TY - RPRT TI - Evidence-led adaptive programming: Lessons from MUVA AU - Sharp, Samuel AU - Riemenschneider, Nils AU - Selvester, Kerry AB - Calls for more ‘adaptive programming’ have been prominent in international development practice for over a decade. Learning-by-doing is a crucial element of this, but programmes have often found it challenging to become more learning oriented. Establishing some form of reflective practice, against countervailing incentives, is difficult. Incorporating data collection processes that generate useful, timely and practical information to inform these reflections is even more so.This paper explores MUVA - an adaptive female economic empowerment programme in Mozambique. MUVA, we suggest, is atypically evidence-led. It combines systematic, inclusive reflective practice with extensive real-time data collection. We describe the fundamental features of MUVA’s monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) approach that supported this. One, how data collection and analysis are synchronised with set cycles for learning and adapting projects. Two, how MEL systems are designed to prioritise actionable learning, with data collection oriented more to the needs of implementing staff than to the reporting requirements of funders.This approach was enabled by building collective ownership over the programme’s objectives and the purpose of MEL from the outset. Implementers are asked about their motivations, and these are related to the programme’s Theory of Change. The evidence culture is supported by the proximity of MEL staff to implementing staff; and through structuring upwards accountability to funders around justifying evidence-based adaptations instead of reporting on more narrow indicators. We conclude by considering the relevance, or not, of MUVA’s approach to programmes in other contexts or issue areas trying to replicate a similarly evidence-informed approach to adaptive management. Key messages Learning-by-doing is essential to adaptive programming, but it can be challenging to establish data collection processes that generate useful, timely and practical information. MUVA – a female economic empowerment programme in Mozambique – has an atypically evidence-led adaptive management approach. This has two fundamental features. One, data collection and analysis are synchronised with set cycles for learning and adapting projects. Two, data collection is oriented more to the needs of implementing staff than to the reporting requirements of funders. Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) systems are designed to prioritise actionable learning. This approach was enabled by building collective ownership over the programme’s objectives and the purpose of MEL from the outset. Implementers are asked about their motivations, and these are related to the programme’s Theory of Change. The evidence culture is supported by the proximity of MEL staff to implementing staff; and through structuring upwards accountability to funders around justifying evidence-based adaptations instead of reporting on more narrow indicators. CY - London DA - 2022/06/29/ PY - 2022 LA - en-gb PB - ODI ST - Evidence-led adaptive programming UR - https://odi.org/en/publications/evidence-led-adaptive-programming-lessons-from-muva/ Y2 - 2022/07/04/10:45:09 ER - TY - RPRT TI - The Difference Learning Makes - Factors that enable and inhibit adaptive programming AU - Gray, Stephen AU - Carl, Andy AB - Executive Summary When Christian Aid (CA) Ireland devised its multi-country and multi-year Irish Aid funded Programme Grant II (2017-2022), they opted to move away from a linear programme management approach and to explore an adaptive one. Across seven countries: Angola, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe, CA and partner organisations support marginalised communities to realise their rights, reduce violence and address gender inequality. Since 2019, Adapt Peacebuilding has accompanied CA Ireland, CA country teams and partner organisations as they experimented with using a deliberate adaptive approach. The authors were also asked to follow up on an initial study by CA Ireland and Overseas Development Institute in 2018, which described the rationale for adopting this new approach and included early lessons from its first year of implementation. The aim of this study is to help deepen CA Ireland, CA country teams’ and partners’ understanding of (a) whether their application of adaptive programming has resulted in better development outcomes, and (b) how they can better understand the factors that enabled or inhibited the effectiveness of using this approach. Over the past three years, this study has found evidence and multiple examples that show adaptive programming contributed to better development outcomes. The main reasons cited were that these were made possible both from improvements to programming strategies based on proactive reflection and learning, as well as those that stem from the reactive capacity of adaptive programmes to change course in response to unanticipated changes in operating conditions. This study found that adaptive programming has enabled better development practice where organisations are enhancing their skills to better respond and be flexible to contextual challenges. 