As countries adapt HIV programs amid shifting funding priorities, the ability to use program data effectively has become critical. Decisions about what to scale, sustain, or adapt increasingly hinge on how well data are understood and applied.
In response to member country demand, the HIVE network has launched a new Monitoring and Evaluation Community of Practice (M&E CoP) to support data-driven action planning for vertical transmission prevention (VTP).
The Community of Practice will serve as a dedicated peer-learning platform where countries can exchange practical experiences, tools, and strategies related to VTP monitoring and evaluation, with a focus on applying data to improve programs and inform policy decisions.
Speaking at the launch event on October 28, 2025, Karam Sachathep, PhD, senior strategic information manager for the CQUIN and HIVE projects and HIVE M&E CoP lead, highlighted the importance of the platform.
“As a team, we are trying to figure out how to collect, analyze, and use programmatic data with less to work with,” she said. “This community of practice will be a platform for accountability, learning, and impact in a rapidly changing environment.”
Following the framing remarks, Ministry of Health representatives from Kenya and Tanzania presented country snapshots of their current approaches to VTP data collection, management, analysis, and utilization, highlighting how funding cuts are affecting community-level data collection systems. The session concluded with a panel discussion and Q&A.
The CoP includes at least two representatives from each of the six countries in the HIVE network, including the Ministry of Health VTP leads, implementing partners, and national networks of people living with HIV.
The group will convene online at least four times over the next year, with additional meetings scheduled as needed.
Insights from the M&E Community of Practice will feed directly into HIVE’s technical assistance planning for 2026. The launch meeting recording is now available here.
