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Our Approach to Evidence

We cultivate a robust evidence base to improve programs, achieve impact at scale, demonstrate meaningful changes in the lives of the children and communities we serve, and remain accountable to our donors and partners.

Our Commitment to World-Class Evidence

Compelling evidence of impact starts with technically sound programs, co-created with communities, partners, and staff across local, national, and international contexts. We are data-driven, community-centered, and impact-focused — because people matter.

Our technical monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and research experts work hand-in-hand with local partners to ensure that program participants and their communities remain at the center of design, implementation, and learning.

Once collected, data is translated into insights that improve ongoing programs, guide future redesign, and help ensure accountability to our donors and the communities we serve.

What we do

World Vision U.S.’s Evidence and Learning team combines two complementary functions:
  • Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation (DME)
  • Research, Learning, and Analytics (RLA)
Together we:
  • Strengthen programs through rigorous design and continuous monitoring
  • Evaluate outcomes to understand what’s working, what’s not, and why.
  • Conduct research that builds global knowledge on what transforms lives.
  • Share insights with donors, governments, and communities for greater impact.

Our work improves programs, informs decisions, strengthens accountability, and inspires confidence among our donors.

How we do it

We use proven methods — tailored to each context — to build credible, actionable evidence. Our approach is rooted in key principles that include:

  • Evidence-based design: We ground programs in proven solutions and contextual data.
  • Monitoring for improvement: We use real-time data and feedback loops to adapt as we go, ensuring data quality through the life of a program.
  • Adaptive management: Using evidence to make timely decisions, refine strategies, and respond to emerging needs.
  • Rigorous evaluations: Both internal and third-party studies measure results. These include:
    • Performance evaluations: Assess program achievements against planned targets.
    • Impact evaluations: Compare participants to non-participants to isolate what changes are directly attributable to the program.
    • Sustainability learning: Post-program evaluations explore what endures after programs end — and why.
  • Evidence synthesis: We combine data across time, regions, or sectors to reveal broader trends and insights.
  • Learning agendas: Identifying evidence gaps and setting priorities for research and reflection to focus our research on the most pressing questions.
  • Community engagement: We ensure monitoring and evaluation reflects local voices, leadership, and priorities.
  • Donor accountability: We ensure our donors — from individuals to institutions — see the impact of their contributions through rigorous, transparent evidence that clearly demonstrates outcomes and complies with grant requirements.

Who we work with

We partner with some of the world’s leading research and evaluation institutions, including:

We also work hand-in-hand with local communities, local private sector groups, and local and national governments to ensure local ownership and long-term viability.

Featured Research

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