Water Communications and Knowledge Management (CKM) Project Revised Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Plan

The project aims to improve access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and improve food security, focusing on the two elements of the global water security challenge. The project's goal is to implement knowledge management and communication services in support of USAID's new Water and Development Strategy, as well as any follow-on water strategy. The Intermediate Results (IRs) include increased water program knowledge and data capture, increased knowledge creation and knowledge sharing internally and among external stakeholders, and enhanced communication and outreach by engaging a wide range of audiences and stakeholders using multiple channels and approaches. The project recognizes the challenges to successful collaboration and learning, communications, and outreach in USAID's water sector, including the engagement of multiple stakeholders with varying and sometimes competing interests, limited financial and human resources, and the need to combine a range of digital, print, and media resources accessible to diverse actors and communities of practice. The project will apply an integrated systems approach, built upon people, processes, and technology, with a focus on effectiveness, efficiency, and continual process improvement. The 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. The project will also improve the availability, quality, and use of online information and collaboration tools and platforms. The project will use Water CKM's resources to establish linkages, create interoperability, and increase access to water-related data and information resources, including by developing, enhancing, and maintaining a dedicated USAID Water CKM website—Globalwaters.org. The team will continually promote online collaboration tools and techniques to enhance USAID's ability to share knowledge regardless of location. 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. The project will ensure that tested M&E approaches are institutionalized for USAID use after the project ends. The project also will provide support for the review of USAID's new Foreign Assistance indicators on water programming that are consistent with the Water and Development Strategy.