has carried out nine assignments ranging from literature review, analysis of program data, to a dossier on robust large data sources. Technical support comprised of designing and conducting meta- evaluation studies. Dissemination of the learnings of these meta-evaluation studies formed another part of technical support.

Amaltas provided overall support to enhance MLE of BMGF programs. Its work was related to establishing specific capabilities in Management Information Systems, data visualization, documentation and dissemination. It identified suitable experts to support project MLE on an as-needed basis, including processes for recruitment. Documents to enhance evidence based project management were developed. Amaltas carried out meta-evaluations and other thematic studies.

Background paper for a Policy on Public-Private Partnerships for Health and Family Services // WHO Maldives

Amaltas was asked by the World Health Organization (WHO), Maldives to provide technical advice to the Government of Maldives to develop a background paper to form the basis of the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) policy in the health and family services sector. WHO was assisting the Government of Maldives to pursue its goal to introduce private sector involvement into its public health agenda.

The challenging task involved attention at the level of the President’s Council on Privatization. A thorough review of the Maldivian public health and family services, status of outcomes, the political context within which PPP was sought was carried out. Review of the legislative framework and the country’s current needs was conducted. The report provided recommendations for incorporating PPP in the Department of Health and Family Services.

Amaltas undertook sensitization of senior officials of the Ministry of Health and Family to the nature and provisions under Public Private Partnerships. Analysis of the health outcome datasets and review of the political and legislative framework for the process was undertaken. Amaltas carried out discussions with key stakeholders within the Privatization Committee, the Ministry of Economic Development, and the Ministry of Health and Family, Government of Maldives. A report enumerating recommendations for the areas in which the Government of Maldives could invite private partnerships for Health and Family Services was developed.

Support to a Stakeholder Consultation on the Agriculture and Health Research Platform // IFPRI

Amaltas was invited by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) to provide technical and logistical support to aStakeholder Consultation on the Agriculture Health Research Platform (AHRP). The consultation was aimed at bringing stakeholders together to develop the AHRP’s knowledge hub on agriculture, nutrition and health in India.

The objectives of the Consultation were to clarify the linkages between economic growth, agriculture, nutrition and health in India; agree on key opportunities and options for improving the ‘nutrition-responsiveness’ of agriculture in India; collectively identify and agree on the main knowledge gaps (in terms of the problem and the potential solutions); identify key research challenges, and prioritize research questions; and map key stakeholders and develop a process for generating wider consensus in India on the key challenges, and how they may be addressed. Amaltas developed a detailed report on discussions, recommendations and outcomes for use by IFPRI and others.

Amaltas organized and facilitated a consultation to evolve an operational consensus on the role and tasks of the AHRP in India. It developed a summative report describing the proceedings and enumerating highlights of the consultation for dissemination by IFPRI.

Preparation team of the West Bengal Health System Development project // World Bank

Dr. Suneeta Singh, CEO Amaltas worked closely with the World Bank team to prepare the project documentation focusing on the technical aspects spanning urban and public health systems of the ‘West Bengal Health System Development Project’. The World Bank was working with the state government to develop this project to support the health systems of the state. She worked closely with the team to design various project components and supported definition of the indicators for the results framework.

Dr. Singh undertook a joint review of the proposal with the World Bank to fulfill documentation requirements. Dr. Singh undertook document review of materials pertaining to urban health plans for 44 municipalities across West Bengal. Consultations with relevant stakeholders in government, the World Bank and other interested parties on the design of interventions were organized. A review of budgets for each activity was also undertaken.

Technical Review of work by the Naz Foundation India // World Bank

Dr. Suneeta Singh, CEO Amaltas, was requested by the World Bank to carry out an implementation progress review of their Institutional Development Fund grant to the Naz Foundation India. The grant was aimed to create a more sustainable and effectual response to improve sexual and reproductive health and reduce the spread of HIV among Men who have Sex with Men in South Asia.

