PERSuADE II

The Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) is leading a partnership -Partnership to Enhance Technical Support for Analytical Capacity and Data Use in Southern and Eastern Africa (PERSuADE) which supports Ministries of Health (MoH) in partner countries to conduct analysis, interpretation and dissemination of existing data to inform improvements in HIV, TB, and Malaria programming at central and subnational level.

PERSUADE was designed in response to the Global Fund RFP TGF-20-089.

PERSUADE I initiative was implemented from August 2018 – December 2020 in 8 countries involving national universities and their Ministries of Health; Makerere University School of Public Health - Uganda, University of Nairobi - Kenya, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences - Tanzania, University of Kinshasa School of Public Health – Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), University of Malawi, University of Zambia, University of Zimbabwe and University of Witwatersrand - South Africa. See Persuade I Report.

Country: Investigator Name	University	Designation
Uganda: Prof. Rhoda Wanyenze	Makerere University School of Public Health	Project Principal Investigator
Uganda: Prof. Fred Wabwire-Mangeni	Makerere University School of Public Health	Project Principal Investigator
Uganda: Dr. John Ssenkusu	Makerere University School of Public Health	Project Co- Investigator
Angola: Prof. José Belchior Da Silva	Agostinho Neto University	Country Principal Investigator
Democratic Republic of Congo: Prof. Désiré Mashinda Kulimba	University of Kinshasa School of Public Health	Country Principal Investigator
Eswatini: Dr. Mduduzi Shongwe	University of Eswatini	Country Principal Investigator
Kenya: Prof. Mutuku Mwanthi	University of Nairobi	Country Principal Investigator
Lesotho: Dr. Maseabata Ramathebane	National University of Lesotho	Country Principal Investigator
Madagascar: Prof. Julio Rakotonirina	University of Antananarivo	Country Principal Investigator
Malawi: Dr. Jupiter Simbeye	University of Malawi	Country Principal Investigator
Mozambique: Prof. Humberto Muquingue	Eduardo Mondlane University	Country Principal Investigator
Tanzania: Dr. Rose Mpembeni	Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences	Country Principal Investigator
Uganda: Dr. Simon Kasasa	Makerere University School of Public Health	Country Principal Investigator
Zambia: Dr. Patrick Musonda	University of Zambia	Country Principal Investigator
Zimbabwe: Prof. Mufuta Tshimanga	University of Zimbabwe	Country Principal Investigator

PERSUADE II is ongoing in 12 countries since August 2021–December 2023. Makerere University School of Public Health is coordinating the partnership through the national institutions and their Ministries of Health. Other partners include the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Information Systems Programs (HISP) – Uganda. 

The goal of PERSUADE is to develop capacity for systematic analysis and use of routine data at regular intervals to improve the performance of the HIV, TB, and malaria programs. The initiative also supports institutionalization of the culture of data use in decision-making at the national and subnational levels to promote local ownership of data analysis and use of evidence by programs. Through these efforts, countries will register improvements in the performance of the critical indicators and enhance sustained disease control for the three diseases.

The PERSuADE approach involves capacity development and skill transfer in the data analysis of at least the WHO minimum standard package for HIV, TB and malaria. PERSuADE country teams conduct analysis side-by-side with staff of MoH and other program staff for skills transfer with a focus on institutionalization and sustainability through mentoring, analysis routines, schedules, SOPs, and a community of practice (COP). PERSuADE is institutionalizing processes and a data culture of program reviews; growing demand for evidence while enhancing existing relationships with MoH; increasing capacity for quality analysis and skills transfer; piloting potential for sustainability; and providing private sector partners with technical and implementation support. 

Objectives of PERSuADE II include:

1. Enhance analytical capacity by supporting countries, and in particular the Ministry of Health, in institutionalizing regular data reviews and analysis at national and sub-national level;
2. Support National Programs on key disease-specific analyses in HIV, TB and Malaria on a regular basis and use of the results of the analyses to drive actions towards improved program coverage, quality, efficiency and impact;
3. Build solid national institutional capacity for data analysis and use from multiple sources, including financial and human resources, health products, and resource allocation models;
4. Ensure linkages between analytical capacity activities, outputs and program reviews.
5. Manage, coordinate and contribute to peer-learning, knowledge exchange platforms of communication.

Highlights of PERSUADE initiative achievements in 2022:
1. Skills transfers at national and subnational levels involving over 450 program staff in 12 countries in areas of routine program data analysis, dissemination, and use for improvements in implementation strategy and operations
2. Conducted and completed 50+ program analyses for HIV, TB, and malaria in 12 countries, aligning with Ministry of Health priorities and Global Fund guidelines. Analyses covered areas like HIV Care Cascade, Key Population Estimates, Malaria Incidence, and TB Cohort Analysis.
3. PERSuADE II Regional Partners Meeting, November 1–3, 2022, Lilongwe, Malawi, for midterm assessment of implementation progress.

4. PERSuADE Community of Practice (COP) webinars reaching a Pan-African audience 

Past face to face meeting; https://sph.mak.ac.ug/persuade-ii-regional-partners-meeting

COMING UP: PERSuADE II Project Closeout regional Meeting, Harare, Zimbabwe, December 2023