Ambassadors' Girls' Scholarship Program

Data Management

SageFox creates interactive, on-line custom database applications for each project. We call these database applications FieldLink because they are designed to link the prime contractor directly with the field. We work directly with over 86 non-governmental agencies in countries across Africa to ensure that all data entered is accurate, verified, and useful to the primes and at the local level. In 2009, NGOs using FieldLink in West Africa reported that FieldLink significantly helps them manage the AGSP program. Despite difficult internet connections, 100% of AGSP scholarship data in the West and Southern Regions have been entered by the NGOs directly into FieldLink. This process gives the NGOs ownership, transparency, and accountability of their own data and a direct investment in using data to manage AGSP.

Training

SageFox has a team of master level trainers who conduct trainings in:

Monitoring

SageFox has conducted over 41 Assessment visits to West African AGSP NGOs. Each assessment visit is a week or longer and is a collaborative process that works with the NGOs to discuss the issues that they wish to address. SageFox has a team of West African and USA based monitors that meet regularly to refine the process ensuring that stakeholders take ownership, participate reflectively, and their voices are shared in the assessment.

The purposes of the NGO assessment visits are to:

Assessment visits are designed as a dialogue between the SageFox Monitor and the NGO staff. In an initial meeting, strengths and weaknesses, areas requiring particular attention, and receipts and bookkeeping are discussed. The three subsequent days are spent in the field visiting schools. At each school monitors conduct separate interviews for (1) scholars, (2) parents, (3) community members, (4) selection committee or guidance committee members, and (5) school officials. Often local governmental officials wish to be interviewed as well. There is a defined protocol that is followed for the interviews. On the final day of the week-long evaluation, the NGO staff and monitors meet to discuss the results of the assessment and the next steps.

Case Studies

SageFox conducts in-depth case studies analyzing the larger outcomes of projects. SageFox USA based and Africa based staff collaborate to ensure that the research is conducted in a participatory culturally aware manner that allows for complete involvement of all stakeholders. Reports are written in jargon-free language and triangulated with stakeholders to ensure multivocality.

Surveys

SageFox surveys stakeholders to provide formative and summative data to improve program performance and outcomes. Results are presented in jargon-free reports that present the nuanced comprehensive story told by the data.

Conference Design and Planning

SageFox constructs conferences for NGOs, primes, and stakeholders to confer on monitoring, evaluation and reporting that allows for a collaborative approach to formulating formative and summative results.

Knowledge Platforms

SageFox creates web based knowledge platforms that incorporate database applications, exemplary practices, surveys, tools for project implementation, and learning modules to enhance programmatic implementation and reporting.

Exemplary Practices and Success Stories

In both web based formats and storybooks, SageFox tells the story of thriving projects. Sharing powerful transformative stories of individuals or discussing strategies for NGOs to successful implementation allows stakeholders and others to reflect and enjoy the positive work that is being done in the field.