Never Pass-Up an Opportunity to Learn from a Crisis
The adage, “Never pass up an opportunity to learn from a crisis,” will now have Paperwork Reduction Act approval for USAID. USAID published an Agency Information Collection Activity Notice as it seeks OMB approval to regularly collect feedback, and conduct research, monitoring, and evaluations through surveys, interviews, and focus groups to understand how programs are affected by crises and other unexpected changes in context. While this is a routine notice under the Paperwork Reduction Act, required when surveying or collecting information from more than 10 members of the public, this initiative will be extensive, estimated to involve 450,000 respondents per year overseas.
USAID expects that a better understanding of how programs are affected by crises and changed circumstances will lead to better decision-making in achieving development objectives. The results will better inform how development programs can adapt to crises that will likely involve humanitarian work. More senior folks may recall the “crisis modifier” language in development contracts when droughts and flooding were expected.