1. H4P
“Assessing the effectiveness of
Peacekeeping Forces”
Christos Makridis, Shira McKinlay, Amanda Parker
Weekly Interviews: 4 on skype and 6 on phone
Our team is working with the Pol-Mil Bureau to developing: (i) an enabling
tool for aggregating key qualitative insights in real-time, and (ii) a
systematic and standardized framework for evaluating whether the funds
the U.S. provides for bilateral support are helping to achieve the desired
outcomes.
“OK, I absolutely love this!”
2. Weekly Customer Discovery
Hypotheses
• Decision-makers want accessible information that can be condensed to a
series of graphs
• Buy-in requires empowering the “intermediary” personnel to make their
work more efficient and effective for feeding info up the org ladder
• Most of the data needed to make this reality is available, but currently in
awkward and hard to access formats
Experiments
• We developed a revised report and shared it with additional key partners
and stakeholders
• We developed a mock-up application with the information that could be
inputted in lieu of the content-heavy Trip Reports
Results
• Refined metrics and outputs
• Socialized the concept for our new data framework
• Tentative technology solution that applies an already existing platform
3. Mission Model Canvas
*Proof of concept in
priority area,
followed by
Evaluation,
adjustment and
global
implementation
Beneficiaries
Mission AchievementMission Budget/Costs
Buy-In/Support
Deployment
Value PropositionKey Activities
Key Resources
Key Partners
-GPOI manager
-APRRP manager
-OSD Humanitarian
assistance managers
-Stabilization Ops PK
manager OSD
-PKO stability &
Humanitarian Asst.
-M&E Contractors
-UNDPKO Head of
Department
*Analytical assessment
to justify appropriate
funding & allocation
*Helps fulfill XO
and policy priority
*Effective and efficient
deployment of
resources
*Provides situational
awareness for training
*Provides reliability
indicator as to data.
*Ease of data collection
*Saves time and
resources
*Addresses
recognized UN
deficiency & adhere
to mandate
*UN DPKO
*Administrators of
All Partners Access
Network (APAN)
*US Inst. Of Peace
*Regional Orgs
(Global combatant
center)
*DOD Contractors
*Local Governments
*Peacekeepers
*World Bank (in
partnership with UN
DKPO)
*Chief of Peace
Operations Capacity
Building Division.
*Director of the Office of
Programs and Initiatives
*Deputy Assistant
Secretary/Assistant
Secretary Pol-Mil
* Identify breadth
of the data
* Determine type
of data & need
for prog. eval.
* Work w/
agency to
improve data
sharing
*Program
participants
*APAN
knowledge
master
*Other agency
data teams for
sharing &
possible site
expansion
*Software engineering
*Possible augmentation to existing APAN Help-Desk
*Systematic process for program evaluation that
becomes automated and routine for every
bilateral transfer and partnership
*Improved reliability of collated information
7. Buy-in (Graphical)
Asst. Sec
Dep. Asst. Sec.
Director of PM
Programs & Initiatives
Chief of Peace Operations Capacity
Building
Decision memo
Outline briefing
Stakeholders:
COCOMS &
Embassies
8. Buy-in (Narrative)
Assistant Secretary
From a high-level organizations perspective, the secretary understands that, while cables and trip
reports still serve a purpose, they have become restrictive, time consuming, and burdensome. The
reporting requirements affect employee engagement and morale, and they do not even serve their intent
of aggregating information (since there is no efficient storage capabilities nor a means of converting the
text to data). By introducing a comprehensive data architecture, we also address a need on their end
over the desire to be perceived as innovative and data-driven (rather than subjective).
Director of PM Programs and Initiatives
We take the stress out of large-scale evaluation of programs and initiatives by introducing a greater role
for data and an automated data collection strategy. Whereas previously many resources (often hidden)
are allocated towards collecting information, we lighten the load so that more efforts can be allocated
towards auditing partner countries and focusing on large scale strategy (e.g., how to better coordinate
efforts with UN). We also allow the analysis to take place real-time, rather than waiting many days for a
report to arrive. We make submitting data via the PeaceStar mobile app straightforward and quick.
Chief of Peacekeeping Operations & Capacity Building
We directly influence how information flows into her office. One of the major challenges is consolidating
and synchronizing efforts. If we can make her job easier—that is, helping employees better coordinate
and access information—that is less time she needs to allocate towards calling people on the phone,
checking into projects, and, more generally, investing political capital to acquire information that would
otherwise be in the hands of a few. We also make her role easier by empowering employees to add
information in any part of the supply chain, helping them see how they can influence the end outcomes.
9. Get-Keep-Grow
- Ensure that the hand-off is
implemented properly
- Small wins with attainable and
explicit goals
- Improve the product functionality
at a proportional rate as their
problem is changing
- Show how the
product can solve
more of their
problems
- Talk to more
people to build
referrals
- Monitor inputs and
ensure that the
system is
sufficiently
adaptable
- Advertise success
stories of the
technology and what
it enabled users to
achieve
- Create interagency
bridges so tech can
cross agencies
- Word of mouth
sharing
Viral loop
10. Value Canvas (PKO Program Director)
Jane, mid 40s, 15+ yrs exp in gov, savvy
Gain Creators
• Clear reports with easily assembled information
• Improved allocation of resources
• Likelihood of self sufficiency in TCCs (avoids misallocation)
Products and Services
• Established metrics to determine inputs
• Data assembled in accessible and concise report
Pain Relievers
• Information to advocate for funding located in a centralized hub
• Reduces burdens on staff to manually seek out information and track down specific people
Gains
• Clear reports to justify funding
• Fulfills executive policy priorities
• Capacity building in TCCs
Pains
• Inadequate information to advocate for funding
• Lack of resources (e.g., funds / expertise)
Customer Jobs
• Allocate finite resources
• Direct information into platform
11. Value Canvas (M&E Contractors)
Joe, development experience, data expertise or field
experience (retired military)
Gain Creators
• Clear reports with easily assembled information
Products and Services
• Established metrics to link inputs and outputs
• Data assembled in accessible and concise report
Pain Relievers
• Fewer resources to complete reports
• Reliability of information built into quantitative analysis
Gains
• Easy to assemble and reliable information
• Less time and effort to report for accurately assessing programs
Pains
• Difficult to determine reliable information
• Lack of resources (e.g., funds / expertise)
Customer Jobs
• Provides inputs for completing reports
12. Value Canvas (UN DPKO)
Jeff, contractor, retired military, early 50s,
impatient w/ bureaucratic processes
Gain Creators
• Easy to use non-technical platform with accurate and clear assessment of mandate compliance
Products and Services
• Data assembled in easy formats
• Established metrics linking inputs to outputs
Pain Relievers
• Resources will be directed in a more efficient way
• Improved decision-making reduces casualties and improves morale with participating countries
• Increases stability and country sustainability in the long-run
Gains
• Properly monitoring missions raises support and transparency
• Allows for greater focus on missions most likely to succeed, as well as avoid catastrophes
Pains
• Misdirected resources
• Lack of resources (e.g., funds / expertise)
• Political instability
Customer Jobs
• Provides inputs for assessing compliance with UN mandates