ARCHIVED - Formative Evaluation of the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative

Final Report

Prepared for:
Public Health Agency of Canada

Prepared by:
Goss Gilroy Inc.
Management Consultants
Suite 900, 150 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa, ON K2P 1P1
Tel: (613) 230-5577
Fax: (613) 235-9592
E-mail: ggi@ggi.ca

August 2010

Table of Contents

• Foreword
• Acronyms
• Executive Summary
• 1.0 Introduction
• 2.0 Context and Overview of CHVI
  • 2.1 CHVI Context
  • 2.2 CHVI Objectives and Structure
  • 2.3 CHVI Components
  • 2.4 CHVI Financial Profile
• 3.0 Evaluation Methodology
  • 3.1 Evaluation Objectives
  • 3.2 Evaluation Methodology
  • 3.3 Limitations of the Evaluation
• 4.0 Evaluation Findings
  • 4.1 Relevance of the CHVI
  • 4.2 Evaluation Findings by Component
  • 4.3 Planning and Coordination
  • 4.4 Governance and Performance Measurement
• 5.0 Recommendations
• Appendix A: CHVI Logic Model
• Appendix B: Issues Cross-referenced to Evaluation Report Sections
• Appendix C: List of CHVI Documents
• Appendix D: Summary of Key Informant Interviews
• Appendix E: Internal Stakeholders Interview Guide
• Appendix F: External Stakeholders Interview Guide
• Appendix G: Implementation Progress for CHVI Components
• Appendix H: Results of Grant Awards

Foreword

The Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative (CHVI) formative evaluation was conducted to measure the progress of the first two years of the initiative. The data collection phase occurred between May and August 2009. A number of areas requiring improvement were identified, namely delays in implementing CHVI funding programs and processing transfer payments between departments, and the need for a revised governance structure and performance measurement system.

Since August, the CHVI has undergone substantial changes. On February 19, 2010, a joint decision was made by the Government of Canada and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation not to move forward with the pilot-scale manufacturing facility for clinical trial lots. The current CHVI components are unaffected by this decision and will continue to be implemented.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been developed by the Government of Canada and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to renew the CHVI with additional activities to take the place of the facility component. The new activities include the establishment of the CHVI Research and Development Alliance and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The initiative will be implemented over six years, from 2010-11 to 2016-17 with total funding of $139M. In support of the renewed initiative, a revised governance structure has been put in place that encompasses senior officials from the five CHVI participating departments and agencies as well as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as key decision makers.

Since the CHVI formative evaluation was completed, progress has been made in a number of areas:

• The Emerging Team Grants funding opportunity has been completed and two teams have been awarded funding by CIHR;
• The Large Team Grants funding opportunity was launched in summer 2010 by CIHR and CIDA;
• The Clinical Trial Capacity Building Funding Opportunity, administered under the Global Health Research Initiative, has been completed and seven teams have been awarded funding;
• A WHO project to build sustainable regulatory capacity in low and middle-income countries was funded by CIDA;
• Funding has been awarded to seven community projects under the Community Initiatives funding opportunity;
• The CHVI has provided support to the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise’s 2009 research conference and other Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise program activities related to the renewal of the global scientific strategic plan.

For further information on the CHVI, visit the website at: The Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative .