Home Notable Project Independent Verification of the SAMRC Imagine Social Outcomes-Based Contract Project Details Client: South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Country: South Africa Period: 2023–2025 Role: Independent Verification Agent Project Overview CESAR was appointed by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) as the Independent Verification Agent for the Imagine Social Outcomes-Based Contract. The Imagine Programme, implemented by NACOSA, aimed to reduce HIV incidence and unwanted pregnancies among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in schools in KwaZulu-Natal and Northwest provinces. Scope of Work CESAR conducted quarterly and annual independent verification of programme outputs and outcomes. This included reviewing programme data, conducting confirmatory statistical analyses, and collecting primary data from beneficiaries to verify reported achievements. The verification process assessed indicators such as PrEP uptake, ART coverage, contraceptive use, antenatal care attendance and access to youth health services. Impact CESAR provided independent assurance of programme performance and data quality under a results-based financing model. Our work strengthened transparency, improved data accuracy, and supported accountability between implementers, investors and government. The verification findings also helped improve data management systems and programme implementation over the three-year period.

Home Notable Project Evaluation of the South–South Learning Network (SSLN) Project Details Client: Genesis Analytics Countries: Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Malawi, South Sudan, and Uganda Period: 2023–2024 Role: Research company Project Overview CESAR conducted a theory-based evaluation of the South–South Learning Network (SSLN), a multi-country initiative aimed at strengthening HIV prevention programmes across sub-Saharan Africa. The evaluation assessed how shared learning and technical exchanges translated into improved national HIV prevention policies, coordination and outcomes in five participating countries. Scope of Work CESAR designed and implemented a mixed-methods evaluation combining surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, document reviews and secondary analysis of national HIV data. The study assessed changes in individual capacity, institutional alignment, programme quality, funding mobilisation and national prevention outcomes. Impact CESAR’s work provided evidence that peer-learning networks translate knowledge into measurable national-level impact. The evaluation demonstrated that the SSLN strengthened technical capacity, improved multi-sectoral coordination, increased use of evidence-based tools and contributed to stronger country proposals for PEPFAR and Global Fund funding.