INFORM PROGRAMS AND POLICY

Evidence for better programs and policy decisions.

Good programs and policies begin with a clear understanding of the problem, the people affected, the environment in which change needs to happen and the options available. ClerkMaster’s research helps organizations generate evidence for program design, policy decisions, advocacy and resource allocation.

 

EVIDENCE FOR DECISION MAKING

Before designing a program or policy, understand the problem you are trying to solve.

Organizations often need to make important decisions before an intervention begins.

They may need to understand the scale and nature of a problem, identify who is affected, assess existing resources, determine whether a proposed intervention is feasible, understand policy and regulatory conditions, or identify how stakeholders view an issue.

Research can provide the evidence needed to inform those decisions.

ClerkMaster’s Inform Programs & Policy research focuses on generating evidence for better program design, policy decisions, advocacy and resource allocation.

WHAT THIS RESEARCH HELPS ORGANIZATIONS UNDERSTAND

Understand the problem before deciding what to do about it.

POLICY AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT

What do existing policies, regulations and institutional frameworks mean for the people and programs involved?

Policy Analysis & Policy Research examines:

  • Policies
  • Regulations
  • Institutional frameworks
  • Their implications for programs
  • Their implications for populations
  • Their implications for markets

NEEDS AND SITUATION

Who needs what, how significant is the problem, and where are the gaps?

Needs Assessments & Situation Analysis examine:

  • Who needs what
  • Magnitude of the problem
  • Nature of the problem
  • Existing resources
  • Priority intervention gaps

FEASIBILITY

Is the proposed intervention relevant, acceptable, feasible and sustainable?

Program Feasibility Studies assess whether proposed interventions are:

  • Relevant
  • Acceptable
  • Operationally feasible
  • Sustainable

before major investment.

FORMATIVE UNDERSTANDING

What do we need to understand before designing the intervention?

Formative Research generates evidence during program design to understand:

  • Audiences
  • Context
  • Barriers
  • Appropriate intervention approaches

 

PROGRAM DESIGN AND THEORY OF CHANGE

How is the intervention expected to create change?

Program Design & Theory of Change Studies establish:

  • Causal pathways
  • Assumptions
  • Intervention logic
  • Results chains
  • Indicators

ADVOCACY

What evidence can strengthen policy engagement and advocacy?

Advocacy Research generates credible evidence for:

  • Policy engagement
  • Advocacy messaging
  • Stakeholder mobilisation

NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND SITUATION ANALYSIS

Who needs what and where are the gaps?

01

WHO?

Who is affected?

02

WHAT?

What do they need?

03

HOW MUCH?

What is the scale and nature of the problem?

04

WHAT IS MISSING?

Where are the intervention gaps?

POLICY AND REGULATORY ANALYSIS

Understand the policy environment before acting within it.

Policy and regulatory environments can shape programs, populations and markets. Policy Analysis & Policy Research examines policies, regulations and institutional frameworks and their implications for programs, populations and markets.

 

POLICY

What does the policy say?

IMPLEMENTATION

How is it being applied?

IMPLEMENTATION

What does it mean for the people, programs or markets involved?

PROGRAMS FEASIBILITY

Before major investment, understand whether the intervention can work in its intended context.

Program Feasibility Studies help determine whether proposed interventions are:

  • Relevant
  • Acceptable
  • Operationally feasible
  • Sustainable

before major investment.

FORMATIVE RESEARCH

Design the intervention around the people and context it is intended to serve.

Formative Research generates evidence during program design to understand audiences, context, barriers and appropriate intervention approaches.

 

AUDIENCE

CONTEXT

BARRIERS

INTERVENTION APPROACH

PROGRAM DESIGN AND THEORY OF CHANGE

Make the pathway from intervention to impact clear.

Program Design & Theory of Change Studies establish the causal pathways, assumptions, intervention logic, results chains and indicators underlying a program.

ADVOCACY RESEARCH

Turn evidence into credible support for policy engagement.

Advocacy Research generates credible evidence that can support:

  • Policy engagement
  • Advocacy messaging
  • Stakeholder mobilisation

EVIDENCE

MESSAGE

ENGAGEMENT

MOBILISATION

WHAT QUESTION THIS RESEARCH HELPS ANSWER

What do you need to know before making the decision?

NEED

What problem are we actually trying to address?

PEOPLE

Who is affected, and what do they need?

CONTEXT

What social, economic, institutional or market conditions shape the issue?

POLICY

What policies and regulations affect the situation?

FEASIBILITY

Is the proposed intervention relevant, acceptable and feasible?

DESIGN

What intervention approach is appropriate for this context?

LOGIC

How is the proposed intervention expected to create change?

ADVOCACY

What evidence is needed to strengthen engagement and influence?

HOW WE INVESTIGATE

Different decisions require different evidence.

DESK / LITERATURE REVIEW

What does existing evidence already tell us?

Synthesise existing policies, research, administrative information and program evidence.

POLICY AND REGULATORY ANALYSIS

What do policies, regulations and provisions mean in practice?

Systematically examine legislation, regulations, policy provisions, implementation gaps and implications.

KIIs / EXPERT INTERVIEWS

What do policymakers, implementers and specialists know?

Obtain evidence from policymakers, implementers, specialists and institutional decision-makers.

 

FGDs & COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONS

How do beneficiaries and communities view the issue?

Capture community and beneficiary perspectives on policies, programs and unmet needs.

PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH

How can affected populations contribute to identifying the problem and solutions?

Enable affected populations and stakeholders to contribute directly to problem identification and solution development.

THEORY OF CHANGE WORKSHOPS

What pathway connects the intervention to the intended outcomes?

Facilitate stakeholder development or validation of program pathways, assumptions and intended outcomes.

SCENARIO ANALYSIS

What could different program or policy options mean?

Assess alternative program or policy options and their likely implications.

 

WHEN TO USE EACH APPROACH

Start with the question. Then choose the evidence.

QUESTION

  • What is already known?
  • What is the policy environment?
  • What do experts and decision-makers think?
  • What do communities and beneficiaries think?
  • What do affected populations identify as priorities?
  • How should the intervention create change?
  • What could different options mean?

POTENTIAL APPROACH

  • Desk / Literature Review
  • Policy & Regulatory Analysis
  • KIIs / Expert Interviews
  • FGDs & Community Consultations
  • Participatory Research
  • Theory of Change Workshops
  • Scenario Analysis

FROM PROBLEM TO PROGRAM DESIGN

Move from understanding the problem to defining the response.

Better programs and policy decisions begin with better evidence.

ClerkMaster helps organizations understand needs, assess feasibility, examine policy and regulatory environments, strengthen program design and generate evidence for advocacy and resource allocation.

What do you need to understand before designing the response?

Let’s identify the evidence needed to understand the problem, assess the options and inform the decision.

 

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