A review and evaluation of the first three years of operation of CLEAR was undertaken by two external evaluators, Diana McConachy and Norman Booker from Australia.

Excerpts from the Evaluation Summary

(McConachy and Booker, 2003)

In summary, "the evaluation found that:

The establishment of the CLEAR Unit was viewed positively by ASOs, the Research Team and the Funder. Its establishment underlined the importance of the evaluation and research process in project planning and implementation, acknowledging that ASOs do not always have the resources to undertake this work. The work of the Unit put evaluation firmly on the ASO agenda in a non-threatening way.

The approach was strengthened by academics, community representatives and the AIDS Bureau working together on the Steering Committee.

The CLEAR Unit was very productive in its first three years of operation, evidenced by the number of projects initiated and the number of research reports, conference posters and participant feedback sessions.

ASOs that had worked collaboratively with the CLEAR Unit reported an increased understanding of research and evaluation processes and the CLEAR Research Team reported a better understanding of the context of HIV/AIDS and the HIV community response to the epidemic.

Findings from some macro and micro projects have been used by individual ASOs to inform practice and findings from some macro projects have been of strategic value to the Funder."