Conclusion of ISPI IDEAS Committee

Dear IDEAS Colleagues,

During the final meeting of the 2010-2011 ISPI Board of Directors in mid April, the decision was taken to conclude the work of several committees within ISPI. One of these is our IDEAS group. As I understand it, the board decided that with limited staff resources and the more narrow sector focus of our team, that it would probably be more in the interests of the Society for us to consider re-grouping as either a "special interest group (SIG)" or perhaps a virtual chapter like the Armed Forces.

I appreciate greatly all the energy and efforts that you have put forth as individuals during the past year since our charter was established last April. Although we did not accomplish all that we hoped, we were successful to define an international development research agenda that should continue independently. Although we only began to open some doors within USAID and other donor agencies, we were greatly successful to strengthen the awareness within ISPI membership of both the opportunities and challenges of working in this arena.

If there is an interest in transforming this group into another working form, I will certainly be involved. However, at this time, it will be necessary for someone else to take on the leadership responsibilities.

Once again, I appreciate the volunteer support that you all have provided me during this time, and look forward to continued collaboration in the years moving forward. I encourage each of you to consider other volunteer contributions to the Society as a means to further your development and build a professional network.

--

M. Mari Novak C.P.T.

Partner

KNO Worldwide

www.kno.cz/en

U.S. Foreign Assistance Dashboard

At the end of 2010, the U.S. government launched a website that helps examine, search, and track U.S. foreign aid investments across countries and sectors.

The “Foreign Assistance Dashboard" (click here) allows various development stakeholders explore and visualize data on U.S. foreign aid programs. The website allows for comparison of investments across aid-recipient nations, sectors, U.S. aid initiatives and year of investments. The Dashboard has already posted the OCO funding request of the State Department and USAID for fiscal 2012, as well as the U.S. government’s total OCO costs.

In an effort to provide more transparency, the online aid tool has been updated, and it now features explanations for overseas contingency operations.

According to State officials, future versions of the website will cover budget, financial and program data from all U.S. government agencies implementing foreign assistance. The dashboard currently includes the budget and appropriations data of the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development.

Aid-related investments of the Department of Defense, Peace Corps, Millennium Challenge Corp., Department of Agriculture, Department of Treasury, Department of Labor and Export-Import Bank of the U.S. are eyed to be included in the new platform.

The State Department is welcoming feedback from the aid community on the new website. Comments can be submitted via the “Contact Us” section.

1st Quarter Update

This is an update on committee progress prior to the ISPI conference next month.  It has been a relatively quiet since the new year, but there has been movement in several areas:

Research -  This effort is off to a good start with Jessica Morse (an intern through George Washington University under the direction of Ryan Watkins) having created a reporting template.  She has started analysis of publicly available reports.  Ryan has indicated that another grant has been submitted for two more interns.  If successful, this will allow for another graduate student to analyze reports and one to work on constructing a search-able online database.

Journal Issue -  It has been suggested that the IDEAS committee work with the Performance Improvement Journal editor to organize an issue focused directly on international development successes and challenges.   If approved, this would likely include 6 – 8 articles drawn from both committee members and other interested authors.  Lead time is close to a year on this (publication next Spring).  To move forward we need to have a “guest editor” to manage the process and also insure that we have interested authors to write up the paper.  PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST TO TAKE ON THE ROLE OF EDITOR FOR THIS or would like to submit a paper.

Orlando Conference Meeting -  For those of you coming to the ISPI conference in Orlando, I think it will be useful to find a time to meet during the event.  Make I ask you to please RSVP back to me if you will be at the conference – if no RSVP I will assume you will not be there.  Meanwhile, I will take a look at the schedule and try to find a time/place for an hour meeting.  

Chairperson Transition -  After 2 years leading the task force and committee start-up, I am handing the Chair over to Jim Ellsworth (with Board approval) to take on the 2011-2012 cycle.  Jim is looking for a deputy to help move things forward.  Please contact us if you have a potential interest in this role that could lead to the Chair position in the future.

In summary, I request three actions in response to this update:

 

*  Please indicate whether you would have an interest either to be an editor or contribute an article for a PIJ special issue.

 

*  Please contact Jim or me if you would like to move into the role of the Deputy Chair.

 

*  Please RSVP to me if you are attending the Orlando conference.

All the best to everyone.  Thanks for the wonderful support the past year as we have gotten this off the ground.  Mari

IDEAS Annual Report 2010 - 2011

TO: ISPI Board of Directors

Committee Name: IDEAS Influencing Donor Effectiveness

Chair: M Mari Novak

Deputy Chair: James Ellsworth

Committee Members:

• Brown, Matt

• Carew, Kevin

• Carr, Wendy

• Chevalier, Roger

• Coughlin, Patrick

• Duffy, Andrew

• Fickling, Susan

• Held, Larry

• Hill, Jim

• Honeyman, Steven

• Kelly, Steven

• Mayerchak, Martin

• Morse, Jessica (intern)

• Schwartz, George

• Spilka, Samantha

• Watkins, Ryan

• West-Meier, Maurya

• Wittkuhn, Klaus

Mission/Charter:

The ISPI board is promoting growth and expansion in the

International arena. The focus of the committee is to develop focus society energies to educate and influence the use of HPT among the government and NGO agencies involved in transitioning society development. This will include:

1. Position PI as a preferred methodology for achieving improvement of multilevel results and sustainability in global international development efforts.

