Water Communications and Knowledge Management (CKM) Project Revised Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Plan for the Period October 1, 2018–September 30, 2019

The project's goal is to implement knowledge management and communication services in support of USAID's Water and Development Strategy and the follow-on water strategy. The project's Intermediate Results (IRs) are presented in the Results Framework, which includes IR1: Increased water program knowledge and data capture, IR2: Increased knowledge creation and knowledge sharing internally and among a wide range of external stakeholders working in the water sector, and IR3: Enhanced communication and outreach by engaging a wide range of audiences and stakeholders using multiple channels and approaches. The project's approach is built upon people, processes, and technology, with a focus on effectiveness, efficiency, and continual process improvement. The Water CKM Project will support behavior change from "Need to Know" to "Need to Share" behaviors for improved effectiveness, extending the reach of learning through face-to-face and online networking. The team will identify best practices, improve policies and procedures, and facilitate information-sharing and engagement, including among USAID operating units. For Core Component 1: KM, information technology will play a strong role in how the team processes, shares, and preserves tacit and explicit knowledge. The team will provide information and outreach on how free, existing, and new resources, including Globalwaters.org, can be put to efficient use. Within USAID, the team will use Water CKM's resources to establish linkages, create interoperability, and increase access to water-related data and information resources. The project will apply the strong monitoring and evaluation (M&E) experience of subcontractor SI to directly measure the sustainability of water project outcomes, including beneficiaries reached, continued functionality, success stories, unintended consequences, and gender-related outcomes. Learning about longer-term successes and challenges will equip USAID and its partners to improve future project design through building in sustainability from the start and establishing technologies and systems necessary to ensure that desired outcomes are sustained and optimized over time. For Core Component 2: Communications, Water CKM will draw upon ECODIT's strong communications expertise to provide robust communications services to systematically advance the Global Water Strategy's objectives while enhancing knowledge sharing, collaboration, and learning. The project will streamline content updates for existing and new online platforms, accelerate the production timeline for short-form and long-form written publications, support active USAID participation in key water-focused global fora and events, and plan and execute learning and outreach events such as webinars. The project will also harness the power of social media and create and disseminate content to engage a wide range of audiences and stakeholders. The team will continually promote online collaboration tools and techniques to enhance USAID's ability to share knowledge regardless of location. Water CKM will ensure that tested M&E approaches are institutionalized for USAID use after the project ends.