This Discussion Note outlines key considerations for USAID staff and evaluators when deciding to conduct an ex-post evaluation and then planning for, designing, implementing, and using findings from ex-post evaluations. Those commissioning an ex-post evaluation should consult with an evaluation specialist and consider...
Context monitoring solicitation as a model
Evaluation syntheses are analytic reviews of evaluations that aggregate findings from evaluation reports and/or examine the quality of the evaluations reviewed. This Discussion Note, Making Evidence Accessible through Evaluation Synthesis, focuses on two common types of evaluation syntheses that USAID commissions:...
This resource, part of the context-driven adaptation collection (see https://usaidlearninglab.org/context-driven-adaptation-overview), provides tips on how to enable context-driven adaptation, or thinking and working politically (TWP), within a USAID strategy. It also relates TWP to the journey to self-reliance. As...
This resource describes how to conduct at least one portfolio review per year that focuses on progress toward strategy-level results.
The engagement grid below outlines a variety of approaches to conducting learning activities to help answer learning questions. Often, we rely on approaches that we have used in the past without pausing to reflect on whether those approaches are the best fit given our learning questions. This grid is intended for use by...
This checklist is intended for use by USAID and implementing partner staff when developing or reviewing learning questions during monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) planning processes. It can be used to assess the appropriateness of each learning question based on utility, focus, feasibility, and inclusivity....
A Discussion Note introducing the concepts of complexity and its relation to USAID programming. The paper outline five complexity-aware monitoring methods
This updated template may be used as the basis for developing an evaluation Statement of Work (SOW). The template is based on an extensive peer review conducted in 2018 following the release of the Evaluation Toolkit in September 2015. It is designed to be used primarily by USAID staff.The template is only available in...
This Discussion Note shares practical approaches and considerations for designing monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) platforms in Missions. “MEL platforms” refer to the portfolio of institutional support mechanisms designed to build capacity within USAID Missions to collect, analyze, and use high quality data...
