NZAID Tools Tool Clusters: Activity Cycle Tools 

Tool Clusters: Activity Cycle Tools

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Activity Appraisal

This guideline describes how to assess the relevance, feasibility and potential sustainability of a development Activity. It presents a set of basic questions to help NZAID staff reach decisions about the quality of concept notes and proposals at both the identification and design stages.

Activity Cycle Management

An overview of the three stages of the Activity cycle (identification, design, and implementation) and the various tools that are available to help gather or produce the information necessary for good decision-making.

Activity Design Guideline

This guideline provides NZAID staff with an overview of the principles of Activity design and a general understanding of the important elements involved in designing a new Activity. It is orientated towards project-based Activities as these are likely to remain a significant delivery mechanism.

Activity Exiting Guideline

This guideline covers the design, implementation, and monitoring of exit strategies in NZAID Activities. Examples of exit strategies are under preparation for a Reference Guide for this Guideline.

Activity Implementation

This guideline provides an overview of the main tasks to be carried out during the implementation stage of an Activity.

Activity Monitoring

This guideline covers the principles and practices underlying the monitoring of development Activities. Monitoring provides information about how allocated funds are being used and whether progress towards expected outcomes is being achieved.

Activity Reporting

This guideline covers the principles and minimum requirements for partners’ reporting to NZAID on Activities that receive NZAID funding. It applies to the full range of aid modalities and contracting arrangements. This form of Activity reporting is sometimes referred to as contract (or grant) reporting.

Conflict Risk Assessment

This guideline covers the fundamentals of conflict-risk assessment and provides guidance on different methodologies for undertaking conflict-risk assessment at the country, sector, and development activity levels.

Contract Management Framework (in development)

Evaluation Series | DAC Evaluation Quality Standards

This guideline identifies the key pillars needed for a quality evaluation process and product.

Evaluation Series | Developing Terms of Reference for Reviews and Evaluations

The purpose of this guideline is to provide suggestions on how to develop clear Terms of Reference (TOR) for reviews and evaluations commissioned and/or undertaken by NZAID. Annexes to the guideline include examples of best practice in TOR, and a template to use in developing TOR (with statements that are highly recommended to be included).

Evaluation Series | Dissemination and Use of Evaluation Guideline

The NZAID Evaluation Policy Statement identifies three purposes for evaluation: accountability, learning and improvement. This guideline outlines the ways that dissemination and use is linked to these purposes.

Evaluation Series | Evaluation and the Activity Cycle

The key objective of evaluation during the Activity Cycle is to provide evidence and feedback on any particular Activity throughout each Activity stage. This ensures the Activity is evaluated during each of the identification, design, implementation and completion/transition stages.

Evaluation Series | Participatory Evaluation

NZAID encourages the use of participatory approaches for assessing performance whenever possible. Over time it is hoped that the use of participatory methods will positively contribute to building the evaluation capacity of partners.

Evaluation Series | Structure of Evaluation and Review Reports

This guideline sets out the minimum structural requirements for an evaluation or review report. It should be read in conjunction with documentation specifying the requirements for each report, including the required quality standards e.g. the DAC Evaluation Quality Standards.

Logical Framework Approach

The LFA is a set of simple tools and principles that help to guide the collection and analysis of information and Activity design process. It is designed to strengthen participatory processes and ensure that decision-makers have all the information they need for appraisal purposes. It also generates information for other essential Activity Management tools and processes such as monitoring and other evaluative processes.

Ongoing Technical Support (in development)

PAA | Programme Activity Authorities - Guideline and Quality Assurance Standards

This tool is available to NZAID staff on Waharoa | PAA | Programme Activity Authorities | Interim Quality Assurance Standards

Please contact us for more information.

 

Risk Assessment Guideline (in development)

Selecting and Managing an Evaluation Contractor or Team (in development)

TOR | Terms of Reference Guideline

This guideline sets out general principles and good practice for the preparation of Terms of Reference (TOR). It describes the information required, outlines the process for developing TOR and indentifies issues to be considered.