Want to get better faster?

Learning from feedback helps us to continue improving.

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If we regularly analyse feedback data, we can identify areas for experimentation and improvement while the program is still live in the field. We call this ‘Responsive Feedback.’

This website aims to get you started with responsive feedback. You will find:

  • The CURVE process: A simple 5-step process for Responsive Feedback
  • Get ready: A checklist of enabling factors that make implementing the process easier
  • Get started: An overview of key moments in the program lifecycle and how to take action
  • Case studies: Inspiring case studies with learnings for other practitioners
  • Resources: Practical tools and guidance to help turn theory into practice

Use the tool below to begin or find out more

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Related content

How to use After-Action Reviews to learn and improve: lessons from the Breakthrough ACTION Guyana team

Authors: Sean Wilson, Chief of Party/Guyana Country Representative, Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs Lyndsey Mitchum, Program Specialist, Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs Jarret Cassaniti, Senior Program Officer, Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs Country-focus: Guyana Theme: Pause and Reflect In brief: The Breakthrough ACTION Guyana was tasked with developing the national malaria social… Read more How to use After-Action Reviews to learn and improve: lessons from the Breakthrough ACTION Guyana team

Case Study

Peer mentoring in Lagos state

Improving the uptake of post-partum family planning services in Nigeria using responsive feedback

Country-focus: Nigeria Theme: family planning Program Background The PoPCare program is implemented by the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI) and the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and aims to bridge the high-unmet need for Post-Pregnancy Family Planning (PPFP) services, including Post Abortion Care… Read more Improving the uptake of post-partum family planning services in Nigeria using responsive feedback

Case Study

How Kaduna State overhauled their service delivery architecture using responsive feedback

Author: Dr Hamza Abubakar, Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Board Country focus: Nigeria Theme: Service-delivery In brief: The 2018 National Demographic and Health Survey Report revealed that Kaduna state had above average mortality rates when compared to other states. Upon investigation, it was revealed that poor-quality data was leading to systemic errors in service delivery planning in… Read more How Kaduna State overhauled their service delivery architecture using responsive feedback

Case Study

The use of low-cost data control rooms to improve data quality and increase demand for data use in decision-making

Author: Dr ‘Layi Olatawura, Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation (HSDF) Country focus: Nigeria Theme: Data for decision-making In brief: Kaduna State had low quality routine data, inhibiting their ability to make informed decisions and improve service delivery in primary healthcare facility. As part of the BMGF-funded primary healthcare transformation program, Shugabanci, HSDF created data control… Read more The use of low-cost data control rooms to improve data quality and increase demand for data use in decision-making

Case Study

Using responsive feedback to justify program redesign and extension in Nigeria

Author: Dr Mohammed Liman, M-Space Consulting Country focus: Nigeria Theme: MNCH In brief: The Working to Improve Nutrition in Northern Nigeria (WINNN) program was extended, and its Theory of Change revised after data showed that the initial program design was failing to address root causes of malnutrition. Problem and context:  Child undernutrition is a major… Read more Using responsive feedback to justify program redesign and extension in Nigeria

Case Study

How SCIDAR uncovered assumptions in their program: The Northern Nigeria states Routine Immunization Strengthening Project (NNRISP)

Author: Dr Raihanah Ibrahim, Solina Center for International Development and Research (SCIDaR) Country focus: Nigeria Theme: Routine immunization In brief: The SCIDaR team identified deep-seated problems in routine immunization program approaches, which led to overall low immunization coverage rates in Northern Nigeria. In order to address these problems, SCIDaR developed a Theory of Change that… Read more How SCIDAR uncovered assumptions in their program: The Northern Nigeria states Routine Immunization Strengthening Project (NNRISP)

Case Study

How HSCL adjusted their health-system strengthening program to remote working in light of Covid-19

Author: Dr Ezinne Peters, Health Systems Consult Limited (HSCL) Country focus: Nigeria Theme: Health-system strengthening In brief: In response to Covid-19, The Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH) project gathered data from stakeholders and made the case to their donor that the program could continue to be effective using remote implementation. Problem and context: … Read more How HSCL adjusted their health-system strengthening program to remote working in light of Covid-19

Case Study

Using data quality assurance to improve decision-making processes in Nigeria

Author: Dr Ibrahim Ahmed El-Imam, Center for International Health Education and Biosecurity at University of Maryland School of Medicine Country of focus: Nigeria Theme: Data for decision-making In brief: It is fundamental that public health decisions are based on high-quality and accurate data. Using responsive feedback, the Center for International Health Education and Biosecurity identified and… Read more Using data quality assurance to improve decision-making processes in Nigeria

Case Study

Testing family-based care messages for different audiences

Led by Results for Development (R4D) and Abt Associates, RF MERL worked with FCF implementers to test different components of behavior change campaigns quickly and iteratively.

Case Study

C: Convene stakeholders

Convene the stakeholders who need to work together to gather, analyse, and act on feedback.

Process

Using responsive feedback to iterate Theories of Change – NaijaCare

Responsive feedback mechanisms (RFMs) can be used to iterate and improve Theories of Change, not just implementation methods

Case Study

Adjusting intervention strategies using feedback

USAID‐funded Project Samvad used feedback to understand how best to increase mothers exposure to maternal and child health messaging.

Case Study

Writing a Terms of Reference

Set expectations for responsive feedback from the start

Get started

Writing a proposal

Build feedback into programs from the start.

Get started

Kick off meetings

Build responsive feedback into timelines and plans.

Get started

Inception Phase

Embed responsive feedback in program activities and measurement, evaluation and learning plans. Ensure that time and budget is dedicated to learning and adapting.

Get started

Formative research

Begin to discover valuable lessons from feedback.

Get started

Pause & Reflect meetings

Rally the team to reflect on what we can learn from feedback.

Get started

U: Uncover assumptions

In this step, we examine our beliefs about how we think our programs work, looking for assumptions and areas where we could benefit from learning more.

Process

R: Reveal learning opportunities

Now that we have identified areas to investigate, let’s write specific learning questions.

Process

V: Seek evidence

In this step, we seek feedback that can provide evidence to help answer our learning questions.

Process

E: Evolve

Now it’s time to learn and adapt. Take time to pause & reflect, study what feedback evidence is saying, and act on your conclusions.

Process

Status meetings

Ensure we are on track with plans to use responsive feedback, and have ‘quick hit’ pause & reflect sessions.

Get started

Midline research

Use research as a mirror to see how we are doing and how we might do better.

Get started

Endline research

Use research as a mirror to see how we are doing and how we might do better.

Get started

Turning tacit knowledge into explicit feedback using Net-Map

Net‐Map was used by The Challenge Initiative to rapidly seek and receive feedback on the current family planning context in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Case Study

Outlining clear decision-making frameworks

The (Re)Solve project: designing and testing innovative, user-centered solutions to accelerate the pace of contraceptive uptake among women and girls in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, and Ethiopia. 

Case Study

Advocating for the use of Responsive Feedback Mechanisms (RFM) in the RASuDiN Project in Nigeria

CCSI used feedback throughout the RASuDiN project to help identify the motivations, abilities and triggers for their different target groups, and track how these changed over time.

Case Study

Download resources

Check out practical advice
and guidance to make
responsive feedback easier.

Self-assessment checklist

Use this self-assessment checklist to critically reflect on how well you achieve responsive feedback in your work. Based on your score, we’ll direct you to relevant sections of the website to explore and improve.

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