Usawa Agenda evaluation focuses on both immediate and longer-term outcomes of our programs (e.g. Foundational Learning and Numeracy Assessment, Secondary Schools Surveys, and Whole Child Development Assessment). Every major initiative has a baseline, mid-line, and endline evaluation. Unplanned evaluation exercises are introduced where necessary, such as when contextual shifts significantly affect implementation such that attaining outcomes may be hampered.

However, evaluators are well briefed on the baseline, inputs, processes, and outputs to reach valid conclusions. In relation to evaluating the policy impact of Usawa’s work, great caution is taken.

In some cases, it may influence global understanding and national discourse sooner than it influences policy. Some evaluations are done internally by MEL staff while others involve external experts.

There are three main evaluation points:

Context analysis and baseline surveys were done in late 2021 (Uwezo learning assessment, secondary schools survey, and ECDE survey). The findings of these surveys formed the baseline conditions for the implementation of our Strategy 2023-2026. In 2023, a baseline study on the current strategy was undertaken to set the starting points for the indicators against which progress during quarterly reviews, annual reflections, and mid and end-of-strategy evaluations are based. Data generated from these assessments was used to review and validate the proposed performance measurement framework, establish base indicators, and set targets.

We evaluate our initiatives midway. The evaluation report is utilized internally to improve on implementation and also shared with the board and funders to understand, and further support the progress towards achieving the strategic goals.

This is conducted at the end of any project to provide necessary information such as determining the level of achievement, what worked and what did not work, and what could be improved in the future. During evaluation, we track outcomes and impact at the national, sub-national, and global levels.