Using CLA to Strengthen Evaluation Capacity in the DRC

This case study highlights the partnership between the Kinshasa School of Public Health (KSPH) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Data for Impact (D4I) project to strengthen evaluation capacity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). D4I works to mobilize data for better health, including through capacity strengthening with local partners. USAID/DRC asked D4I to evaluate the USAID-funded Integrated Health Program, which is focused on strengthening the DRC’s health system, and KSPH is subcontracted to collaborate on the evaluation.

In addition to learning via collaborative implementation of the evaluation, USAID/DRC recognized an opportunity to strengthen evaluation capacity locally in a sustainable way. To accomplish this, D4I has collaborated with KSPH to first identify priority areas for capacity strengthening for KSPH faculty and students and then to design and implement a coordinated set of interventions to meet these needs, guided by a results framework. Specifically, D4I has supported KSPH in implementing capacity strengthening interventions intended to 1) increase opportunities for evaluation skills training, 2) improve the infrastructure for internal collaboration within KSPH, and 3) acquire more direct funding for evaluations and other research. Key to this effort was the process of external collaboration between D4I and KSPH along with a conducive learning enabling environment that enabled continuous learning and improvement to strengthen evaluation capacity in the DRC.