Learning Matters

Agency Learning and Evidence Month
is coming to a screen near you in April 2023! 

Agency Learning and Evidence Month is a USAID event showcasing progress on the USAID Agency Learning Agenda and celebrating agency-wide evidence use. This event will ensure that evidence from USAID, our partners, and key development stakeholders reaches broad audiences to inform international development policy, practice, and principles. A series of virtual sessions will be delivered in interactive online formats to cover each of the nine Agency Learning Agenda questions!

What topics will be covered during USAID’s Agency Learning and Evidence Month 2023?
USAID’s Agency Learning Agenda includes a set of nine questions, which cut across USAID’s policy priorities and respond to critical Agency evidence needs. USAID’s 2022-2026 Agency Learning Agenda features questions on:

1. Operational Effectiveness
2. Resilience to Shocks
3. Climate Change
4. Anti-Corruption
5. Migration and Forced Displacement
6. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
7. Affirmative Development
8. Locally-Led Development, and 
9. Partnering for Sustainability. 

How can I participate in Agency Learning and Evidence Month? 

1. Agency Learning and Evidence Month will include a mix of sessions open to the public and sessions for Agency staff. Keep an eye out for sessions of interest on the event page.
2. Many of you might already be working on activities, projects, or strategies that generate evidence and learning under one or more of the Agency’s nine questions. Share your own experiences on Agency Learning and Evidence by submitting a blog to Learning Lab!
3. Reach out to ala@usaid.gov, with other thoughts and ideas!

Check out the event page for more information and a list of core Agency Learning and Evidence Month sessions.

• Join IDEAL and Mercy Corps for a webinar to introduce Mercy Corps' “Food for Thought: A Pause & Reflect Toolkit for Emergency Food Security Programs.” The toolkit builds on USAID’s current CLA framework and offers guidance, resources, templates, and advice on how to implement a one-day pause and reflect session for emergency food security programs.

• CARE's Emily Janoch published a blog on asking local partners what changes they want to see, as a part of CARE's commitment to localization and learning.
• In a blog, Ebele Achor discussed PACT's own capacity strengthening and localization efforts, as well as three key lessons about transitioning local partners to direct funding.
• Reeti Hobson's blog discussed how USAID’s Infectious Disease Detection and Surveillance (IDDS) project strengthens health systems by focusing on laboratory networks. IDDS deployed experts dedicated to expanding diagnostic services and strengthening localized disease surveillance.
• DAI and MarketShare Associates shared a new resource brief on shifting the locus of learning to from only program-focused to system-focused, and included 10 strategies for action.
• A new blog in the Collective Action Series: "Performance Results Are Not the Whole Story: Using Non-Traditional MEL and Targeting Cohesion in Collective Action Programs."