2. Research and publicize PI effectiveness and success in the international development context and environment.

3. Engage donor agencies HQ and field leadership in using ISPI member expertise in designing and implementing programs.

4. Increase numbers of aid/development professionals (worldwide) as ISPI members and CPTs.

5. Develop ISPI and member capabilities in delivering PI results in developing and transitioning societies.

6. Market ISPI services in donor organizations and clients in HPT/HICD projects.

Summary of Accomplishments:

• Transition of TF into standing committee
• Expansion of committee to 20 people from 5
• Formation and action within 4 task areas
• Donor Agency HPT Value White Paper drafted
• Research agenda and plan completed / started
• Intern assigned (grant through George Washington University) and started on research
• Analysis of value of specialized certification started (ongoing)
• List of primary donor agencies / contacts started
• Introductory meetings with USAID management held
• IDEAS blog created and maintained (60 posts and reference sources)

Future Challenges:

• Fulfilling the research agenda (interns and volunteers)
• Finding entry points to agencies and educating key decision-makers (further identifying key donor staff)
• Integrating the research findings into the overall ISPI research program and portal

New Congressional Research Report on US Foreign Aid

Foreign Aid: an Intro to US Programs & Policy (link here)

Summary Extract

Foreign assistance is a fundamental component of the international affairs budget and is viewed by many as an essential instrument of U.S. foreign policy. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, foreign aid has increasingly been associated with national security policy. U.S. foreign aid policy has developed around three primary rationales: national security, commercial interests, and humanitarian concerns. 

These broad rationales are the basis for the myriad objectives of U.S. assistance, including promoting economic growth, reducing poverty, improving governance, expanding access to health care and education, promoting stability in conflictive regions, promoting human rights, strengthening allies, and curbing illicit drug production and trafficking.

In FY2010, U.S. foreign assistance totaled $39.4 billion, or 1.1% of total budget authority. In real terms, this was the highest level of U.S. foreign assistance since 1985. The U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, the primary administrators of U.S. foreign assistance, provided $10.38 billion in security-related assistance; $10.93 billion for health, education, and social welfare programs; $3.64 billion for governance programs; $5.21 for economic growth activities; and $4.98 in humanitarian assistance. Assistance can take the form of cash transfers, equipment and commodities, infrastructure, or technical assistance, and, in recent decades, is provided almost exclusively on a grant rather than loan basis.

Key foreign assistance trends in the past decade include growth in development and humanitarian aid, particularly global health programs, and, in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, increased security assistance directed toward U.S. allies in the anti-terrorism effort. 

In FY2010, Afghanistan, Israel, Pakistan, Egypt, and Haiti were the top recipients of U.S. aid, reflecting long-standing aid commitments to Israel and Egypt, the strategic significance of Afghanistan and Pakistan, and emergency earthquake-related assistance to Haiti. Africa is the top recipient region of U.S. aid, at 29%, with the Near East and South and Central Asia each receiving 26%.

This is a significant shift from FY2000, when the Near East received 60% of U.S. aid, and reflects significant increases in HIV/AIDS-related programs concentrated in Africa and the expansion of security assistance to Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

Other notable trends since FY2000 include the increasing role of the Department of Defense in foreign assistance and aid targeted at countries that have demonstrated a commitment to good governance, exemplified by the creation of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

This report provides an overview of the U.S. foreign assistance program by answering frequently asked questions on the subject. It is intended to provide a broad view of foreign assistance over time, and will be updated periodically. For more current information on foreign aid funding levels, see CRS reports on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs appropriations.

Conference on Program Evaluation

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOURTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE

ON PROGRAM EVALUATION

“DIPLOMACY, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEFENSE – EVALUATING FOREIGN POLICY SUCCESS”

June 7 – 8, 2011

CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS

Deadline for Proposals: February 18, 2011

The State Department will hold its Fourth Annual Conference on Program Evaluation at the George Marshall Conference Center of the Harry S Truman building in Washington, D.C. on June 7-8, 2011. The theme for the 2011 Conference is “Diplomacy, Development, and Defense – Working Together to Achieve Foreign Policy Goals.”

The conference will bring together evaluation practitioners; program managers at State, USAID and the Department of Defense; other government agencies; academicians and students; representatives from international affairs and foreign embassies; non-governmental organizations; and the private sector. The conference represents a unique opportunity to gather with colleagues around a shared interest in exploring the role of evaluation in supporting and advancing successful defense, diplomacy and development initiatives.

