Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting

Framework & Key Concepts

Although collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) are not new to USAID and its implementing partners,
they often do not happen regularly or systematically and are not intentionally resourced. The CLA Framework
above identifies components and subcomponents to help you think more deliberately about what approach to
CLA might be best tailored to your organizational or project context. The framework recognizes the diversity
of what CLA can look like in various organizations and projects while also giving CLA structure, clarity, and
coherence across two key dimensions:

CLA in the Program Cycle: how CLA is incorporated into planning and design processes throughout the
Program Cycle in order to improve their effectiveness; and

Enabling Conditions: how an organization’s culture, daily operating processes, and resource allocation
support CLA integration.

Organizations need both integrated CLA practices appropriate for their context and conducive enabling
conditions to become stronger learning organizations capable of managing adaptively. The framework stresses
the holistic and integrated nature of the various components of CLA to reinforce the principle that CLA is not
a separate workstream—it should be integrated into existing processes to strengthen the discipline of
development and improve aid effectiveness.
INSTRUCTION
Setting the State l Collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) aren’t new for USAID. CLA
work stream or done for its own sake. It’s a different way of approaching our
work as effective as possible; maximizing development impact.
l This process sparks your creative thinking on the various elements in the
begin to brainstorm the activities, behaviors and systems that are a priority fo
systematic, and adequately resourced CLA.

Objective l To identify a few key specific ways that more intentional and systematic
your effectiveness.
l The CLA Maturity Tool helps identify what we are doing well, where we
and out of that, what we want to prioritize. It’s not meant to do everything at
in on a few key tweaks that will be helpful for our work.
l This is not a test or an evaluation, so please think critically and be open a
and what’s not working. You’ll have the opportunity to chose why you feel o
stage and share your thoughts with the group in the CLA discussion. It’s okay
are, but if you can provide an example that supports your selection, it can hel
agreement.

Materials 1. CLA-EC Key Concepts: This provides overview of the building blocks, c
subcomponents of the CLA Framework

2. CLA-EC Spectrum: Each of the 6 components has 2–4 subcomponents. E

has 5 spectrums describes how the subcomponent might show up in your wor
practice, ranging from Not Yet Present to Institutionalized.

3. CLA-EC Self-assessment: You can use this sheet to score each sub-comp
team/organization.
Self-Assessment Process To complete the process of scoring each component of the CLA Framework f
team/organization, please follow these steps:

1. Read the overview of the building blocks (sheet named CLA-EC Key Con
and subcomponents of the CLA Framework (sheet named CLA-EC Key Spe
help you understand the main elements and dimensions of CLA and how they

2. Read both sides of the CLA Framework—CLA in the Program Cycle and E
These are the two key dimensions that guide the integration of CLA througho
processes and the organizational culture, business processes, and resource all

3. CLA Maturity Tool stages help us articulate where we are now and where
with a specific topic. They range from Not Yet Present to Institutionalized. S
for your team/organization by selecting the stage that best describes your curr
can use the descriptions and examples provided in the CLA Maturity Tool (sh
Key Concepts and CLA-EC Spectrums) to help you decide.

4. After scoring each component, you can review your results and identify yo
for improvement. You can also use the CLA Framework and Maturity Tool to
actions to enhance your CLA practices and achieve your development objecti

0 = Not yet present

1 = Emergent
2 = Expanding
3 = Advanced
4 = Institutionalized

CLA in the Program Cycle

Components Sub-Component

Collaborating Internal Collaboration

External Collaboration

Learning Technical Evidence Base

Theories of Change
Contextual Awareness
M&E for Learning

Adapting Pause & Reflect

Adaptive Management

Enabling Conditions
Conditions Sub-Component

Culture Openness
Relationships & Network
Continuous Learning & Improvement
Processes Knowledge Management
Institutional Memory
Decision-Making

Resources People
Other Resources
ting (CLA) aren’t new for USAID. CLA is not a different
It’s a different way of approaching our work; making our
zing development impact.
thinking on the various elements in the CLA Framework, to
aviors and systems that are a priority for intentional,
CLA.

ys that more intentional and systematic CLA could improve

ntify what we are doing well, where we want to improve,

itize. It’s not meant to do everything at once, but really hone
lpful for our work.
so please think critically and be open about what’s working
he opportunity to chose why you feel our team is at a given
e group in the CLA discussion. It’s okay to feel where you
e that supports your selection, it can help everyone come to

vides overview of the building blocks, components, and

rk

components has 2–4 subcomponents. Each sub-component

bcomponent might show up in your work along a spectrum of
t to Institutionalized.

n use this sheet to score each sub-component for your

 ch component of the CLA Framework for your
e steps:

blocks (sheet named CLA-EC Key Concepts), components,

ework (sheet named CLA-EC Key Spectrums). This will
s and dimensions of CLA and how they relate to each other.

work—CLA in the Program Cycle and Enabling Conditions.

guide the integration of CLA throughout the Program Cycle
re, business processes, and resource allocation.

articulate where we are now and where we may want to go

Not Yet Present to Institutionalized. Score each component
g the stage that best describes your current situation. You
provided in the CLA Maturity Tool (sheets named CLA-EC
ms) to help you decide.

can review your results and identify your strengths and areas
e CLA Framework and Maturity Tool to plan and implement
s and achieve your development objectives.

m Cycle
Score
4
3
2
2

ons
Score