Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN) Midterm Performance Evaluation

The evaluation focused on the three objectives outlined in the original results framework and aimed to provide an evidence-based assessment of the HESN model. The evaluation covered the period from the start of the program in Fall 2012 to October 2015 and was executed from October 2015 to April 2016. The evaluation did not compare the performance of each individual HESN Lab but rather assessed the overall performance of the HESN model. A wide range of actors were involved in the interview process, including USAID staff, staff from the individual HESN labs, external partners, and partners who support university engagement via complementary programs. The Office of Evaluation and Impact Assessment within the Agency's Global Development Lab worked alongside the HESN management team to review and provide comments on the evaluation deliverables. The evaluation found that the HESN program had made significant progress in connecting emerging academic fields to development practitioners and bringing together academicians in a multidisciplinary manner. The program had also made progress in addressing development challenges, with a focus on research, development, and innovation. However, the evaluation also identified challenges and areas for improvement, including the need for more effective collaboration between HESN labs and external partners. The evaluation made a variety of recommendations for strengthening university engagement programming in the future. These recommendations included the need for more effective collaboration between HESN labs and external partners, the development of more effective evaluation and monitoring systems, and the need for more effective communication and coordination between HESN labs and USAID staff. The Global Development Lab is currently in the midst of a series of consultations with both Agency and external stakeholders to discuss the future state of USAID engagement with universities through the Lab and beyond. The Lab is actively exploring options and planning for follow-on university and research activity, including HESN Phase II. The Center for Development Research is currently in the midst of a series of consultations with both Agency and external stakeholders to discuss the future state of USAID engagement with universities through the Lab and beyond. The HESN program is set to conclude between September and November 2017, with some HESN labs having signed agreements with USAID Operating Units that have resulted in extensions of the period of performance. The Global Development Lab is envisioning continued and robust collaborations with universities throughout the spectrum of research, development, and innovation. Reports and papers produced by the HESN Labs can be found on their individual websites or through the Development Experience Clearinghouse.