Category: Transforming Investments

We believe that information is power. We move our partners up the evidence-to-results chain through world-class monitoring systems that enable timely and informed decisions.

From over 25 years of experience with monitoring, we believe:

• Information from monitoring systems feeds into four areas: Planning, Accountability, Learning, Performance Management (PALP)

• Systems should be use-focused and owned by users

• Comprehensiveness is important, but for users, simplicity is key

• A good blend of quantitative and qualitative information is essential for insight

• Priorities will change, so systems should evolve with their needs

• Clarity and consensus on how information will be used are critical for action

Some of our work in this area:

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning for Avahan India AIDS Initiative Phase III across five high HIV-prevalence states in South India. We worked with 87 community organisations, reaching a key population of 1,36,000+ to design and implement technology-driven MEAL systems for better data-based decision making.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning System for the Poorest Areas Civil Society Programme (PACS-I) across six states of India; designed and implemented the entire system covering – inputs, activities, processes, outputs, outcomes and impact for four years; covering over 300-odd civil society organisations in India. The project was implemented by Development Alternatives and supported by the Department for International Development (DFID).

Designing and Operationalising a Participatory Monitoring System for Eastern and Western India Rainfed Farming Projects, supported by DFID-India.

Design of a monitoring, evaluation and learning framework and tool to support the implementation of an Institutional Network Strengthening Programme, with a specific focus on the Asia-Pacific region, for Transparency International (TI).

Monitoring system for United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Nigeria in supporting the National Drug Law Enforcement Authority (NDLEA), which is leading the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP), in partnership with 37 Ministries/agencies.

In Evidence for Change, we specialise in facilitating theories of change, alternate analysis, results frameworks, and tools, building evidence through pluralistic methodologies, participatory learning, and action, and establishing efficient monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems through a multidisciplinary approach.

We specialise in designing and conducting research and evaluation in multiple domains, with a variety of partners through a collaborative process.

We deliver quality impact evaluations through rigorous experimental, quasi-experimental, mixed-method and qualitative methods, nationally and internationally. Our focus areas include conducting impact assessments, programme evaluations, summative and performance evaluations, action research, exploratory and formative assessments, literature reviews, sectoral studies, and organisational assessments, amongst others.

We have partnered with experts from Stanford University, International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), Statistics for Sustainable Development (Stats4SD), Institute of Rural Management, Krea University, Tufts University, University of Reading, University of Oregon, Purdue University, Indian Statistical Institute, etc.

We have carried out over 100 project/programme evaluations and organisational assessments, using methods and approaches that help communities and programme staff to reflect, assess, learn and apply strategies. The team has strong experience in using evidence to contribute to shaping public and organisational policies and improving programme strategies.

Recently, the team (CMS and 3ie) working with the Government, concluded the evaluation of the National Rural Livelihood Project’s (NRLP) programme working on women empowerment and decision-making within the household through access to credit. We studied the impact of the programme and institutional support that SHG provides to women with the aim of providing a sustainable livelihood and financial inclusion. We measured the decision-making capacity of women based on the responses recorded to 26 questions that covered a variety of scenarios within households, such as food, children, education, assets and finance.

Other examples of our work include

• Impact evaluation using experimental design for Breakthrough’s innovative programme utilising mass and community media to address the issue of Early Marriage across three districts in Bihar and Jharkhand

• Literature review of interventions facilitating smallholder farmers’ access to the market in India using the hierarchy of study design. The study aimed to understand the current scenario and also to provide insights into the sustainability of the producer organisations as institutions

• Formative research to understand the effect of seasonality and agriculture on the nutrition of pregnant and lactating women and children under five and household coping mechanisms in four districts in Madhya Pradesh