Mission Order: Performance Monitoring

The purpose of this Mission Order is to provide Mission guidelines for performance monitoring, ensuring that the Mission is able to track progress toward the results identified in the Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) Results Framework. The Mission Order is based on several authorities and policies, including the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 and the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act (GPRMA) 2010, which require government-wide requirements regarding performance management. Additionally, the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2016 (FATAA) requires U.S. Government agencies to monitor, evaluate, and report on U.S. foreign assistance programs and share this data with the public. The Mission Order defines performance monitoring as a data-intensive and detailed endeavor that requires a current and authoritative Performance Management Plan (PMP). The PMP serves as a tool to measure achievement of the CDCS Results Framework, and it is regularly updated to keep the documentation aligned with decisions already made. The Mission Order outlines three major themes for performance monitoring: good performance monitoring planning, clear and efficient procedures during implementation, and planning and integrating learning to improve development impact. The procedures for performance monitoring planning include the formulation of the Mission-wide PMP, the formulation and approval of Project MEL Plans, and the formulation and approval of Activity MEL Plans. The Mission-wide PMP is developed and approved within three months of CDCS approval, and it includes indicators for Intermediate Results (IR), sub-IRs, and other indicators identified. The Mission MEL Specialist works with technical staff to ensure that indicators are defined using the Performance Indicator Reference Sheet (PIRS) and that baseline data and end-of-CDCS targets are set. The Project MEL Plan is developed and approved as part of the Project Design and Implementation guidance, and it ensures that progress will be monitored against the results specified in the project logic model. The Mission MEL Specialist updates the Mission-wide PMP to reflect the performance indicators, evaluation details, and any relevant learning questions included in the Project MEL Plan. The Activity MEL Plan is developed and approved by the COR/AOR, and it is consistent with and meets the data collection needs of the Project MEL Plan and the PMP. The Project Manager ensures that activities include relevant project indicators and that use of the same indicator across different activities is consistent in definition and data collection methodology. The Mission MEL Specialist assists in the process of developing and approving Activity MEL Plans by providing official guidance and best practices, sharing information, and providing early review, advice, and clearance. The COR/AOR approves the Activity MEL Plan, and the Project Manager ensures that data collection for appropriate initiative indicators is coordinated, as needed, with other USG agencies on indicators related to initiative and/or PPR reporting. Overall, the Mission Order: Performance Monitoring provides a framework for the Mission to track progress toward the results identified in the CDCS Results Framework and to ensure that performance monitoring is a data-intensive and detailed endeavor that requires a current and authoritative PMP.