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LAYERS

See Also: Assessments, Monitoring & Evaluation; Ethiopia; Haiti; Madagascar

The FANTA Project has developed a simple, cost-effective and reliable method for monitoring performance of USAID-funded field operations. Layers is a software application that uses a hand-held computer to collect and analyze data based on principles of Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS). Once the data is entered and analyzed, Layers generates automated reports that reflect the quality of performance of USAID partners. Layers can be easily adapted to monitor any type of program amenable to LQAS. Currently, Layers includes modules to:

• assess the quality of Maternal Child Health and Nutrition, Food for Education, and Food For Work programs;
• evaluate the management of USAID-supplied commodities (from food aid to vaccines and drugs); and
• verify the correct application of Tiahrt Amendments in USAID-funded Family Planning activities.

This combination of state-of-the-art sampling principles and digital automation methods has proven advantages over conventional monitoring approaches.

• Sample sizes are greatly reduced while maintaining statistical validity.
• Layers questionnaires are simple, using dichotomous statements (yes/no, pass/fail, etc) that minimize errors.
• Expert systems, or decision trees, can be attached to any question, increasing the reliability of answers.
• User manuals can be loaded directly onto the handheld PDA, making guidance available to enumerators at every step of the process.
• The use of handheld computers eliminates the need for post coding and data entry.

Country-specific Activities

LAYERS in Ethiopia: Implementation of the LAYERS methodology has allowed the Mission to better monitor its activities, identify potential problems and ensure that food aid is being delivered to the intended populations. In Ethiopia, FANTA developed LAYERS modules to verify the quality of infrastructure built under Food for Work activities. These modules have been adapted and put to use in other countries as well.

LAYERS in Haiti: The LAYERS monitoring system for Title II programs was originally developed in Haiti. It is now a mature system, being sustainably and autonomously maintained by USAID Mission staff in Port au Prince. Results from LAYERS survey rounds are now routinely used by the Mission to verify the quality of programs in the field, and develop recommendations to ensure that food aid is being delivered with maximum effect to the intended populations.

LAYERS in Madagascar: Implementation of the LAYERS methodology allows the Mission to better monitor its FFP activities, identify potential problems and ensure that food aid is being delivered to the intended populations. In addition to the more standard modules of agriculture, nutrition, health and education, the Madagascar version of LAYERS allows the Mission to assess the quality of infrastructure built through Food for Work activities. Additionally, the Mission has oversight responsibilities over a large number of partners operating health, population and nutrition interventions in several regions of the country, and they seek a monitoring system capable of providing actionable information to the Mission and its partners on the implementation of their activities. The LAYERS methodology is being adapted to meet that need.

Presentation at the January 2004 Food Aid Manager's Course "Layers:An LQAS Application for the Collection, Entry and Analysis of Monitoring Data" [491kb]

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