Indicators and targets are important tools for assessing performance in USAID’s results-oriented management philosophy. Indicators, which can be either quantitative or qualitative, are used to measure actual results of USAID activities, whereas targets indicate expected results.
Targets orient stakeholders to the tasks to be accomplished and motivate individuals involved in a program to do their best to ensure the targets are met. Once a program is under way, targets serve as guideposts for judging whether progress is occurring as scheduled and at the levels originally envisioned.
USAID’s Automated Directives System (ADS) 203.3.4.2 states that a good performance indicator should be objective, useful for management, and attributable to USAID or U.S. Government efforts, while ADS 203.3.4.5 states that missions should set performance targets that are ambitious, but can realistically be achieved within the stated timeframe and with the available resources.
General Recommendations
- Implement a standard annual work plan to effectively report and evaluate program performance.
Source: AUDIT REPORT NO. 4-674-11-009-P JULY 20, 2011
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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- Indicators to Measure Higher Level Results - ADS 203.3
- Program’s Indicators, Targets and Goals Should Be Revisited - ADS 203
- Reported Results Did Not Meet Data Quality Standards - ADS 203.3
- Baseline Data, Indicators, and Targets Needed to Measure Progress and Achievement - ADS Chapter 203
- Indicators Do Not Effectively Measure Program Impact - ADS 203.3.2.2 - ADS 200.2.b
- Performance Data Lacked Support - ADS 203.3
- Setting Performance Targets for Partners - ADS 203
- 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