Elevating Development through Learning and Evidence in Liberia

As USAID/Liberia and other development partners in Liberia confront the reality of staggering needs across the country—and limited resources to meet those needs—it’s essential that development partners deploy their resources most effectively, so that investments can sustainably transform more lives. The more development partners in Liberia embrace evidence as a driver of their decisions, the further development dollars will go, and the deeper the impact will be. 

In May, USAID held the Agency Learning and Evidence Month, which was filled with opportunities for discussion and peer learning across the globe around using evidence to improve the effectiveness of USAID’s work. For Liberia, USAID/Liberia followed the cadence of USAID in commemorating Learning and Evidence Month by hosting several events to recognize research,  learning, and exchange ideas with other development partners on the latest evidence and what is working in Liberia. 

In keeping with the theme, “What Works and Where to Find it,” one of the landmark achievements of this month was the creation of the first-ever USAID/Liberia Learning and Evidence Month website by the USAID/Liberia Data Evaluation Learning and Technical Assistance (DELTA) Activity. This online hub serves as a vital resource-hosting learning & evidence materials accessible to development partners.

DELTA took the initiative further by organizing several impactful events. Among these was a two-part Master Class Workshop focused on utilizing evidence-based decision-making to elevate performance. Facilitated by USAID/Liberia’s MEL Specialist Jeff Juaquellie, DELTA Chief of Party James Collins, and DELTA Senior Monitoring Advisor Luke Krangar, the workshop brought together USAID partners, including implementing partners (IPs), civil society organizations (CSOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), and government representatives.

During these interactive sessions, participants delved into evidence-based decision making (EBDM) principles and tools like Problem-Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA). Group discussions and reflective exercises allowed attendees to explore how EBDM enhances decision quality, builds credibility, promotes accountability, drives continuous improvement, and aligns with best practices. These sessions underscored the transformative potential of EBDM in elevating both individual and organizational performance.

A highlight of the month was USAID’s inaugural Liberia Learning & Evidence Case Competition. This friendly competition encouraged partners to showcase innovative approaches, lessons learned, and best practices from their projects. Submissions from various organizations detailed how learning and evidence improved their effectiveness and impact. Seven finalists emerged, including Breakthrough ACTION Liberia (BAL), Elections and Democracy Activity (EDA), Education Systems Strengthening Activity (ESSA), Election Coordinating Committee (ECC), FHM Engage Project, Liberia Media Activity (LMA), and PERT Consultancy.

ESSA not only won the People’s Choice Award but was also recognized as one of the top three winners by a distinguished panel of judges: DELTA COR Jeff Juaquellie, Nunlai Co-Founder Dr. Tanya Garnett, and iCampus CEO Luther Jeke. In their winning case, ESSA highlighted the value of PDIA, noting, “PDIA recognizes that complex problems cannot be solved through a single, grand plan. Instead, it advocates for an iterative approach, where small, practical steps are taken to address specific aspects of the problem. This iterative process allows for flexibility and responsiveness to changing circumstances, enabling stakeholders to adapt their strategies based on real-world feedback.”

USAID/Liberia’s Learning and Evidence Month in May 2024 not only provided a platform for sharing evidence, knowledge and best practices around what development interventions are working in Liberia, but also fostered a sense of community among development practitioners in Liberia. It allowed participants to build momentum in their respective activities and, most importantly, to elevate their performance through shared learning and robust discussions on evidence-based approaches.

This month-long initiative stands as a testament to USAID/Liberia’s dedication to continuous improvement and innovation in development.