USAID Liberia Strategic Analysis (LSA) Activity provides the Mission with analytical and advisory services in support of strategic planning, project and activity design, performance monitoring and evaluation, and learning and adapting to contextual changes and implementation challenges.

Current Activities  

• Conducts performance evaluations to study the achievements of activities and to garner best practices and lessons learned;
• Assists the Mission with managing and improving the Performance Indicator Data System (PIDS) for USAID activities to report data on indicators through a streamlined online platform;
• Leads data quality assessments (DQAs) to identify strengths and weaknesses of data and determine the extent to which data integrity can be trusted to influence management decisions;
• Delivers on-demand and rigorous quantitative and qualitative data analysis to assist USAID with project design, strategies, and other operational decisions;
• Leads data collection through surveys, desk studies, donor mapping, and other customizable initiatives to collect information to assist USAID to design effective programs and implement the Mission’s PMP;
• Plans and facilitates learning events and dynamic Collaborating Learning & Adapting (CLA) workshops for the Mission;
• Organizes Communities of Practice comprised of key sector experts in Liberia to help inform Mission activity design and implementation and assist in deepening the contextual understanding of the Mission’s portfolio; and
• Implements a Human & Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) Internship Program to build the skills and availability of qualified Liberian M&E professionals.

Accomplishment to Date:

• Conducted utilization-focused performance evaluations and assessments with accompanying learning events and workshops to support the Mission and its activities to apply findings and recommendations;
• Developed Research and Learning Agendas and Data Collection Plans with the DO teams to ascertain their research needs, including data collection and analysis;
• Conducted DQAs on USAID activities in the Democracy, Rights, and Governance, Economic Growth, Health, and Education sectors;
• Operationalized a well-organized and searchable electronic Library on development in Liberia (http://usaidliberiakmportal.com/) containing research studies, reports, data sets, data analysis, a database of members of the communities of practice, and an events calendar;
• Provided Geographic Information System (GIS) services including maps and geographic-based data visualizations for the Mission upon request;
• Migrated and improved PIDS to include a real-time customizable data dashboard, easier data entry, and GIS data visualizations;
• Provided technical assistance to USAID/Liberia in developing the Mission’s PMP per the newly revised ADS 201;
• Conducted a CDCS Stocktaking exercise of the Mission’s portfolio, including recommendations for continued implementation
• Hosted important HICD and CLA events and workshops with the Mission and local stakeholders;
• Recruited Community of Practice Members across two development sectors: Economic Growth and Democracy and Governance; and
• Recruited and placed Change Agent Interns in local civil society organizations and began bi-weekly ME&L and Leadership and Professional Development Practicum Trainings.

Planned Outcomes

• Strengthen the Mission’s management of the programming cycle, including strategic planning, project design, performance monitoring and evaluation, and learning and adapting;
• Assist the Mission to identify lessons learned from past experiences, better understand the complex Liberian development context, and adapt its programs accordingly;
• Play a central role in developing and implementing the Mission’s Performance Management Plan (PMP);
• Assist the Mission with assessing and redesigning its Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS);
• Integrate USAID’s new strategic planning and research collection goals within the Agency’s CLA agenda; and
• Increase the cadre of qualified M&E professionals that are available to work with the Mission’s implementing partners and local civil society organizations.