Briefing papersSeptember 2020Jessica ZieglerUSAID staff and forest rangers in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. Photo: Montakan Tanchaisawat / USAIDThis briefing note looks at how the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Wildlife Asia programme has operationalised the concepts of adaptive rigour and adaptive management as part of its approach to collaborating, learning and adapting. As described by the Global Learning for Adaptive Management (GLAM) initiative, adaptive rigour is about ensuring that the data, information, methods, processes and systems that underpin adaptive management are robust, systematic and high‑quality. Key messagesWhen faced with programmatic complexity, it is important to take an adaptive approach driven by continuous and iterative monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL). USAID Wildlife Asia, which works to advance regional action towards ending illegal wildlife trafficking in Southeast Asia and China, has embraced this approach as a way of operationalising adaptive rigour.Throughout programming, MEL approaches should reflect the characteristics of adaptive rigour: comprehensiveness, usefulness, practicality, timeliness and support.Utilising performance monitoring and research in order to test and revise technical approaches and employing mixed methods to collect both qualitative and quantitative data, as well as looking for relevant lessons generated by others, can ensure access to the most useful information for decision-making throughout implementation.For adaptive management, it is not enough to monitor, evaluate and learn; it is also essential to pause and reflect in order to analyse and process evidence gained through MEL with colleagues and stakeholders to reach the right conclusions and make good decisions.For feedback or questions about this briefing note please contact Stephanie Buell ([email protected]). Read the research USAID Wildlife Asia as a case study in adaptive rigour: monitoring, evaluation and learning for adaptive managementDocumentpdfRelated Contribution analysis for adaptive managementA discussion of practical learning about the use of contribution analysis for adaptive management.Briefing papers17 September 2020 Adapting data collection and utilisation to a Covid-19 reality: monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches for adaptive managementA discussion of key considerations for remote collection and the use of data for adaptive management during the Covid-19 pandemic.Briefing papers17 September 2020 Outcome mapping: learning brief A discussion of the use of outcome mapping as a monitoring, evaluation and learning approach to track behavioural change and inform adaptation.Briefing papers17 September 2020Making adaptive rigour work: principles and practices for strengthening MEL for adaptive management Adaptive programmes can be accountable, rigorous and high quality in how they use evidence by taking an ’adaptive rigour’ approach.Briefing papers4 April 2019See more:adaptive developmentmonitoring, evaluation and learningAsia
