ARCHIVED - Formative Evaluation of the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative

Appendix E: Internal Stakeholders Interview Guide

CHVI Office, Other PHAC Staff, and CHVI Committee Members – Interview Guide

The Office of HIV Vaccines has retained the services of the management consulting firm Goss Gilroy Inc. (GGI) to conduct a formative Evaluation of the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative (CHVI). The purpose of the evaluation is to assess the progress of the CHVI in the first two years of implementation. The evaluation will look at progress made to date by the initiative and determine if changes are required to the design, delivery and direction of the initiative or program areas.

The evaluation involves comprehensive interviews as well as a document and file reviews. In the evaluation, interviews are being conducted with key stakeholders.

Your participation in this interview is voluntary, and your responses will be treated confidentially by GGI. Results will be reported at an aggregate level only. The interview will take approximately 45-60 minutes to complete, depending on your level of involvement with the CHVI.

Introduction

1. Please describe your role in your department and with the CHVI.

1. Since when have you been involved with the CHVI?

2. Is the CHVI program consistent with the mandate, objectives, and priorities of your department/ agency and other departments/agencies involved (HC, CIHR, CIDA, IC)? (Issue 15)

1. If no, what changes do you recommend for CHVI to become consistent?
2. Ask for additional relevant documentation

CHVI Discovery and Social Research

Implementation Progress

3. What progress has been made toward achievement of results in the CHVI Discovery and Social Research program area? (Issue 10)

1. Barriers or challenges to progress towards the implementation of this component?
2. If there have been delays, what are the reasons for these delays? What should have or could have been done differently to avoid these delays?
3. What have been the successes?

4. (If not addressed in Question 2) What worked well in the RFP/RFA/LOI process for research programs? (Issue 18)

1. What were some of the challenges?

5. To what extent are collaborative arrangements between CHVI and other government of Canada agencies and departments effective (e.g. CIHR, CIDA)? (Issue 8)

1. Can you suggest improvements in these collaborative arrangements? (Issue 8)

6. Are there any areas of duplication between the activities of Discovery and Social Research program area and activities in other organizations? (e.g. as other government departments or agencies or other)? (Issue 9)

1. If so, do you have any suggestions for addressing this/ these areas of duplication?

CHVI Pilot Scale Manufacturing Capacity for Clinical Trial Lots

Implementation Progress

7. What progress has been made toward achievement of results for the CHVI Pilot Scale Manufacturing Capacity for Clinical Trial Lots program area? (Issue 10 and 21)

1. Barriers or challenges to progress towards the implementation of this component?
2. If there have been delays, what are the reasons for these delays? What should have or could have been done differently to avoid these delays?
3. What have been the successes?

8. (If not addressed in Question 7) What worked well in the RFP/RFA/LOI process for the Pilot Scale Manufacturing facility? (Issue 18)

1. What were some of the challenges?

9. To what extent are collaborative arrangements between CHVI and other government of Canada agencies and departments effective (e.g. IC, PHAC)? (Issue 8)

1. Can you suggest improvements in these collaborative arrangements?

10. To what extent are collaborative arrangements between CHVI and external stakeholders (e.g. the Bill &Melinda Gates Foundation) effective?

1. Can you suggest improvements in these collaborative arrangements? (Issue 8)

11. Are there areas of duplication between the CHVI and other organizations? (e.g. as other government departments or agencies or other)? (Issue 9)

1. If so, do you have any suggestions for addressing this/ these areas of duplication?

CHVI Clinical Trials Capacity Building and Networks

Implementation Progress

12. What progress has been made toward achievement of results in the Clinical Trials Capacity Building and Networks program? (Issue 10)

1. Barriers or challenges to progress towards the implementation of this component?
2. If there have been delays, what are the reasons for these delays? What should have or could have been done differently to avoid these delays?
3. What have been the successes?

13. To what extent are collaborative arrangements between CHVI and other government of Canada agencies and departments effective (e.g. CIDA, IDRC)? (Issue 8)

1. Can you suggest improvements in these collaborative arrangements?

14. To what extent are collaborative arrangements between CHVI and external stakeholders (Global Health Research Initiatives, etc.) effective? (Issue 8)

1. Can you suggest improvements in these collaborative arrangements?

15. Are there areas of duplication between the CHVI Clinical Trials Capacity Building and Networks activities and that of other organizations? (e.g. as other government departments or agencies or other)? (Issue 9)

1. If so, do you have any suggestions for addressing this/ these areas of duplication?

CHVI Policy, Regulatory, Community and Social Dimensions

Implementation Progress

16. What progress has been made toward achievement of results? (10)

1. Barriers or challenges to progress towards the implementation of this component?
2. If there have been delays, what are the reasons for these delays? What should have or could have been done differently to avoid these delays?
3. What have been the successes?

17. (If not addressed in Question 18) What worked well in the RFP/RFA/LOI process for the Community Initiatives Fund? (Issue 18)

18. To what extent are collaborative arrangements between CHVI and other government of Canada agencies and departments effective (e.g. HC and PHAC)? (Issue 8)

1. Can you suggest improvements in these collaborative arrangements?

19. To what extent are collaborative arrangements between CHVI and external stakeholders (WHO, AAVP, UNAIDS, similar Non-profit organizations, etc.) effective? (Issue 8)

1. Can you suggest improvements in these collaborative arrangements?

20. Are there areas of duplication between the Policy, Regulatory, Community and Social Dimensions activities and that of other organizations? (e.g. as other government departments or agencies or other)? (Issue 9)

1. If so, do you have any suggestions for addressing this/ these areas of duplication?

CHVI Planning, Coordination, and Evaluation

Achievement of Early Program Results

21. What progress has been made in the planning, coordination and evaluation component of CHVI? (Issue 10)

1. Barriers or challenges to progress towards the implementation of this component?
2. What have been the successes?

22. To what extent are/were the following effective? (Issue 7)

1. The CHVI Interdepartmental Steering Committee?
   1. What works well with this committee
   2. What are some of the challenges or areas for improvement?
2. The CHVI Secretariat?
   1. What works well with the Secretariat
   2. What are some of the challenges or areas for improvement?
3. The CHVI Interdepartmental Committee?
   1. What works well with this committee
   2. What are some of the challenges or areas for improvement?
4. The CHVI Communication Working Group?
   1. What works well with this committee
   2. What are some of the challenges or areas for improvement?

Note: Ask ONLY of CHVI Staff

23. Can you describe the CHVI performance measurement system? (Issue 13)

1. Who is involved in this system?
2. How is it being used?

ASK OF ALL RESPONDENTS

Role of CHVI, Ongoing Relevancy and Promising Practices

24. What programs and services are currently required in the HIV vaccine environment? (Issue 14)

1. Is CHVI consistent with these needs? (Issue 16)
2. What changes do you recommend to ensure that CHVI becomes more/ remains consistent with these needs?

25. Is CHVI linking well with key stakeholders involved in the HIV vaccine field? (Issue 22)

1. If not, what changes do you recommend for CHVI to better link with key stakeholders?

Ask only if respondent is familiar with HIV prevention field (e.g. microbicides)

26. Is CHVI linking well with key stakeholders in other areas of the HIV prevention technology field? (Issue 23)

1. If not, what changes do you recommend for CHVI to better link with key stakeholders?

27. Is the balance of funding between the different CHVI program areas appropriate? (Issue 17)

1. What changes or reallocations would you recommend?

28. Can you suggest way to improve the effectiveness or efficiency of the CHVI program delivery? (Issue 24)