Implementation Tip for USAID Partners on how you can use evidence to inform all stages of the project cycle. 

This Guide was developed to help program designers who work in any sector to envision and implement with CSO partners the CD support that will strengthen local systems and help CSOs achieve their missions. Program designers from both implementing partner and donor organizations who are working to build the capacity of CSOs can use this Guide to better distinguish among CD approaches, the processes involved in each, and potential impact of a chosen approach. By identifying organizational characteristics and areas of potential capacity growth, this Guide will enable program designers to better select the intervention necessary to achieve their desired goal. Although this Guide is designed to benefit CSOs, the approaches outlined can also be applied to community based organizations (CBOs) or local for-profit organizations. The approaches included in this Guide are designed to increase capacity regardless of the actual knowledge or skill targeted.  

Tips paper explains what key informant interviews are, when it is appropriate to use them and the steps in conducting the interviews.

Tips paper describes what focus group interviews are, when they are useful and how to conduct one.

Tips paper provides practical advice about customer service assessments—when they should be conducted, what methods may be used and what information can be usefully included.

Handbook describes how to analyze focus group findings in developing countries to gather practical information for planning and/or improving programs. It is divided into two sections; the first covers the analysis process; the second features a case study from an AED project in Zambia and a series of hands-on exercises.

USAID document describes direct observation techniques, their advantages and disadvantages and when to use them.

USAID document describes what key informant interviews are and when and how to conduct them.

USAID document provides guidance for evaluators on the structure, content and style of evaluation reports; offers USAID officials, who commission evaluations, ideas on how to define the main deliverable; and provides USAID officials with guidance on reviewing and approving evaluation reports.