Community-Led Monitoring

Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) is a vital accountability mechanism that empowers communities most affected by HIV to systematically collect evidence, identify barriers, and advocate for stronger, more equitable health services. In Asia and the Pacific, regional networks and national partners are promoting CLM as a cornerstone of people-centered HIV and health services, ensuring that the lived experiences of people living with HIV, key populations, women, youth, and people with disabilities inform decision-making. By placing communities at the heart of accountability, CLM strengthens equity, drives continuous program and service improvement, and helps countries across the region accelerate progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat.

About CLM

Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) is a powerful, rights-based approach that puts communities at the center of the HIV response. Through data collection, analysis, and advocacy, CLM helps ensure that services are people-centered, accountable, and responsive to the real needs of those most affected by HIV.

What is Community-Led Monitoring?

In the context of the HIV response, Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) is a systematic and ongoing process in which people living with HIV and key populations take the lead in generating evidence about the accessibility, quality, and inclusiveness of HIV services. Unlike traditional monitoring systems, CLM is owned and driven by communities themselves—from data collection and analysis to action planning, advocacy, and follow-up—ensuring that the lived realities of those most affected are at the center of decision-making.

Guided by the principles of community ownership, participation, transparency, and accountability, CLM combines both qualitative approaches—such as interviews, focus group discussions, community dialogues, direct observations, and virtual platforms—and quantitative tools, including surveys, scorecards, and digital dashboards. Together, these methods allow communities to:

• Identify barriers such as stigma and discrimination, stock-outs of supplies (including test kits and medicines), long waiting times, and the lack of youth- and gender-sensitive services.
• Track progress over time by monitoring service quality, treatment outcomes, and the responsiveness of health systems.
• Propose solutions directly to service providers, governments, and donors, linking evidence to action.

At its core, CLM is not just about data—it is about power and accountability. It enables communities to hold service providers, policymakers, and funders accountable for their commitments, while also fostering collaboration to co-create solutions. Over time, CLM contributes to stronger health systems, greater equity, and improved health outcomes, ensuring that no one is left behind in the HIV response.

In countries such as Papua New Guinea (PNG), CLM programs also include virtual components, such as hotline call centres and social media monitoring services. These platforms enable community members to share their experiences with monitors and access information about their health status and available services. This added component positions CLM as an effective triage and referral system, helping connect community members to the services they need in a timely and responsive manner.