Project/Activity Implementation

Project/Activity Implementation is the application of project and activity designs. While presented here under implementation, USAID has learned that it achieves better results if one of the first steps in the activity design process is to develop a strong results framework with a consideration for how it will be monitored and evaluated. Given the importance of this framework, it should be developed first and not left to the procurement or implementation stage. 

While presented here under implementation, USAID has learned that it achieves better results if one of the first steps in the activity design process is to develop a strong results framework with a consideration for how it will be monitored and evaluated. Given the importance of this framework, it should be developed first and not left to the procurement or implementation stage.

1. USAID Malawi, Mobile Money Acceleration Program (MMAP) (2015) - Results framework on page 31

   • This program’s results framework focuses entirely on improving the mobile money ecosystem in Malawi.  

2. EPESO Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (2020) - Results framework on page 16 & EPESO Final Report (2021)

   • The EPESO program in the Philippines focuses on strengthening digital payment ecosystems.  

3. EPESO Performance Evaluation Inception Report (2021) & EPESO Expost Performance Evaluation Final Report (2022)

   • The evaluation of the EPESO program in the Philippines focuses on strengthening digital payment ecosystems. 

4. Transforming a Digital Landscape: Seven years of learning from the mSTAR project Bangladesh (2019) & mSTAR Performance Evaluation (2017)

   • The report and evaluation include information about activities implemented over the seven-year life of the mSTARproject. This project covered a range of activities — digital inclusion, digital financial services, development informatics, and digital tools in agriculture and knowledge sharing — and accomplished a wide-range of successes that helped propel the digital development sector forward. 

5. Assessing the Impact of Digitally-Enabled Microcredit for Smallholder Farmers (2017) & Project write up

   • This evaluation is of the mSTAR Bangladesh component using debit cards for micro-credit in agriculture. This project was the result of a co-design with the private sector (note documents do not discuss that process in any detail).

6. Colombia Rural Finance Initiative Final Report (2022) & Colombia Rural Initiative Impact Evaluation (2021)

   • The Rural Finance Initiative project had dedicated activities around working with financial institutions and others to design, test, and scale digital innovations to expand rural financial inclusion. 

7. Guideline Note on Sex-Disaggregated Data Report Templates (2020)

   • The objective of this guidance note is to provide guidance to financial institutions on the different elements that should be required for periodic financial data reporting for a sex-disaggregated data approach.

8. Key Issue Narrative compilation FY2020

   • This is a summary of key issue narratives from Missions that used digital payments and DFS to facilitate sharing. It also provides examples of reporting from Missions. 

Private Sector Engagement (PSE)

Given the key role of the private sector as a provider and user of digital financial services, this guide recommends their involvement at all stages of design. There are great resources on non-traditional procurement approaches and co-design. Additionally, activities should consider private sector engagement and feedback loops as part of the activity, especially when working on legal and regulatory reform. 

1. FinTech Partnerships Playbook (2019) & Fintech Partnership Checklist (2017)

   • This is a tool for brainstorming during program design and PSE in the context of digital finance/FinTech.

2. Mobile money in emerging markets: The business case for financial inclusion (2018)

   • This article outlines the economics of mobile money to understand from a private sector viewpoint how digital payments providers can capture opportunities [profit] while benefiting those without access to financial services. 

3. Mastercard activities in partnership with USAID

   • These are profiles of Mastercard Project Kirana in India and Mastercard Start Path Empodera in Latin America, two programs in which USAID is partnering with Mastercard to support women entrepreneurs.