UNAIDS announces the launch of the Country Response Information System (CRIS) version 3, which is a tool for managing national HIV data. In support of Three Ones principles, and especially the principle of one national monitoring and evaluation system, CRIS3 enables national AIDS authorities to store, share and utilize the national HIV data in an effective manner with national and international counterparts.
The new released version brings improved features for monitoring national programmes and progress towards set national targets, such as those of universal access. Version 3 is more flexible and adaptable to meet the requirements of individual countries, using internationally agreed standards for HIV monitoring and evaluation.
Some of the main highlights of CRIS3 include:
- Ability to import indicators from the Indicator Registry, and flexibility in indicator data entry;
- Intuitive and clear user interface, reducing need for user training and time needed for use;
- Options of using CRIS3 either via web in countries with good internet access, or as a standalone application in settings with limited connectivity with data exchange between systems; and
- Improved technical and user support for national installations and configuration.
Supporting national HIV databases
As one of its mandates, UNAIDS provides guidance and develops tools for countries to better plan and manage their national monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system. Two of the most relevant tools recently developed by UNAIDS to facilitate the monitoring and evaluation of national HIV responses are the Indicator Registry (repository of standardized set of internationally agreed indicators) and CRIS3 (tool for monitoring national response to AIDS). Used together they complement each other as countries can use the indicator registry to select standardized indicators for their national monitoring purposes and use them in CRIS3 for data collection, storing, analysis and reporting.
CRIS3 has been developed with country needs in mind, emphasizing advanced programmatic features for national programme monitoring, including multiple monitoring plans that can accommodate the reporting needs of different donors, such as The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and others.
CRIS3 is at its best for use of national and district M&E officers as they have various backgrounds and skills to use different M&E tools. UNAIDS supports capacity building in M&E skills through different means, such as M&E trainings and CRIS specific trainings. Regional training events are organized during 2009 and the UNAIDS Country Monitoring systems team can be contacted for further details.
For more information on CRIS3 you may visit the support web-site: www.cris3.org or contact the Country Monitoring Systems team: cris@unaids.org
Mr. Taavi Erkkola (erkkolat@unaids.org).
