The Program Cycle is USAID’s operational model for planning, implementing, assessing, and adapting development programming in a given region or country. The Program Cycle is how policy gets translated into action and how USAID supports countries on their Journey to Self-Reliance.
USAID Learning Lab hosts three toolkits to provide USAID staff and implementing partners with a curated set of resources to plan, implement and integrate monitoring, evaluating and CLA practices into their programs.
Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) is a framework and a set of practices for strengthening organizational learning and the conditions that enable it throughout the Program Cycle to improve our development effectiveness, and support countries on their Journey to Self-Reliance.
This content is currently under revision to align with the recently updated ADS 201. For guidance and support associated with revisions to ADS 201, please see the Program Cycle overview page.
Evaluation syntheses are analytic reviews of evaluations that aggregate findings... read more
To ensure that USAID is learning from the implementation of the Program Cycle and filling in knowledge gaps around what can be improved in the current iteration of the Program Cycle Operational Policy, the Bureau for Policy, Planning and Learning (PPL) developed a learning... read more
This content is currently under revision to align with the recently updated ADS 201. For guidance and support associated with revisions to ADS 201, please see the Program Cycle overview page.
This updated template may be used as the basis for developing an evaluation... read more
USAID’s work takes place in environments that are often unstable and in transition. Even in more stable contexts, circumstances evolve and may affect programming in unpredictable ways. For its programs to be effective, USAID must be able to adapt in response to changes and... read more
This Discussion Note complements ADS 201.3.1.2 Program Cycle Principles by elaborating on Principle 2: Manage Adaptively through Continuous Learning. This Discussion Note is intended for USAID staff interested in learning about recent and promising practices in adaptive... read more
This content is currently under revision to align with the recently updated ADS 201.
For guidance and support associated with revisions to ADS 201, please see the Program Cycle overview page.
This Discussion Note complements ADS 201.3.1.2 Program Cycle Principles by... read more
This content is currently under revision to align with the recently updated ADS 201.For guidance and support associated with revisions to ADS 201, please see the Program Cycle overview page. This How-To Note describes considerations for developing a... read more
This content is currently under revision to align with the recently updated ADS 201. For guidance and support associated with revisions to ADS 201, please see the Program Cycle overview page.
The guidance document describes the required and recommended information to... read more
USAID strongly emphasizes the importance of capacity development to improve development results by increasing local ownership, sustainability, and partnerships with other local organizations, donors, the public sector, and other stakeholders. This Additional Help document... read more
This How-To Note addresses key issues for USAID staff who are developing a Statement of Work for an externally contracted evaluation. Following these practices will help to establish clear expectations and requirements for the evaluation team and clearly communicate what... read more