The Program Cycle is USAID’s operational model for planning, implementing, assessing, and adapting development programming in a given region or country. The Program Cycle is how policy gets translated into action and how USAID supports countries on their Journey to Self-Reliance.
USAID Learning Lab hosts three toolkits to provide USAID staff and implementing partners with a curated set of resources to plan, implement and integrate monitoring, evaluating and CLA practices into their programs.
Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) is a framework and a set of practices for strengthening organizational learning and the conditions that enable it throughout the Program Cycle to improve our development effectiveness, and support countries on their Journey to Self-Reliance.
Thinking and Working Politically: A Guide for Practitioners provides an overview of the process and methodology for applied PEA in use within USAID, and guidance on how PEA can support a broader effort around politically-informed programming. This group of... read more
This How-To Note describes considerations for developing a project logic model, as well as steps for thinking through a more complete theory of change (TOC). A logic model is a graphic or visual depiction that summarizes key elements of a TOC, and it is often used as a... read more
The new FAA 118/119 Tropical Forest and Biodiversity Analysis Best Practices Guide provides practical "how-to" advice for USAID staff and contractors conducting the analysis. Sections 118 and 119 of the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) mandate an analysis at the country... read more
Each activity is required to have an Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Plan to support management of the activity and to inform USAID and the implementing partner about whether and how an activity is making progress toward stated results. This How-To Note... read more
This How-To Note addresses key issues for USAID staff who are developing a Statement of Work for an externally contracted evaluation. Following these practices will help to establish clear expectations and requirements for the evaluation team and clearly communicate what... read more