A Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) articulates country-specific development hypotheses and sets forth the goal, objectives, results, indicators, and resources levels that guide Project Design and Implementation, Evaluation, and Performance Management, and inform annual planning and reporting processes.
Evaluations, along with research and other analyses, should be used to inform various sections in the CDCS, including the Development Context, Challenges and Opportunities, the Development Hypothesis, and the Results Framework.
According to ADS 201.3.2.11, the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning section of the CDCS includes a high-level description of the Mission's overall priorities and approach to evaluation.
In addition, Missions must incorporate USAID’s Gender Equality/Female Empowerment Policy (ADS 205) in the CDCS.