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Skip Sourcebook Navigation Writing Results-Oriented Program Descriptions
USAID Sourcebook
Results Define
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Core Values Sources FAQ Glossary USAID ADS Updated 09/05/03
Some basic elements for writing results-oriented program descriptions for inclusion by USAID in a Request for Applications (RFA), or by a prospective Development Partner in an application in response to an RFA, are discussed below. There is currently no mandatory standard or required format for program descriptions. The elements in this section are based on examples from actual practice in results-oriented assistance today. There is no one right way to do this job, and all Strategic Objective Team members, including Development Partners, are encouraged to continue advancing the state of the art in this area.
While the elements in writing program descriptions are similar between USAID and the Development Partner, there are differences in how USAID and Development Partner will approach their tasks from an organizational perspective. The following icons are provided to distinguish between elements that must be articulated more appropriately by either USAID or the Development Partner.
Where there is no icon, both USAID and the Development Partner will need to craft a statement, albeit viewed from their respective organizational lenses. When preparing a Request for Applications (RFA) or an application in response to an RFA, there will be other documentation needed in addition to the program description. For example, a budget and budget narrative is required. This page covers only the program description.
I. Introduction, Abstract or Executive Summary
Development Challenge
1. What is your understanding of the development challenge, opportunity, or problem?
2. How is this challenge linked to the Mission or Operating Unit's Strategic and Performance plans?
Plan for Achieving Results How will the development challenge be met?
1. What are the intended results?
2. What activities, processes, or strategies are essential to achieve the results?
Funding Amount
1. What is USAID's maximum funding amount for the RFA?
2. What is the total amount of USAID support being requested by the Applicant?
II. Detailed Program Description More about the development challenge -- amplify the discussion of the opportunity or problem.
1. What political, social, economic, and environmental condition(s) of the customers require(s) changing? (And how do you know?) What appraisals, evaluations, customer needs analysis and other methodologies were used to understand what needs changing?
2. What political, social, economic, and environmental condition(s) of the host country require(s) changing? (And how do you know?) What appraisals, evaluations, customer needs analysis other methodologies were used to understand what needs changing?
3. Why is it important to change the condition(s) identified above?
More about the plan for achieving the results -- amplify the description of how the development challenge will be met.
1. What is the development hypothesis (an interpretation of a practical situation or condition taken as the ground for action)?
2. What are the intended results (changes in condition of the customers or the host country)?
3. How are these results related to one another?
4. How are these results related to the development challenge?
5. How will these results contribute to the achievement of the Mission or Operating Unit's intermediate results and/or strategic objectives?
6. What are the external factors and other critical assumptions that are likely to facilitate or hinder achievement of the results?
Describe the processes, strategies, and activities that are deemed essential to achieve the planned results. Note: Overly prescriptive input-related detail should be avoided, in order to preserve subsequent flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances "on the ground" during implementation of the activity.
1. How will USAID and Development Partners work collaboratively?
2. What are others within USAID, the host country, Development Partners, and other donors doing?
3. Why will the planned work lead to the intended results?
4. What is the anticipated timetable for achievement of results?
Describe plans to monitor and evaluate performance.
1. For each result, what is the performance indicator? What is the baseline data? What is the performance target? What is the timetable for achieving results?
2. For each performance indicator, what is the definition and what is the unit of measurement? What is the source of data? What is the plan for collecting and analyzing data?
3. For each performance target, is there an acceptable variation from the standard, and if so, what is it?
4. What are the plans for reporting and using performance information?
Describe responsibility for performance.
2. What is the division of responsibility between USAID, Development Partners, and other entities, if any?
Describe the resources (human, facilities, money, and in-kind contributions) required to transform processes, strategies, and activities into results.
1. What is the total estimated amount of the activity (i.e. the aggregate amount of resources believed to be adequate to achieve the specified results)?
- How much financial and in-kind contributions is available from USAID?
- How much financial and in-kind contributions (generally a percentage of the total estimated activity amount) will be required to be cost-shared or borne by Development Partners, sub-implementers, and other donors?
- Are there expected resources from the host country government?
2. What are the critical assumptions that will facilitate or hinder achievement of result(s)?
3. What human resource requirements are needed from the USAID staff, including the core Strategic Objective Team? III. Conclusion, summary statement
In addition to the above, a Development Partner will need to address the following, either as a separate section or woven into the application:
- Why is the organization the best Development Partner to meet the challenge?
- What did the Development Partner do in the past that will demonstrate capacity to meet the challenge?
- What results are being achieved by the Development Partner in similar areas?
- What is the Development Partner contributing to the development challenge?
Examples of Results-Oriented RFAs
USAID/PVC RFA Examples
City to City Partnerships (PDF 218KB)
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Policy Advocacy Program: USAID/Russia (PDF 109KB)
Improved Community Health Project in Liberia: USAID/Ghana (PDF 130KB)
Maize Development in Kenya: USAID/Kenya (PDF 139KB)
Strengthening Democratic Institutions and Processes in East Timor: USAID/Indonesia (PDF 261KB)
Intercultural Youth Leadership and Employment Skills Development in Guatemala: USAID/Guatemala (PDF 123KB)
Other Useful Tools
Writing User Friendly Documents
The Plain English Network (PEN) asks "how can we be better writers? "PEN is a government-wide group working to improve communications from the federal government to the public. PEN believes that the most important writing goals are to:
- engage your reader,
- write clearly, and
- write in a visually appealing style.
To view PDF files, download
the accessible version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
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Last Updated on: September 05, 2003 |
