The Multiple Dimensions of Adaptive Management – Examples from Diverse Contexts

• In Event: Data use for improved programming and sustainable outcomes: case studies in applying the collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) approach

Proposal

The increasing focus on Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA)-approaches and adaptive management in international development project implementation emphasizes more dynamic, purposeful monitoring and measurement. The field is seeing increasing application of more diverse approaches to project learning and adaptation.
This is an exciting time to explore methods from a variety of disciplines and practice areas. RTI will present its own recent experience integrating traditional monitoring and evaluation (M&E) with dynamic project learning and lean data approaches to adaptive project implementation. We will share findings from programs in three countries: Kenya, Uganda, and the Philippines.
The Kenyan example will focus on qualitative research from a national reading program monitoring dashboard that sheds light on how formative program implementation data are actually being used in ministry decision making and resource allocation.
For Uganda, we will share examples of how a common learning agenda and action research have allowed M&E teams to become program animators of strategic, cross-project and education sector learning. This effort has led to improvements in program efficiency and effectiveness, by helping project teams “connect the dots” to increase learning and promote action based on that learning. The process included action research which included the Ministry of Education and project technical teams, regular “pause and reflect” sessions, implementing regular portfolio reviews and after action debriefs, and by asking the hard questions. The approach brought energy and awareness to important programmatic issues and, ultimately, action to better ensure more children are reading.
Finally, we will also share examples from the Philippines (and elsewhere), on how rapid user testing approaches from the software development field have helped calibrate teacher training workshops and teacher support resources. Such approaches included making use of existing data to answer new questions and using lean data collection approaches over the course of traditional project activities to inform iterative project adaptation and improvement.

Authors

• Carmen Strigel, RTI International

• Tracy Brunette, RTI International