VSO Programme Quality Framework

1
VSO Programme Quality Framework
2
Todays presentation

• Purpose
• To give a brief introduction to VSOs planning
  and review cycle and the work to assess impact at
  beneficiary level
• To provide an overview of VSOs work to define
  quality in our programmes
• Key question
• How does this work fit with the key
  recommendations of the BOND report on quality?
  Where is there room to increase the meaningful
  participation of beneficiaries?

3
Todays presentation

• Introduction to VSO
• Overview of VSOs Planning and Review cycle
• Explanation of VSOs programme quality framework
• Defining and measuring quality
• Managing quality and a process of continual
  learning
• Questions and discussion

4
Introduction to VSO

• International Development organisation which
  works through volunteers
• Sends gt 1,000 volunteers a year. Approximately
  2,000 volunteers overseas at any one time
• Recruit volunteers in 6 countries - North and
  South
• Average age of volunteer 41 years
• Work with a diverse mix of partners in around 40
  countries on a capacity development basis
• 6 x goal areas (Education, Health, Participation
  and Governance, Secure Livelihoods, Disability,
  HIV AIDS)
• Increasing focus on National Volunteering
• CUSO merger?

5
 
Programme Planning with stakeholders
Programme Area Review tested with partners
Corporate Goal Learning report
Programme Area Objectives and Plan
Other Information
Filtering
PROGRAMME AREA
Partnership Negotiations
Learning
Partnership Report
Partnership Agreement /Participatory Capacity
Assessments/shared long term objectives
Participatory Partnership Review and Plan
PARTNERSHIP
Activity Planning/ intervention
choice
 
Activity Report (as appropriate)
ACTIVITIES
Activity Plan
Activity Review(as appropriate) (e.g. Placement
Confirmation)
Activities (e.g. national Vols, grants, int
vols) Information Collection
6
Purpose of the Programme Quality Framework

• To create a shared understanding and vision
  across VSO of what makes a quality programme
• To pull together existing ways of measuring /
  assessing VSO programmes into one coherent whole
• To help identify strengths and areas for
  improvement across programmes so that steps can
  be taken grow programme quality and foster
  learning

7
How does it try to achieve these aims?

• Defining and measuring elements of Programme
  quality
• Setting out a process for managing Programme
  quality

8
What makes a quality VSO programme?

• Meaningful participation of partners and
  beneficiaries in our work
• Good support for volunteers
• Using an inclusive approach
  to programming
• Robust financial
  systems
• Transparent relationships with
  partners and beneficiaries
• Strong staff support and management

9
Defining and measuring Programme Quality
Impact
10
Defining and measuring Programme Quality
Impact
Outcomes
11
Defining and measuring Programme Quality
Impact
Outcomes
12
Defining and measuring Programme Quality
Impact
Outcomes
13
Defining and measuring Programme Quality Key
Performance Indicators

• KPIs guidelines
• Keep indicators SMART
• Key is the key! Keep KPIs to a maximum of 1-2
  for each element of the framework
• Remember that what you measure is what you get  
• Look at processes as well as outcomes
• Different elements will necessarily require
  different types of indicators (qualitative vs
  quantitative)

14
Defining and measuring Programme Quality Key
Performance Indicators

• Partnership development and maintenance
  indicators
• Proportion of programme partnerships reviewed
  annually through consultation with partners
• Extent to which partners are actively involved in
  developing volunteer placements, and programme
  development
• Inclusion indicators
• Programme Office has an inclusion statement and
  protocols that are shared among all staff. Three
  steps to improve the internal practice around
  inclusion are planned for the coming year and
  examples of inclusive practice in the programme
  office can be identified
• All programme area reviews seek to answer
  questions about how inclusive the programmes are
  and proactively involve excluded groups in the
  review process

15
Managing Programme Quality
Support
Step 1 Collating Information Assess whats
happening within / across programmes by reporting
against the quality framework
Step 4 Implementing Actioning plans to improve
programme quality
Quality Management Process
Step 3 Planning improvement Plan how to make
improvements and set targets for the coming year
Step 2 Assessing quality Using the information
captured within the quality framework report to
identify strengths and areas for improvement
16
Where next?

• Learning as an organisation
• What do we need to change? Where does the link
  between activities and outcomes and impact
  breakdown?
• Improving the model
• Learning and revision from first trail run
• Involving different voices - From self-assessment
  to 360 feedback focusing on internal practices,
  to involving beneficiaries, partners,
  stakeholders etc

17
Where are the relationships with beneficiaries
and partners within the framework?
Beneficiaries
Partners
Impact
Outcomes
18
Questions and Discussion

• Any questions?
• Issues for further discussion
• How does this fit with the key recommendations of
  the BOND report on quality and where is there
  room to increase the meaningful participation of
  beneficiaries in the model?
• Responses to the use of KPIs and benchmarks
  within the quality framework to define aspects of
  programme quality