Measuring the Impact of Volunteers Cuso International presentation at VEGA Program Meeting December 2014

An international development, non- governmental organization working for 53 years to reduce poverty and inequalities We believe in local partners and local solutions: Capacity Building through the exchange of skills and expertise We currently deliver programming through field offices in over 22 countries globally Cuso International is…

2-3 thematic areas per country Programs align with national/local priorities Identify key local partners working with poor, vulnerable communities Provide capacity support based on needs assessment Work at local, regional and national level Implement capacity building activities Focus on sustainability How we work

Over 16,000 volunteers to serve overseas Average age is 46 Volunteers serve average 1-2 year placement Comprehensive selection and training processes Volunteers must meet required skills/experience determined by local partner needs Our Volunteers

, Cuso International is receiving core funding under the Canadian Government's Volunteer Cooperation Program through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD). The ultimate outcome indicator in our Performance Measurement Framework (PMF) is “percentage of developing country partner organizations reporting a Cuso International contribution to improved development results”; As we look to the next funding cycle with DFATD and diversify our funding sources, we are enhancing our Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) system to provide more evidence of impact from volunteers. Our Diasporas for Development project, a GDA with USAID and Accenture, has enabled us to pilot aspects of this enhancement. Our Context – Measuring Impact of Volunteers

Cuso International’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) system systematizes the way we capture o how our volunteers and other inputs have developed the capacity of our partners o how this increased capacity is enabling partners to have a positive impact on the lives of the poor and excluded men, women, girls and boys with which they work. The system provides a means of analysis at the country level, but also allows for comparison across the regions in which Cuso International works. MEAL

Before o Partners chosen in different areas according to parameters o Partners work towards independent goals o Volunteer placements are independent o Focus on measuring improved capacity of partner, resulting from volunteer placement After o Program areas developed based on needs assessment o Partners work together towards programmatic goals o Volunteer placements are connected together with specific outcomes o Focus on measuring improved delivery of services to partner beneficiaries, resulting from volunteer placement Programmatic Approach

Progress on MEAL Implementation Development of a Country Strategy and PMF for all Cuso International program offices Development of new templates, tools and schedule for MEAL Training workshops for partners and volunteers Collection of volunteer impact reports and data through the DfD project

PRIOR TO ARRIVAL Work Plan developed DECEMBER Quarterly Placement Progress Review (PPR) MARCH Quarterly Placement Progress Review JUNE Quarterly Placement Progress Review Annual Partnership Review (APR) SEPTEMBER Quarterly Placement Progress Review Program Area Review (PAR) Gender equality outcomes included in each step. Volunteers could be asked to be involved in the APR or PAR MEAL Tasks for the Volunteer

Work Plan Expected Contribution to Partnership Objectives Placement Objectives Planned Activities/Outputs Data collection PPR Work Plan to PPR

Planned activities & outputs: (List three highest-priority activities / outputs; use last row for others.) Progress since last report? Evidence that corresponding expected immediate / intermediate outcomes are being achieved? VOLUNTEER ASSESSMENT OF PLACEMENT PROGRESS (including contribution to gender equality outcomes) Activities and Outputs are the things the volunteer does in the placement— anything created, organized or facilitated. All activities and outputs should be linked to specific outcomes—how is the volunteer’s work making a contribution?. What the volunteer has accomplished since the last report. The PPR: Activities and Outputs vs Outcomes

A.Establish Work Plan (volunteer and partner) B.Initial Capacity Assessment of Partner (volunteer) C.Monthly Activity Reports (volunteer) D.Final Capacity Assessment of Partner (volunteer) E.End of Placement Report (volunteer) F.Partner reviews (partner) Diasporas for Development (DfD) – Volunteer and Partner M&E Diasporas for Development (DfD) – Volunteer and Partner M&E DfD: countries 40 volunteers Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainable Livelihoods DfD: countries 40 volunteers Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainable Livelihoods

DfD Data Objective Activity # of and Gender of Partners/ Colleagues Involved # and Gender of Attendees/Beneficiaries Products/Results Volunteer Reporting # Direct Beneficiaries Impacted by Service Provided by DfD Volunteer(s) Has the overall organizational capacity increased due to DfD volunteers? Have your direct beneficiaries obtained employment, started a business, improved their livelihoods or obtained internships/apprenticeships due to DfD volunteers? Partner Reporting Quarterly Reports to USAID / Accenture with aggregated data: 239,523 direct beneficiaries benefited from improved services through partners 6 partner organizations report 50% or greater increase in their capacity 174 beneficiaries have obtained employment Quarterly Reports to USAID / Accenture with aggregated data: 239,523 direct beneficiaries benefited from improved services through partners 6 partner organizations report 50% or greater increase in their capacity 174 beneficiaries have obtained employment

Thank you! Contact: K. Malaika Walton Senior Officer, Programs & Partnerships US th Street NW, Washington, DC Tel: | Cell: | Skype: k.malaika.walton

Addendum

o We want to understand our impact with data and evidence o We need to fully engage local partners in the evaluation system because results are achieved with and through them The WHY

The PMF captures the development programming of Cuso International in each country where we work Each sector in which we work has indicators to help to show results The PMF

Is data being collected for the indicators on which the Annual Partnership Review will be based? (As agreed in the monitoring & evaluation provisions of Partnership Plan. Data must be gender disaggregated, and include data for indicator relating to gender equality outcomes.) INDICATORData collection since last progress report:Data collection plans for next 3 months: PARTNERSHIP DATA COLLECTION Check out the indicators on the PMF – which ones relate to your placement? Pulling from the PMF

o What can be said or what data can be collected about the reach of the partner’s services with reference to the placement? o What can be said or what data can be collected about an increase in the quality of the partner’s work? o What can be said or what data can be collected about the difference the volunteer’s work is making? Thinking about Data