This tool allows groups and individuals to evaluate project outcomes, behavior change, and barriers to success.
Groups at the community level compare objectives to outcomes in order to hold themselves, their leaders, and CARE accountable for the goals we’ve set. Outside facilitators work with groups to evaluate group dynamics and performance. To effectively use the PPT, groups must hold regular meetings to discuss adoption of key behaviors and practices, as well as capture data on individual and group performance. The data collected can be aggregated at the district, regional, national, or global level in order to analyze how groups progress over time, and it may also be analyzed at different times throughout the year. Cohorts can be compared in order to learn what is working in the field and where there may be gaps in program implementation.
Besides monitoring the effectiveness of the program, the PPT process can combine information from several groups and areas. This allows CARE, governments, and partners to identify strengths and weaknesses across the whole program. Common obstacles, places of community dissatisfaction, or overarching challenges give us clues about where we need to change our strategies. Data from the PPT can be analyzed by practice area – such as agriculture, financial inclusion, or nutrition – to allow for the identification of high- and low-performing groups. This strategy enables CARE to identify gaps in implementation. The PPT may inform management’s decision-making, and managers may reallocate staff and resources to struggling groups.
Ultimately, the PPT provides groups with a means to assess their own progress to empower and create transparency within groups. Individuals as well as groups are able to identify their own performance gaps to create momentum and pressure to improve. The PPT can be tailored to capture information on common group activities as well as particular factors of importance such as gender inclusivity, savings, and broader financial inclusion. It also provides a way to highlight common challenges and areas for other actors to improve or to provide extra support.