Strengthening Monitoring, Evaluation and Transparency

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Learning by measuring progress is integral to any successful organization, but it is especially critical for development, where the level of complexity is so high.  Learning requires us to do a much better job of systematically monitoring our performance and evaluating its impact.  We will be introducing a much-enhanced monitoring and evaluation process as part of these reform efforts, and we will link those efforts to our program design, budgeting and strategy work.  In addition, as part of commitments to the agenda of aid transparency, we will be making accessible to the general public information about the level of resources allocated to countries, sectors and programs.

GOAL: To improve decision making at all levels within the Agency by obtaining, analyzing, using and sharing meaningful information about program performance and impact. 

OBJECTIVES

1. Improve data collection to inform decision making.

• The Department of State and USAID are jointly conducting an assessment of the current operational planning and reporting requirements, mapping them to business requirements, and developing recommendations to streamline and rationalize the information flow from USAID missions to headquarters.
   

      2.     Knowledge to improve program impact. 

• USAID will improve the agency’s ability to learn from implementation experiences and use that knowledge to enhance future strategic decisions about program design and implementation, including:

a. An evaluation strategy and agenda;
b. A set of evaluation tools that translates the evaluation policy into practical guidance;
c. Technical support for strengthening the methodologies of evaluations;
d. Evaluation “infrastructure” such as an evaluation registry and baseline data virtual warehouse;
e. A basic-to-advanced series of training opportunities in evaluation.

     3.    Openness to fulfill obligations to stakeholders, in-country, with the U.S., and globally.  USAID will increase the transparency of our work by modifying systems of information flow ensuring that procurement-sensitive and other information is protected, while the public’s right to know is fully respected.  Work includes:

a. Collaborating with State/F on the creation of a public use website that makes available up-to-date data on foreign assistance investments by country and program area
b. Undertaking information-gathering at the country level to better understand the information priorities of partner governments and civil society
c. Adapting information systems related to spending levels, procurement and performance so that additional and more detailed and timely information can be publicly available

APPROACH
Recognizing that the way in which development programs are monitored and evaluated is inadequate, we will change the Agency’s policies, structures and processes that seek to establish USAID as “best in class” with respect to accountability and learning.

To accomplish this goal, we will:

1. Introduce a much-enhanced monitoring and evaluation process
2. Link those efforts to our program design, budgeting and strategy work.