International Development and Programs (Development Work) - International Development and Programs (Development Work)

USAID’s results-oriented approach to management calls for its managers to consider performance information when making decisions. Sound decisions require accurate, current, and reliable information, and the benefits of USAID’s results-oriented approach depend substantially on the quality of performance information available (13 ADS 203.3.5.1).

ADS 202.3.6.states that monitoring the quality and timeliness of implementing partners’ outputs is a major task of cognizant technical officers (now referred to as contracting officer’s technical representatives) and assistance objective teams. It specifies that problems in output quality provide an early warning that results may not be achieved as planned and that early action in response to problems is essential in managing for results.

To assess the quality of partner data, USAID’s Performance Management Toolkit (Toolkit) recommends periodically sampling and reviewing partner data to ensure completeness, accuracy, and consistency and determining whether the partner appropriately addressed known data quality problems. The Toolkit also recommends developing a simple site-visit guide, covering all topics of interest, to be used systematically by teams visiting all sites.

Having accurate and reliable data is a key element in making well-reasoned management decisions. Without knowing the strengths and weaknesses of reported data, USAID officials cannot adequately determine the extent to which such data can be trusted in making sound management decisions.

General Recommendations

• Establish written procedures to ensure that site visits provide for data quality testing and adequate documentation of the test results.

Source: AUDIT REPORT NO. 4-663-10-003-P  MARCH 30, 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.