1. From the NDPHS Evaluation Team April 22, 2008 Brussels
An Update to the CSR
From the NDPHS Evaluation Team
April 22, 2008
Brussels

2. Purpose
To provide members of the CSR with an update on the activities to date by the NDPHS Evaluation Team.
Following the last CSR Meeting in Kaliningrad, November 2007, the Evaluation Team met for the first time in Vilnius, during the PAC Meeting.
I had the opportunity to provide a brief update to the CSR members who were present.

3. Evaluation Team Members
Chair: Robert Shearer, Canada
Members:
Mogens Jörgensen, Denmark
Thomas Ifland, Germany
Viktoras Meizis, Lithuania
Jørgen Kaurin, Norway
Toril Roscher-Nielsen, Norway
Evgeny Slastnykh, Russia
Marek Maciejowski, Secretariat
Bernd Treichel, Secretariat

4. Consultant Contracted
Following a competitive process, we are pleased to announce that Dirk van den Boom of the Centre for Evaluation, from the University of Saarbrucken, Germany, was chosen to assist the Evaluation Team with this important task.
Contact information:
Phone:

5. Brussels Evaluation Team Meeting
On March 12th, 2008, the Evaluation Team met at the Mission of Canada to the European Union.
Dirk van den Boom had the opportunity to meet the members of the Evaluation Team present, and also participate in the meeting of the NDPHS Working Group Chairs and International Technical Advisors.
The minutes of this meeting are available on the NDPHS website.

6. Brussels Evaluation Team Meeting
Meeting Outcomes:
The team agreed to endorse the terms of reference as proposed. (available at this meeting).
The final report needs to be structured to assist the CSR to determine the future directions for the NDPHS.
The report should not exceed 50 pages. Appropriate annexes could be included.

7. Brussels Evaluation Team Meeting
Outcomes Continued
The CSR Chair will facilitate discussions with the consultant and the NDPHS Stakeholders and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and respective Ministries of Health (by visiting some partner countries this year and possible phone calls to encourage partner responses for the evaluation process).
Questions?
Note: It was suggested that Ministries of Social Affairs be consulted.

8. CSR April 21-22, 2008
Interviews will be conducted during this meeting for most participants.
Dirk van den Boom has provided us with an outline of the interview process and a schedule was circulated in advance of this meeting.
This is the initial stage of our evaluation process.
17 interviews are planned and will be conducted over a 1 ½ hour period.

9. Content of Interviews Framework, scope and objectives
Questions will be asked around the following areas:
Framework, scope and objectives
Overall structure and organisation
Impact and Progress of the Partnership
Commitment of the NDPHS actors
Questions for Expert Group Members
Other Issues

10. In Addition to these Interviews
The Evaluation Team is recommending that each partner country respond to the following three questions in a written format.
How would you characterize the impact of the Partnership so far?
How would you describe the commitment of partner countries to the Partnership so far?
What is your view on the perspective and the need for the Partnership in the future?

11. In Addition to these Interviews
As Chair of the Evaluation Team, I will be forwarding an request, immediately following this meeting, requesting that these questions be responded to in writing, no later than June 13, 2008.
These responses will be returned to Robert Shearer, at the Mission of Canada to the European Union, and compiled into a full narrative report.
This summary report will be provided to the evaluator, and will be taken into account in his final report.

12. Additional Information
The evaluation process conducted by the consultant will continue with:
Written questionnaires for EG-members following the interviews done with EG chairs
Additional meetings already planned in Berlin and Stockholm to continue face-to-face interviews with available NDPHS-stakeholders
Document-analysis of all documents available through the NDPHS-website
Additional telephone-interviews where deemed necessary

13. Questions or Comments
Your ongoing participation and involvement is key to making this evaluation a success!
Your Evaluation Team is committed to keeping you informed as we progress in this important work.