Programmatic Practices

These include various components/aspects/activities of the program life-cycle from the planning stage to the implementation stage. For instance:

• Studying the existing solutions that address the program’s gaps and needs

• Having internal team meetings to design the program

• Or day-to-day activities like daily team meetings and reporting

Such practices also comprise of effective tools, methodologies, frameworks, systems & processes, ways of working that have been used for the program.

Frameworks

In the development sector, frameworks include various approaches/analytical tools that are used to design, implement and evaluate a program that ‘adds value’ or leads to ‘meaningful change’ to systemic problems. Some of the commonly used frameworks include:

• Systems Mapping

• Developing a theory of change for the program

• Human-centered design

• Right-based frameworks etc.

Project Methodologies

These are usually used in relation to the management of the project. This can include mapping the targets, the strategies to meet the targets, the activities to achieve the desired results etc.

Quantitative data

Quantitative data is data expressing a certain quantity, amount or range. For instance, in the development sector, we often map how many people are being impacted by an intervention on-ground or through an online platform, the percentage increase in the level of awareness of the participants of a program etc.

Qualitative data

Qualitative data is information that cannot be counted, measured or easily expressed using numbers but is still an indicator of impact. For instance, changes in the attitude of men toward gender cannot be documented in number but can be done through the verbal accounts from the person, observations noted in the monitoring reports etc.

MEL

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning – These are frameworks/tools used at various points in the program lifecycle to allow evaluators to evaluate and improve programs by monitoring comprehensively, evaluating selectively, and learning continuously to support their initiatives. This can include capacity building of the team for learning, report formats for monitoring and documentation, evaluation studies carried out at the mid-point and end-point of the program etc.

Catalytic

Something that demonstrates the potential to create rapid direct/indirect change across interventions  

Spike Factor

An outcome of a programmatic practice that can be considered as positive/beneficial/advantageous and which can indicate a possible Promising Practice.