Mercy Corps' Experience with the Mission Metrics Initiative

To measure the effectiveness of these partnerships, Mercy Corps has developed the Mission Metrics initiative, which aggregates program-level monitoring and evaluation data into a global framework. This approach enables evidence-based decision-making for local capacity building and serves as a learning tool for local partners. The Mission Metrics system involves the selection of local capacity development indicators, which are then aggregated across multiple countries to provide new insights into the impact and opportunities of partnering. Mercy Corps has developed two Mission Indicators to measure local partnerships: local partner organizations with increased capacity to address community needs, and linkages between private sector, government, and civil society that are forged and/or improved. These indicators serve as categories for linking different contextual indicators to a broader, aggregate level, providing a unifying force for identifying standard, best practice program-level indicators. To measure these indicators globally, Mercy Corps has utilized qualitative and quantitative tools, including the Most Significant Change methodology, health checks, and Organizational Capacity Indices. The Mission Metrics framework for reporting and analyzing data allows for a mix of qualitative and quantitative results while creating a platform for analysis across programs. Mercy Corps has also participated in multi-agency research to inform its approach to local capacity development, including the Listening Project and the Keystone Development Partnership Survey. The application of Mission Metrics reports has been used in planning for specific programs, regional strategies, and agency resources to support targeted local capacity development. For example, measurement data contributed to a recent program design for large-scale civil society strengthening in Iraq, placing heavier emphasis on long-term mentoring. Mercy Corps' FY13 budget prioritizes technical staff skill development in partner brokering and cross-sector partnering to more effectively support new types of local partners. Trends and findings from the Mission Metrics initiative have revealed that understanding how partnerships at a global level feed into local partners' ability to have influence is a central component of understanding the impacts of local capacity development. The type of collective action taken jointly by partners, such as training or advocacy or joint activities, correlates with sustainability. Additionally, there is room to grow in terms of leveraging the private sector in partnerships and capacity development. In taking forward this approach, Mercy Corps is now focusing on new global indicator development, better local measurement, and continued engagement with partners on joint measurement. The agency is creating a specific global indicator that captures the value of relationships built through partnerships and the factors that play into a strong partnership. By identifying these key factors, Mercy Corps hopes to understand how to scale-up approaches, adapt to changing local/regional contexts, and better deliver on development objectives.