Sistemas Integrales is helping to evaluate the impact of public health programmes, specifically those which use Health Results-Based Financing (HRBF) to reward the delivery of outcomes such as child vaccination, attendance at antenatal clinics, or child health check-ups. These 'rewards' might be given in cash or kind to the health centre, or directly to the mothers.

Because these Impact Evaluations are conducted in many countries, Sistemas Integrales' experts were asked to develop standardised tools: questionnaires and other instruments, data management and the organisation of field-work. In Benin, for example, the data were entered in the field, as they were collected. Each data-entry operator had a computer with a modem; as the data were entered, they were transmitted to a centralised supervisor, using tools which are available free on the internet. To improve standardisation and enhance data quality, advisers from Sistemas Integrales participate in annual workshops which bring together representatives of all the countries where an HRBF Impact Evaluation is under way or in preparation.

In addition to evaluating the impact of these programmes, it is also valuable to measure whether they are benefiting the people who most need it and reaching everyone they should. To achieve this, ideally, the sample should include not only randomly selected households within the catchment area of each clinic or health centre. In order to be sure that the survey is representative of the whole population, it should also include people who live outside the catchment area of any clinic. 

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