The purpose of the M&E system is to provide the data needed to:

• guide the planning, coordination, and implementation of the HIV response;
• assess the effectiveness of the HIV response; and
• identify areas for programme improvement.

The purpose derives from the definition of monitoring and evaluation.

Monitoring is the routine tracking and reporting of priority information about a programme and its intended outputs and outcomes.

Evaluation is the systematic collection of information about program activities, characteristics, and outcomes to determine the merit or worth of a specific program.

The national M&E system is Government-based and Government-led. The Government has the overall responsibility for the national response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and is able to measure progress made, ensure accountability and identify the most effective approaches. The M&E system is based on a multi-sectorial approach, and obtains input from all government sectors, as well as civil society organizations, to ensure that the country can report on internationally agreed goals and targets, such as the MDGs and the targets spelled out in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS). It collects data on the epidemiological situation, programmatic and financial data. In order to ensure proper case management and collect epidemiological data associated to new HIV cases, an information system called SIME-AIDS has been established. A national M & E database and data depository is in the process of development to represent a comprehensive and holistic platform for collection of information on indicators, resources, and scientific research to support the activities and outcomes of the initiatives taken by the Government of the Republic of Moldova to fight HIV/AIDS/STI/TB, in order to enhance data use for decision-making.

At the national level, the state policy in the area of HIV/AIDS in Moldova is implemented through the National Program on Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS and STIs for 2006–2010 (National AIDS Program – NAP), which determines national strategies of priority for prevention, epidemiological surveillance and treatment. The National AIDS Program was developed based on lessons learnt from the implementation of the first cycle NAP 2001–2005 through consensus-based consultation with key stakeholders in the field, including government, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and people living with HIV and was approved through a Government Decision in September, 2005. The NAP is accompanied by the HIV/AIDS M&E Plan.

The HIV/AIDS M&E Plan has the goal to:

• guide coordinated and efficient collection, analysis, use, and provision of information that will enable the tracking of the progress made in the national response to HIV/AIDS and enhance informed and sound decision-making and policy for the HIV and AIDS interventions.

Within the context of this goal, the objectives of the M&E Plan are to:

• develop clear M&E processes that will enable systematic collection, collation, processing, analysis, and interpretation of data;
• define a list of core indicators that will enable tracking of progress in the most critical areas in the response to HIV and AIDS;
• describe the role that HIV related operational research plays in the overall monitoring and evaluation of the national response to HIV and AIDS;
• describe the key data sources to be used to gather necessary M&E data;
• establish clear data flow channels between the different stakeholders in the response to HIV and AIDS;
• clearly describe the role of each of the stakeholders in the monitoring and evaluation of HIV and AIDS programmes;
• develop a plan for strengthening the capacity of all partners involved in the monitoring and evaluation of HIV and AIDS programmes;
• describe the products and mechanisms for the dissemination of all critical information amongst all stakeholders, implementing agencies, beneficiaries and the general public.