This was to be achieved by developing capacity in 4 key areas which also formed the monitoring indicators of the program namely, Technical Support, Knowledge Management, Advocacy and Financing.Amaltas undertook an appraisal of documentation and a review of the progress of implementation through discussions with Naz. A grant monitoring report was provided to the World Bank at the close of mission summarizing the review of the activities of Naz Foundation with respect to capacity development of regional MSM community based organizations to promote sexual health and reduce the incidence of HIV was provided.

Second Joint Implementation Review of the National AIDS Control Program // World Bank

Dr. Suneeta Singh, CEO Amaltas was asked by the World Bank to assist in its review of the third phase of the National AIDS Control Program as part of the Bank’s mission. This Second Joint Implementation Review of the program was carried out by the Department for International Development, UNAIDS, United States Government and World Bank.

Dr. Singh joined the World Bank team to review implementation status of the targeted interventions in terms of improved focus on High Risk Groups, contracting mechanisms for NGO and CBO and quality of the interventions. She also reviewed the progress made on blood safety, collaboration between NACO and National Rural Health Mission on blood storage, safe blood supply, and NACO system of blood donor management. The aide memoire generated at the end of the mission provided a status check and suggested improvements for the program.

Dr. Singh visited various states to carry out field reviews. Discussions with NACO and donor partners were held. A document review of the post procurement review and fiduciary evaluation reports was undertaken. A note of record for the aide memoire of the World Bank to provide recommendations for next steps in the program was developed.

India’s application to The Global Fund for Prevention of Parent-to-Child Transmission // UNICEF

Amaltas was commissioned by UNICEF to assist National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) to develop a 6 year proposal to scale up Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS. The task was to develop a conceptual and implementation model to scale up integrated HIV testing and referral services across the country, to integrate programs for prevention, care, support and treatment and strengthen the overall institutional arrangements by improving infrastructure and human resources at district state and national levels.

The process involved drafting the proposal as per GFATM guidelines for review by NACO and further transmission to GFATM for their consideration under the Rolling Continuation Channel facility. Amaltas developed the technical proposal together with NACO & UNICEF. Amaltas consultants with capabilities in information sourcing and review, HIV epidemiology and programming, and documentation were involved.

Amaltas conceptualized a new model for integration of testing facilities. It undertook analysis of operational and epidemiological data to ensure that the model adequately addresses issues confronting the program. Stakeholder consultations with key operational AIDS control staff from various states were organized. Amaltas undertook validation of the model through in-depth discussions with key staff from NACO and provided assistance to finalize the financial proposal. It extended support to present the proposal to the Country Coordinating Mechanism of the GFATM in country.

State HIV Epidemic Report of Madhya Pradesh // UNAIDS

Amaltas developed a report for UNAIDS to create a template for effective analysis of the progress on HIV prevention and treatment. This was to be used in different parts of the country enabling an in-depth situational analysis of the identified areas.

The report provided crucial inputs in designing the response by the state to the HIV situation. It served as a template for other states with low prevalence to organize their information. It was based on epidemiological data and other existing resource material describing the situation of the state. The contours of the problem analyzed were: the elevated risks that are faced by key population groups; the vulnerability of other groups to the incursion of the virus; the profile of those who are forced to come to grips with its medical and social effects; and the structures through which a response can be delivered. This report served as a reference document for the government, donor agencies and civil society organizations.

Amaltas conducted document review of resource materials on status of HIV epidemic in Madhya Pradesh and carried out in-depth analysis of the epidemiological evidence and operational data. Consultations with resource persons from a variety of agencies engaged with the State AIDS Control Society ranging from the Technical Support Unit; DFID, UNICEF, international and local NGOs; and relevant departments of the state government were undertaken. Amaltas developed a series of simple to use templates that allow easy development of state level plans for HIV-AIDS prevention in low prevalence states of India.

India’s application to GAVI for Health Systems Strengthening // WHO

Dr. Suneeta Singh, CEO Amaltas was commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop Government of India’s application to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI) for funding support under the Health Systems Strengthening window. In light of India’s commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes, the GoI had resolved to apply for the same.

