The Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED) organised a Seminar on trends and results in private sector development (PSD), in January 2012. It focused on what we are learning about results – since those are now so much in demand: how to work out the logic of the programme, how to monitor progress and how to estimate achievements. Presentations focused in part on the DCED Standard for results measurement. There were around 100 participants from 32 countries, representing 54 different organisations, field programmes and governments. Speakers presented the practical experience of major PSD programmes in Asia, Africa and Latin America – including value chain development, trade promotion, business environment reform programmes and challenge funds.
We made a number of videos to capture some of the key messages that came out, based on interviews with participants and presenters. They also aim to create a discussion around the issues highlighted, and all comments are very welcome.
In the first video, Peter Tschumi, myself, Aly Miehlbradt and Jim Tomecko introduce the DCED Standard.
Despite the great interest in PSD results, relatively little information is available on what is being achieved. Manypractitioners believe that they are achieving great results, but lack a credible channel through which to communicate them. The DCED Standard therefore provides a practical framework, whereby programmes can measure their own results according to good practice. The Standard builds on the results chain, or logic, of the individual programme – the process of clarifying the results chain alone can deliver substantial improvements in effectiveness. Credibility is assured through external audit of the measurement process
Peter Tschumi, Senior Policy Advisor for the Employment and Income Division, SDC, and member of the DCED Results Measurement Working Group, outlines how the Standard was conceived in 2007 as a response to the lack of effective results measurement in the field. I, as Coordinator of the DCED Secretariat, develop on this, and the role of the Standard in providing a practical framework on results measurement for the various organisations involved in PSD. Aly Miehlbradt goes on to set out the elements of the Standard:
- Articulating the Results Chain
- Defining indicators of change
- Measuring changes in indicators
- Estimating attributable changes
- Capturing wider changes in the system or market
- Tracking programme costs
- Reporting results
- Managing the system for results measurement
Jim Tomecko lastly highlights the importance of managing measurement and of considering the logic of the intervention. As he says, ““If you don’t know where you’re going, you can’t complain about where you end up.”
To find out more, watch following videos on current results measurement and application of the DCED Standard:
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Agriculture in Nigeria Sadia Ahmed introduces how PrOpCom, a DFID-funded programme to reduce poverty in Nigeria through making agricultural markets work better for the poor (M4P), measures interventions in fertilizer value chains. The Standard provided a framework for good monitoring practice, and led to greater understanding of the fertiliser market and interventions. |
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Trade in East Africa Donna Loveridge reports on how the multi-country TradeMark East Africabusiness environment reform programme has reviewed its logframe through result chains and ‘unpacking the middle’ between programme goals and outcomes. |
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Making Markets Work for the Poor in Bangladesh Markus Kupper and Nabanita Sen lastly introduce Katalyst, a large M4P multi-donor programme to increase incomes in Bangladesh by increasing the competitiveness of farmers and small businesses. Markus Kupper notes how the compliance with the DCED Standard (including a formal audit of their monitoring system) has encouraged senior management and donors to commit to results measurement methodologies. |
The next set of videos will review how other actors, such as donors and challenge funds, view results measurement and next steps for the DCED Standard. They can be viewed on DCED’s Facebook, Twitter or YouTube accounts.
