Plan

Creating an Integrated SBCC RM&E Plan

The RM&E plan for your integrated SBCC program should cover the same basic elements as an RM&E plan for a vertical program, including: the program’s theory of change and/or logic model that shows your program’s resources and inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and intended impact; indicator definitions, data sources, frequency and timing of data collection, and person responsible; a description of each staff member’s role in RM&E data collection, analysis, and/or reporting; the necessary reporting templates; the plans for analysis; and a dissemination plan for how data will be shared both internally among staff for program improvement, and externally among donors, stakeholders, and project beneficiaries about program progress.

In addition to these basic elements, special considerations for integrated SBCC RM&E plans include the following:

• Different stakeholders may have different goals for SBCC integration (e.g. cost effectiveness, time savings, increased reach, amplified impact, improved quality of care, systems change, enhanced sustainability), which will influence the entire design and implementation of the RM&E plan. Clarify and clearly communicate the desired goal of SBCC integration in your theory of change/logic model, and ensure through your coordination mechanism(s) that all partners, donors, and stakeholders agree with this definition.
• A linear cause and effect logic model may not be able to accurately represent the complex interactions and outcomes of an integrated program. You may need to explore alternative or additional formats to enhance or supplement your model. FHI360 recommends that integrated programs align theories of change and logic models with other systems-related tools, such as appreciative inquiry or ripple-effect mapping . These will help stakeholders and evaluators account for complexity, identify emergent outcomes, relationships between activities, and best practices.
• Include indicators that allow for an assessment of the extent to which integration is taking place, and its effects on outcomes.
• Design ways to measure how health topics interact, reinforce and complement each other.
• Emphasize the regular use of data by stakeholders and partners to make decisions on whether and how to continue or improve integration.
• Generate documentation of lessons learned that can contribute to the knowledge base for integrated SBCC programming.