Amaltas provided assistance to carry out epidemiological and institutional analysis necessary to define the needs, undertook state and district level consultations, and developed costed plans for the proposal. The government had set up a high-powered India Health Sector Coordination Committee with which Amaltas interacted to finalize the proposal in accordance with the GAVI-HSS guidelines. GAVI support was provided in response to the application made by the Government of India.

Dr. Singh undertook analysis of epidemiological data on immunization in various states of India. A review of the health system programs in India that impact immunization coverage, including best practices by state was conducted. Identification of focus areas for the India proposal based on epidemiological and institutional analyses was undertaken. Dr. Singh made presentations to a high level committee chaired by Secretary of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and developed a draft proposal through broad based multi-level consultations. The final proposal was developed after all clearances required by Government of India and GAVI.

Planning for a UN Joint Program on HIV/AIDS in Nepal // UNFPA

Amaltas was assigned by the United Nations Population Fund to support the planning of a Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS, Sex Work, Migration and Mobility 2008-2010 for Nepal. This was in response to the country’s specific vulnerabilities to a growing epidemic of HIV/AIDS.

Dr.Suneeta Singh, CEO Amaltas, assisted the United Nations in developing the Joint HIV/AIDS Program for Nepal. The document served as shared guidance for all UN agencies in Nepal active in HIV and AIDS.

Dr. Singh undertook literature review of materials on the HIV situation of Nepal along with national researchers from Nepal. An analysis of available quantitative data was carried out. Discussions with UN agencies were held and a joint UN meeting was facilitated. A report on programming and monitoring & evaluation of the joint UN program in Nepal was developed.

Development of Critical Path Tracking Tool to track investment by BMGF in GOI health goals // The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Amaltas was invited by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to develop a Critical Path Tracking Tool (CPTT) which summarizes the state of play on elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis and immunization related health goals of the Government of India (GOI) at three increasingly aggregate level of review. BMGF undertakes various investments to assist the Indian government in achieving several of its health goals. Investments are made not only by BMGF but also by other organizations such as technical partners and other funders.

Amaltas developed a multi-level Critical Path Tracking Tool that captures the progress of activities on the critical path leading to the government’s goals. The purpose of the Tool is to capture the progress of these activities at three increasingly aggregate level of review. The CPTT is populated through an entry level module at the Program Officer level, and aggregated upwards to the Director level and thereon to the country leadership. The Tool summarizes the Program Officer’s view of not only the foundation’s investments, but also the support by other agencies. It is also to be offered to key partners. The Tool is proposed to be used as a prototype for the GOI to track its programs.

Political Economy Analysis of Tuberculosis in India // Abt Associates

The Revised National TB Control Program of India aims to provide Universal Access for all TB patients to quality diagnosis and treatment with a target of ‘reaching the unreached’. In its current National Strategic Plan, the program has called for greater private sector involvement. USAID supports the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in its efforts to combat TB through private sector engagement through its five year Health, Finance and Governance project. Abt Associates is a lead partner of USAID which this project in India.

Amaltas was invited by Abt Associates to undertake a Political Economy Analysis (PEA) of Tuberculosis in India to examine how the private sector can be leveraged to meet the goals of India’s TB program. The main purpose of the study was to enhance private sector participation in the TB program in India. To achieve this, a detailed desk review was undertaken. This formed the basis of discussions with the stakeholders to inform the Stakeholder Analysis. In-depth Interviews were conducted in 4 states in India. In addition to this a Stakeholder Workshop was also conducted to discuss cogent issues and strategize ways to improve treatment and care of TB in India. The Final Report was developed and is expected to help the MoHFW and USAID to draw out strategies and recommendations for improved cross-sector partnerships.

Documentation of Nutrition Missions in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh// Unicef

Amaltas will carry out the evaluation in four phases. Amaltas will undertake a desk review of programmatic materials and program MIS for the first and last 6 months of the Single Window Initiative. In the second phase, Amaltas will undertake data collection in 2 districts each in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka during which in-depth interviews will conducted with CfAR functionaries, CBO/ NGO and government officials, and focus group discussions with MARPs. In the third phase, primary qualitative data and MIS-sourced quantitative data will be analysed. This will be followed by the development of an analytical report that captures the contribution of the project to changes in the lives of MARPs.

