U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Acting Administrator John Barsa has streamlined Chapter 201 of our ADS, Program Cycle Operational Policy, to shift our emphasis from bureaucracy to the real work of supporting development progress.  The reformed policy responds to calls from the field to streamline the Agency’s proc...

This 10-page document summarizes key "musts" (requirements) and "shoulds" (best practices) in the revision of ADS 201 that was codified on October 28, 2020.

USAID's Program Cycle Policy, USAID’s policy on Development Data, USAID’s Scientific Research Policy and other guidance define evidence for USAID and clarify standards for research, evaluation, and data management and use. This evidence framework brings information from those sources to articulate USAID’s approach to building and us...

The Global Learning for Adaptive Management (GLAM) is an initiative funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department for International Development (DFID). GLAM is envisioned as a globally networked learning alliance that aimed to actively identify, operationalise and promote rigorous evidence-bas...

This brief explores metrics and data from the perspective of the decision-making of public and private stakeholders in Honduras and their journey to self-reliance contributing evidence and learning from the USAID/Honduras Transforming Market Systems (TMS) Activity to JSR Learning Question # 3: How are countries, Missions, donors, imp...

Monalisa Salib is Social Impact's Sr. Director for Organizational Learning, USAID/LearnsUnder the USAID/Vietnam Learns contract, Social Impact recently updated its Activity Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Plan (AMELP). This exercise reinforced insights that we have long promoted with USAID and implementing partners (IPs) on AMELPs t...

These exploratory analyses draw from two loosely interconnected efforts:USAID’s Paper Series on Capacity and Capacity Strengthening, andA synthesis of recommendations from nine evaluations and final reports for Human and Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) activities posted on USAID’s Development Experience Clearinghouse.The fir...

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 outlines key considerations for USAID staff and evaluators when deciding to conduct an ex-post evaluation and then planning for,...

The Program Cycle Learning Study (PCLS) used a qualitative case study approach to provide a systematic and holistic understanding of how four Missions understand and implement the Program Cycle. The study offers examples of how Missions implement the Program Cycle on a day-to-day basis and provides evidence and insight into the effects of...