The document discusses several strategic initiatives at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) aimed at improving program quality and effectiveness. It describes the Outcomes and Evidence Framework (OEF), which defines expected program outcomes, theories of change, core indicators, and evidence summaries. It also details COMET, a data platform for uploading and analyzing program indicators, and Monitoring for Action (MfA), focused on improving data quality and use through organizational standards, tools, and regional coordinators. Finally, it explains how these initiatives relate to and support country-level Strategy Action Plans, which define priority outcomes, locations, and populations for programming.
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Linking the Strategic Initiatives to each
other and to the SAP
September 25, 2016
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• Outcomes and Evidence Framework (OEF)
• Measurement
• COMET
• Monitoring for Action (MfA)
• Context Adaptability
• Best Use of Resources
• Client Voice and Choice
• Gender Equity
• Research and Development Lab
• Outcomes and Evidence Framework (OEF)
• Measurement
• COMET
• Monitoring for Action (MfA)
IRC Strategic Initiatives
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Strategic Initiatives & the IRC2020 Strategy
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Strategic Initiatives & the IRC2020 Strategy
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Defining the Strategic Initiatives
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What is the OEF?
The OEF is an initiatives that features 4 key resources that will improve
program quality and program effectiveness
1. Program outcomes are the expected impact that an IRC intervention
should have (26 total outcomes)
• Example: Health - Children are protected from and treated for malnutrition
• Example: Economic Wellbeing - People are food secure
2. Theories of change are theories that defines the cause and effect of an
IRC intervention (one for each outcome)
3. Core indicators
• An indicator is a measurement that tracks changes over time
• Core Indicators are indicators created by IRC to measure the
outcome of the interventions we conduct
4. Evidence summaries and maps
• A library of easy to access evidence for program desig
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What is COMET?
• COMET is a data platform
where staff can:
1. Upload and manage their
indicators
2. Analyze the performance of
their projects and programs
3. Produce reports and visual
representations of their
programmatic performance
• A key feature of COMET is that it is a global platform, meaning that
data can viewed at all levels of the organization structure (from the
individual facility to the district, national, regional, and global levels)
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What is MfA?
• A multi-year initiative with the goal of
improving project monitoring
• Emphasis on data quality and data use
• Key components include:
1. Organizational Monitoring Standards (MFA
Standards)
2. Toolkit
3. Regional Measurement Action Coordinators
• The objective of MfA is to improve:
1. Clarity: Staff have a clear understanding monitoring expectations and responsibilities
2. Commitment: Measurement is given higher prioritization and increased resources
3. Capacity: IRC staff are equipped with the required technical skills and tools
4. Culture: The IRC’s culture shifts from monitoring of action to monitoring for action.
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What is the SAP?
Strategy Action Plans (SAPs)
• It is a five-year strategy/plan for
each country program
• A country’s SAP defines the
outcome areas, geographies
and populations that a CP will
prioritize
• It guides a country’s
programming and business
development strategies, and
influences which projects a CP
pursue
• Can be reviewed and adjusted
annually (as needed)
Geographies Populations
1. IDPs
2. Refugees
3. Children
Outcomes
1. HEALTH
2. EDUCATION
3. SAFETY
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How do all the initiatives relate to one
another and how do they relate to your
SAP?
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Learning
Project
Close
Project Design &
Proposal
Development
Start-Up/
Grant Start
Implementation
The relationship between the OEF, MfA, and COMET
can be best understood through the project lifecycle
The
Project
Life-Cycle
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The OEF is used during the program design phase of
the project lifecycle
During this phase, use the OEF to:
1. Identify the outcomes and the theory of
change for your project
2. Select your IRC Core Indicators
3. Use the best available evidence to justify
your project approach and interventions
Implementation
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COMET is used during the grant start, implementation,
and project close phases
During grant start, use COMET to:
1. Set up indicators in COMET
Implementation
During implementation, use COMET to:
2. Enter your indicator data
3. Build analytical graphs and tables
4. Review the performance of your project as
a team
5. Create quarterly reports for donors and
other stakeholders
During project close, use COMET to:
1. Easily produce data for your donor and other
reports
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MfA is relevant and can be used during all phases of the
project lifecycle
At each phase of the project lifecycle,
Monitoring for Action will:
1. Define IRC’s Standards (expectations)
for conducting high-quality project
monitoring
2. Outline the Actions that must be taken in
order to meet IRC’s Standards
3. Provide tools that will help you plan,
budget, assess, and execute your
monitoring activities
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OEF, MfA, and COMET are applied at varying phases to
ensure that quality data is collected and used
OEF
Core indicators
COMET
Indicator management system
MFA
Monitoring best practices
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• COMET (data
management)
• MfA (Standards
and tools for
good M&E)
32 Outcomes
26 TOCs
26 indicator lists
8 evidence maps
OEF
Conceptual
foundation/
Framework
Measurement
(COMET & MfA)
Monitoring System
Greater impact on
people’s lives
Effective
programs
Review data
from COMET
on achieving
core indicators
By collecting and using quality data, we are able to deliver
more effective programs and have a greater impact on lives
Collect and use quality data Deliver more
effective programs
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Connecting the strategic initiatives to the SAP
Strategy Action Plans (SAPs)
HEALTH EDUCATION SAFETY
• A SAP influences what projects
a country program will pursue
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Connecting the strategic initiatives to the SAP
Strategy Action Plans (SAPs)
• A SAP influences what projects
a country program will pursue
• The OEF and measurement
initiatives are tools and/or
guidelines that support project
and program based decision
making
HEALTH EDUCATION SAFETY
OEF
Core indicators (What)
COMET
Indicator management system (Where)
MFA
Monitoring standards/best practices (How)