USAID’s ADS 203.3.5.1 outlines five data quality standards that it deems useful to manage for results and to add credibility to its reporting: validity, integrity, precision, reliability, and timeliness.
Furthermore, ADS 203.3.5.3.b details how data quality assessments can be conducted when data comes from secondary sources. When data are not under USAID control, data quality assessments should place an increased focus on the accuracy and apparent consistency of the data. Missions should either compare central office records with those at field sites or meet regularly with implementing partners to determine the accuracy and credibility of data reported in periodic reports.
General Recommendations
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Establish defined procedures to sample on a routine basis the accuracy of the contractor’s estimating methodologies and quality and accuracy of the underlying data that serves as the basis for reported results.
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Strengthen internal controls, such as providing training to its subimplementing partners, to decrease the risks of errors in the results data collected and reported at the operating level.
Source: AUDIT REPORT NO. 1-514-10-004-P March 12, 2010
The recommendations are derived from audit reports of the Office of the Inspector General. The source refers to the audit report, which is available on this site as part of the Audit Database Project: an educational tool for compliance with USAID regulations. Please see the disclaimer of this site before using recommendations.
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- Thorough Site Visits Not Conducted - ADS 202.3 - Performance Management Toolkit
- Data Quality Assessments Not Completed - ADS 203.3.5 - Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (Public Law 103–62) - Performance Management Toolkit
- Performance Management Plan Not Completed - ADS 203.3 - Performance Management Toolkit
- Performance Indicator Definitions Not Consistently Applied - ADS 203.3 - GAO Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government
- Reported Results Were Not Verified – ADS 203.3.5.1. - ADS 202.3.6.
- Partner Implementation Plans Lacked Vital Information – ADS 200.6
- Lack of a Current Performance Management Plan (PMP) - ADS 203.3.3
- Thorough Site Visits Were Not Conducted - ADS 202.3.4.6 - ADS 202.3.6
- Data Quality Assessments Were Not Completed - ADS 203.3.5.2 - Performance and Results Act of 1993
- Performance Management Plan Was Not Completed - ADS 203.3.3
- Performance Management Plans Were Not Approved - ADS 203.3.3
- Monitoring and Evaluation of Activities Was Weak - ADS 303.2(f) - ADS 203.3.5.2
- Some Results Reported by Implementing Partners Were Unsupported or Inaccurate - ADS 203.3.5.1. - ADS 203.3.5.2 - ADS 203.3.2.2
- Performance Targets Were Inconsistent - ADS 203.3.4.5 - ADS 203.3.2.2
- Impact Indicators Not Tracked - ADS 203.3.4
- Develop Indicators and Targets to Measure Progress and Achievement of Project Goals - Assistance Act of 1961, Section 621A, 22 U.S.C. 2381a - ADS 203.3.
- Verify and document reported results periodically for PMP - (ADS) 203.3.4 - ADS 596, Management’s Responsibility for Internal Control
- Performance Management Plan Needs to Be Improved - ADS 203.3.3 - ADS 203.3.4.6
- Verify Reported Data - ADS 303.2
- Management of Performance Data Needs to Be Improved - ADS 203.3.5.1