Call for Presentations. The Program Committee cordially invites proposals under four different themes/tracks:

· Diplomacy

· Development

· Defense

· Building Evaluation Capacity

Diplomacy/Development/ Defense. Proposals within each of these three tracks should address effective evaluation methods to assess the coordination and implementation of the contributions of diplomacy, development, and defense to optimize military and civilian institutions at home and abroad. Proposal abstracts should clearly indicate the theme/track for the proposal and have that theme/track as its principal focus but incorporate a “3D” framework to managing today’s global challenges. For example, proposals under the Diplomacy track might discuss approaches to evaluate diplomatic programs (e.g., democracy, rule of law, anti-crime activities, non-proliferation) and specific recommendations for more effective engagement of state and non-state partners to work with development and defense institutions to address security threats and help build stable economies.

Proposals from government and non-government entities are welcome. Organizations whose proposals are selected will be invited to present on their topic in an individual 45-minute workshop at the conference. Workshop presentations can take any of the following formats:

· Presentation with Discussion will consist of a 20-25 minute presentation of research, theory, or issue followed by questions and discussion involving the attendees.

· Demonstrations will present a useful evaluation concept or tool and provide attendees with a step-by-step explanation and, if possible, demonstration of the concept or tool.

· Panel presentations will involve 2 or more presenters who will offer coordinated presentations on a similar topic.

· Roundtables will include 15 minutes of presentation followed by 30 minutes of discussion and feedback. Roundtable presenters should bring targeted questions to pose to others at the table in order to learn from and with those attending.

· Think tanks will focus on a single issue or question. A chairperson first orients attendees to the issue/question, attendees then break into small groups to explore the issue/question and finally reconvene for a facilitated discussion with the chairperson.

Building Evaluation Capacity. Proposals for workshops under the “Building Evaluation Capacity” track may range in length from 45 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes. We ask that you specify in your proposal the preferred length. Topics to be addressed include, but are not limited to, the following:

· Planning for an Evaluation

· Identifying Your Strategic Research Questions

· Preparing a Statement of Work

· Effective Methods in Evaluating Diplomacy

· Evaluation for Program Managers

· Monitoring & Evaluation: Two Sides of the Same Coin

· Integrating Evaluation into Strategic Planning

· Using Evaluation Information

What to Include: Proposal abstracts should not exceed two pages in length. They should include a brief description of the proposed presentation; the names, titles, affiliations, and a brief bio of presenters; an idea of the presentation format (if known); email and telephone contact information; and any audio-visual requirements.

Deadline. The Call for Presentations for the Department of State’s Fourth Annual Conference on Program Evaluation will close on Friday, February 18, 2011. Everyone who submits during this process will be notified on the status of their proposals by Friday, March 11, 2011. If you have any questions please contact Stephanie Cabell via e-mail at cabellsd@state.gov or call 202-647-2557.

Proposal Submission. PROPOSALS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED ELECTRONICALLY. Send proposals for presentations via email attachment in either MSWord or .pdf format to: Evaluation@state.gov.

Donors Aim for More Efficiency, Coherence in 2011

Article published by Devex - website here. Register with Devex for project and job announcements.

Aid effectiveness appears to top the priorities of several donors this 2011, with the new year ushering in the operationalization of Germany’s new aid agency, as well as the formal launch of a new directorate within the European Union.

Germany’s Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, or GIZ, which began work Jan. 1, is the merger of three development agencies: the German Technical Cooperation, or GTZ, German Development Service, or DED, and Inwent. GIZ is the result of one of the most sweeping, and swift, reforms seen in German development cooperation in recent years.

GIZ is placed under the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, or BMZ, giving the federal government complete control over German development aid operations once again. The creation of GIZ is likely to make German aid more efficient, but, as some critics note, not necessarily more effective.

Foremost among critics’ concerns is the vaguenesss of its organizational structure, which the German government has yet to unveil. Questions also abound on how the merger will affect staffing and procurement. While the German government gave assurances that there will be no layoffs following the merger of the three agencies, fears over staff shifts are still rife.

Meanwhile, the new Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation – EuropeAid, or DG DEVCO, became operational Jan. 3. The European Commission merged DG EuropeAid and DG Development following an announcement in October 2010. The goal of the merger, according to the commission, is to create a single voice for the EU on development and cooperation. Fokion Fotiadis will head the directorate. Its new structure is expected to be fully in place by April 2011.

The merger of the two directorates is part of the transitional measures on development that the EU is undertaking. Some former staff members of DG Development were among the 1,643 permanent officials from the European Commission and Council of Ministers who were transferred to the newly created European External Action Service on Jan. 1.

This year, more changes to national and international aid structures can be expected. The U.K. will release the findings of its sweeping multilateral and bilateral aid review in February and March 2011, while the U.S. is set to implement reforms outlined in the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review.

The development community is waiting to see whether or not these new and expected reforms will make aid more effective and efficient.

Read more development news.