Selecting Performance Indicators – An RFS Good Practice MEL Note

Country

Global

Region

Global

Type

Guidance Note

Year

2023

Selecting Performance Indicators – An RFS Good Practice MEL Note

Country

Global

Region

Global

Type

Technical Guidance Document

Year

2023

Abstract:

Performance indicators are pivotal for the successful implementation, adaptive management, and optimization of development programs. This guidance note, a part of the RFS Good Practice MEL Notes series, underscores the significance of these indicators in line with USAID’s requirements for Activity MEL Plans. It emphasizes the inclusion of at least one performance indicator for each outcome in an activity’s logic model. Special attention is given to gender equality and female empowerment indicators. This document serves as a beacon for understanding the diverse types of indicators and their integration into the developmental framework.

Description:

RFS Good Practice MEL Notes aim to highlight examples of strong Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) practices across the central portfolio of activities managed by USAID’s Bureau of Resilience and Food Security (RFS). These notes complement USAID’s agency-wide MEL guidance with concrete examples of how RFS is integrating MEL elements into its investments. The primary audiences for these notes are RFS Implementing Partners (IPs), A/CORs, and RFS MEL Specialists. While IPs typically develop Activity MEL Plans, RFS hopes these notes will encourage enhanced A/COR and RFS MEL Specialist engagement and collaboration throughout the Program Cycle.

Related publications

Development Disrupted: Reassessing the Implications of USAID’s Restructuring Amid Global Aid Realignment

This infographic analyzes the consequences of USAID’s 2023–2024 restructuring, which led to the termination of 5,341 projects and the defunding of 2,353 implementing partners, many of whom lost 100% of their USAID support. Over 55% of recipient countries lost all funding. The analysis extends beyond the U.S. to consider concurrent budget contractions by other donor countries, indicating a systemic shift in how foreign aid is prioritized and delivered. The infographic visualizes these changes, offering insights into the scale, distribution, and potential implications of a more constrained and transactional development aid environment.

The Future of U.S. Foreign Assistance: Unlocking U.S. Business Investment

This article examines the Trump administration’s proposed restructuring of U.S. foreign assistance, which seeks to streamline agencies and align aid with investment-driven growth. The plan introduces promising steps to improve efficiency and expand opportunities for U.S. businesses abroad. However, the transition also brings important considerations, such as ensuring continued access to technical expertise, maintaining regional flexibility, and supporting financing tools that encourage investment in higher-risk markets. The piece outlines ways to maximize the benefits of these reforms while addressing potential challenges to ensure the new structure drives sustainable growth and impact.

Subscribe

Enter your mail below to receive updates from Institute for Development Impact

Wishing you a peaceful holiday season
and a prosperous New Year 2026.