Giving Compass' Take:

• In this FHI 360 post, Bryanna Millis, the Technical Director for the USAID Jordan Local Enterprise Support project, details evidence-based approaches to promote and sustain economic growth.

• The three principles described are: timely, actionable and transparent data. How can we make sure those elements are always embedded in the metrics we use?

• Learn more about an open-data approach to transform grantmaking.

For more than a decade, FHI 360’s experts have worked to address critical human development issues in Jordan. Our programs encourage long-term economic growth to increase revenue and create jobs, particularly for underserved communities. Bryanna Millis, the Technical Director for the USAID Jordan Local Enterprise Support (USAID LENS) project, explains FHI 360’s strategies to use evidence-based approaches not only to promote but also to sustain economic growth.

Our tagline is “the science of improving lives” and this concept runs through all we do. We gather and make use of data at the very early stages of program design and implementation, rather than just the end. We start our projects with analysis, make the data and analysis easy to understand across wide audiences, and then find ways to make sure the data is used by the different stakeholders involved.

On the USAID LENS project, for example, we started with a survey of micro- and small enterprises to understand their characteristics, needs and priorities for growth. The results drove all our major activities during the five years — from grants to policy reform.

We found the number one factor that limited growth was the lack of a process by which to formalize a small business. There was no law allowing people to register and license small, home-based businesses. We developed the necessary legal instruments over the course of three years. Micro- and small businesses can now sell their products in formal markets.

Read the full article about catalyzing economic growth through data by Bryanna Millis at degrees.fhi360.org.