Work

Learning Review of UP-TSU's Family Planning Program // Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Rapid Review of Assistive Technologies for people with Disabilities in India // Department for International Development

Social Contracting mechanism for HIV Programs to fast track achievement of the 90-90-90 goals through community-led Services // UNAIDS India

Mid Term Evaluation of programme to strengthen research capacity during Myanmar’s political transition // IDRC

Mid Term Evaluation of programme to strengthen research capacity during Myanmar’s political transition // IDRC

Documenting IDRC’s work with private sector to inform its future approach and strategy for greater private sector engagement//International Development Research Centre, Canada

MENA and West Africa Project Cohort Support Team // International Development Research Centre, Canada

Process Review and Stakeholder Perceptions of the Coalition for Food and Nutrition Security // The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Supporting BMGF contribution to leadership and ownership of health and nutrition goals by the Bihar government // Access Health International Inc.

Documentation of Nutrition Missions in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh// Unicef

Rapid Appraisal of Immunization Technical Support Unit to assess its sustainability and explore transition pathways.

Research and Innovation in India on Sustainable Cities and Rapid Urbanisation & Public Health and Well Being // Research Councils UK India

Evaluation of the Ecohealth Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Initiative // IDRC

Resilience of college going Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender students on Delhi-NCR Campuses // Education Resilience Research Training- World Bank

Evaluating Research Excellence: Testing the Research Quality Plus Framework// IDRC

Measurement, Learning and Evaluation Support Services toBill and Melinda Gates Foundation Programs in India // BMGF

External Evaluation of the Sustainable Textiles for Sustainable Development project // Traidcraft Exchange

Technical Assistance for the National Rural Health Mission, Government of India // BMGF

Strategic Evaluation on Research Excellence: Perspectives of the Global South // IDRC

Evaluation of Support to Positive Women’s Network // UNWomen

Charting a Programmatic Road Map for Sexual Minority groups in India // World Bank

Scoping the Landscape for HIV and AIDS Work in India // JHPIEGO

Monitoring and Evaluation of the Asian Development Bank funded Second Rural Water Supply and Sanitation project, Cambodia // Ministry of Rural Development, Royal Government of Cambodia

Support to Prospectus 2011 – 2015 of the Governance, Equity and Health Systems Program // IDRC

Health Sector Support Program II in Cambodia // World Bank

External Review of the Governance, Equity and Health Program // IDRC

Country Progress Report India 2010 to the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV and AIDS // UNAIDS

Growth of Community Collectivization among Sexual Minority groups in India // UNDP

Evaluative Assessment of phase II of the Gates funded Avahan Program: Transition and Influence // BMGF

Support to a Consultation on Agriculture, Food and Social Security in India for a White Paper by the UK Department for International Development // IFPRI

Experienced discrimination and its relationship with life chances and socio-economic status of sexual minorities in India // Nordic Trust Fund, World Bank

Measurement, Learning and Evaluation Support Services to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Programs in India

Background paper for a Policy on Public-Private Partnerships for Health and Family Services // WHO Maldives

Support to a Stakeholder Consultation on the Agriculture and Health Research Platform // IFPRI

Preparation team of the West Bengal Health System Development project // World Bank

Technical Review of work by the Naz Foundation India // World Bank

Second Joint Implementation Review of the National AIDS Control Program // World Bank

India’s application to The Global Fund for Prevention of Parent-to-Child Transmission // UNICEF

State HIV Epidemic Report of Madhya Pradesh // UNAIDS

India’s application to GAVI for Health Systems Strengthening // WHO

Planning for a UN Joint Program on HIV/AIDS in Nepal // UNFPA

Development of Critical Path Tracking Tool to track investment by BMGF in GOI health goals // The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Political Economy Analysis of Tuberculosis in India // Abt Associates

Documentation of Nutrition Missions in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh// Unicef

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