72% of partners surveyed described adaptive programming as the most useful approach to programme management that they have used. The programme approach has meant that CA and partner staff were better able to explore the significance of change in the context and their contributions to them. It also enabled spaces for meaningful engagement with communities in learning and programme planning processes and encouraged opportunities for experimentation in programming. The study also found that adaptive programming has supported flexible delivery. This led to better outcomes that would not have been possible were the programme not able to make flexible adjustments. The main focus has been the analysis of nine factors that can determine the effectiveness and impact (or otherwise) of using an adaptive approach, flagging important issues for understanding. These factors are identified as: 1) Leadership; 2) Organisational culture; 3) Conceptual understanding; 4) Staff capacities; 5) Partnership approaches; 6) Participation; 7) Methods and tools; 8) Administrative procedures; and 9) The operating context. Together these can provide an analytical framework for assessing an organisation’s ‘adaptive scope’, which can be used as a tool for better understanding an organisation’s potential to generate improved development outcomes via adaptive programming and how to strengthen them. The study concludes with several recommendations for CA Ireland, all of which have relevance for a broader community of donors and implementing organisations interested in the potential of adaptive programming. CY - London DA - 2022/02// PY - 2022 PB - Christian Aid UR - https://www.christianaid.ie/sites/default/files/2022-12/the-difference-learning-makes-factors-that-enable-and-inhibit-adaptive-programming.pdf Y2 - 2024/01/29/00:00:00 ER - TY - RPRT TI - Adaptive Management: Learning and Action Approaches to Implementing Norms-shifting Interventions AU - McLarnon, Courtney AU - Gayles, Jennifer AU - Deepan, Prabu AB - What Passages has Learned about Adaptive Management: • Be reflective about information that is collected and create a culture of learning. • Be systematic about establishing monitoring and learning systems. • Be strategic about data sources and analysis, prioritizing areas for learning and addressing issues raised. • Be inclusive about information collection: who is collecting what, how, and how is it being used. CY - Washington DC DA - 2021/01// PY - 2021 DP - DOI.org (Crossref) LA - en PB - USAID / Passages UR - https://prevention-collaborative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IRH_2021_Adaptive-Management.pdf Y2 - 2022/10/24/10:08:29 ER - TY - RPRT TI - Inspiring Radically Better Futures - Evidence and Hope for Impact at Scale in a Time of Crisis AU - Guijt, Irene AU - Mayne, Ruth AB - The world faces converging crises of health, climate, gender and racial injustice and extreme economic inequality. The calls are mounting to ‘build back better’ to create more inclusive, caring and environmentally sustainable futures. But what evidence exists that this is possible? The Inspiring Better Futures case study series investigates whether radical change at scale is possible and how it was achieved. This paper synthesises 18 cases which show that people are already successfully building better futures, benefitting millions of people, even against the odds in some of the world’s toughest contexts in lower-income countries. Together they offer hope that transformative change and radically better futures after the pandemic are within reach. CY - London DA - 2020/10// PY - 2020 DP - Zotero SP - 53 LA - en PB - Oxfam ER - TY - RPRT TI - Adaptation in practice: lessons from teenage pregnancy programmes in Sierra Leone AU - Castillejo, Clare AU - Buell, Stephanie AB - A discussion of initial learning emerging from the SLRC ’Adaptive approaches to reducing teenage pregnancy in Sierra Leone’ action research project. CY - London DA - 2020/03// PY - 2020 LA - en M3 - Briefing paper PB - ODI ST - Adaptation in practice UR - https://www.odi.org/publications/16732-adaptation-practice-lessons-teenage-pregnancy-programmes-sierra-leone Y2 - 2021/02/18/13:36:23 ER - TY - RPRT TI - Politically informed approaches to gender in fragile and conflict-affected settings AU - Castillejo, Clare AU - Domingo, Pilar AU - George, Rachel AU - O’Connell, Shannon AB - This report summarises the discussions at a meeting held in September 2019 of a group of global development research and policy experts and practitioners, convened by ODI and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, to share experiences and knowledge, reflect on what we already know about working politically on gender in fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCAS), and identify what further evidence would be useful. Key messages: - It is important to identify, document and learn from politically informed and adaptive ways of working in practice on gender in FCAS. - Different analytical and monitoring, evaluation and learning tools are required for politically informed programming on gender. These should be embedded within programme teams and processes, and be both gender-responsive and responsive to the political economy context. - There is a need for more politically smart use of quantitative and qualitative data in order to identify plausible entry points and ways of working on gender in FCAS. This should include increasing the capacity of programme staff to use data to inform, adapt and correct programmes. - Staff promoting politically informed work on gender equality are often isolated, with little opportunity to share experiences or learn from others. Platforms should therefore be created to share experience and knowledge, and to bring together donors and implementers involved in this work. CY - London DA - 2020/03// PY - 2020 DP - Zotero SP - 16 LA - en M3 - Working Paper PB - ODI SN - 578 ER - TY - RPRT TI - Mainsreaming gender in an adaptive, politically smart governance programme - Lessons from Institutions for Inclusive Development in Tanzania AU - Laws, Ed AB - • This paper looks at the experience of gender mainstreaming in the Institutions for Inclusive Development (I4ID) programme – an adaptive, politically smart governance programme in Tanzania. • When development programmes try to engage with political stakeholders and align with the priorities of wider coalitions there is a danger that gender equality is de-prioritised. • It is important that formal political economy analysis, as well as other data collection, analysis and consultation exercises, are gender-sensitive. Teams should also look for ways to make gendered political and power analysis part of the everyday routine practice of staff. • Working politically and adaptively to advance gender objectives calls for staff with a specific skillset, as well as links to appropriate networks and political stakeholders. It also implies establishing checks and incentives to hold staff and partners accountable for gender objectives, and strong and consistent messaging from team leaders. CY - London DA - 2020/03// PY - 2020 PB - ODI UR - https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/resource-documents/202002_odi_i4id_briefing_note_gender_web.pdf Y2 - 2021/02/18/13:28:43 ER - TY - RPRT TI - Using adaptive development to support feminist action AU - O’Neil, Tam AB - This paper looks at how adaptive development is being applied by gender programmes and argues that gender and adaptive development communities have much to offer each other. CY - London DA - 2016/03// PY - 2016 PB - ODI UR - http://www.odi.org/publications/10370-using-adaptive-development-support-feminist-action Y2 - 2016/04/20/10:40:01 ER - TY - RPRT TI - A problem-focused approach to violence against women: The political-economy of justice and security programming AU - Denney, Lisa AU - Domingo, Pilar AB - The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women ended its 57th session on 15 March 2013 with an outcome document affirming the importance of eliminating violence against women (VAW). The Commission was unable, however, to achieve consensus on a global action plan. The negative reaction of some UN member states to an action plan is a worrying reminder of ongoing resistance to reform. These persistent challenges highlight the continuing struggle to gain a serious global commitment to address VAW and recognise it as a breach of women’s fundamental human rights. Engaging in this struggle, many donors have put addressing VAW generally, and in fragile and conflictaffected situations (FCAS) specifically, at the top of the development agenda and made it a major priority of international policy. But in practice progress remains difficult, not least due to entrenched resistance and discriminatory socio-political norms and gender relations that persist in many societies. The problem of violence against women therefore needs to be addressed from the perspective of the concrete socio-political and cultural conditions that shape its particular features and the relevant context specific dynamics of conflict, post-conflict patterns of violence and fragility. International efforts to support reform in the area of VAW in FCAS need to go beyond prescriptive approaches that focus on what access to protection, justice and redress should look like. We propose here an approach that engages with the specificities of the problem – paying attention to context, and the concrete political-economy dynamics of the drivers of VAW – and takes account of the real options that DA - 2013/03// PY - 2013 SP - 12 PB - ODI UR - https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/8325.pdf Y2 - 2018/12/10/00:00:00 ER -