research

Research

Introduction
Baseline Community Research
Monitoring & Evaluation
Digital
Research Partnerships

Ace Africa is at the forefront of robust research in rural East Africa and has developed strong links with leading global academic institutions over the last ten years.

Baseline Community Research

Establishing Ace Africa programmes

Our programmes are developed following in-depth research in target areas, with and for communities across key areas; health, HIV, food and economic security, gaps in service provision, rights and education. This community focus ensures that all Ace programmes are bespoke and tailored to meet the specific, unique needs of each community.

  • Ace has conducted baseline research across all its project sites prior to intervention:
  • Baseline Operational Research Bungoma (2002)
  • Baseline Operational Research Siaya (2005)
  • Baseline Operational Research Arusha (2008)
  • Baseline Operational Research Moshi & Arusha (2012)
  • Baseline Operational Research Mwanza (2012)
  • Baseline Operational Research Morogoro (2012)
  • Baseline research in farming communities in Kenya – The Waitrose Foundation (2013)

Please do get in touch with the office if you would like access to any of these research materials. In addition we have a number of external evaluation reports, conducted by Comic Relief and other partners as a resource.

Monitoring & Evaluation

Ace conducts baseline surveys in all target areas to establish levels of vulnerability, areas of intervention and a baseline to measure any change in household health, economic security, stigma reduction over the project period. Pre and post training surveys and follow up tools for all activities are maintained on a monthly and/or quarterly basis (depending on accessibility to all areas) by Ace Africa field staff and community resource persons who have been trained in the timely and accurate collection of data. Ace Africa reports on a monthly basis, conducts bi annual external and internal evaluations which are disseminated to donors, government and partner sectors locally and nationally at discussion forums. Ace Africa conducts donor specific evaluations where required and has established a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system and tools have been developed throughout the duration of the programme in Bungoma and adapted for use in Siaya, Arusha, Moshi and Kome Island. Quantitative and qualitative data is collected to inform programming, these tools include; demographic household surveys, computerised monthly quantitative data, case studies and continuous monitoring and evaluation field tools.

Digital

In 2014, Ace Africa began implementing a major strategic initiative – the integration of digital data collection and analysis across our monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems. Electronic data collection has significant advantages over paper-based systems in terms of cost, quality, security, efficiency and productivity. With this initiative, Ace Africa aims to capitalise on the widespread adoption of low-cost smartphones and tablets in sub-Saharan Africa, which has the potential to transform community development. These tools enable our staff and volunteers to provide Ace efficiently with high-quality data that best demonstrates the impact of our work. With the trending ubiquity of smartphones and tablets, Ace Africa also intends to create Android-based apps that can be used for training, follow-up and educational purposes, furthering the depth and reach of our programmes. With these various efforts, Ace Africa is poised to be at the forefront of the coming digital revolution in community development.

Research Partnerships

Validating results and adding value to programmes in the context of international development debate

Ace Africa works with a number of local and international research institutions on both short and long-term academic research projects.

Department of Public Health, Duke University

Ace Africa has been partnering with the Department of Health at Duke University since 2005 on the study ‘Positive Outcomes for Orphans.’ The cross cultural research study was commissioned by Duke for 5 years conducting research in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Cambodia and India. Previous to the study there was little empirical data to support arguments for the placement of orphans in orphanages, community-based care, or other community centers. A key aim of the study was to identify characteristics of care for orphans that are associated with better child outcomes and compare the short and long term impacts of community and institutional care.

Ace was identified as the leading Kenyan NGO partners in community care and support for orphans and vulnerable children. Approximately every 6 months, 500 households were interviewed to assess the health, physical, psychological and nutritional status of children and their carers. Households in the study were provided basic needs and counseling on a regular basis.

The ultimate goal of the POFO research was to provide additional evidence to local communities, policymakers, and funding agencies regarding a range of optimal and feasible care options for orphaned and abandoned children aged 6 and above in less developed countries.

In 2012 we started a new 5 year project on Trauma Counselling for orphans and vulnerable children which will assist 320 orphans and vulnerable children and their guardians. The project directly follows published findings of Phase one of POFO.

The School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University

Ace Africa partners with Tulane University to undertake community research studies in agricultural practices and technologies, and their effectiveness in delivering sustainable livelihoods. Ace Africa has worked with Tulane and the Rockefeller Foundation on a study of traditional healing practices in the context of deliverable health services.

Third Party Research

Increasingly Ace Africa is being commissioned by a range on of third parties (foundations, donors, corporate partners) to conduct external baseline community research to identify needs and prioritize funding allocation.

  • Recent commissioned external research includes:
  • Research into community needs – The Waitrose Foundation 2013
  • Research into community needs (Ilkidinga, Arumeru District, Arusha Region) – Kilimanjaro Care Foundation 2012
  • Community health needs (Kome Island, Sengerema District, Mwanza Region) – The Vitol Foundation 2012
  • Environmentally cleaner, energy-saving stoves – The Colourful Life Foundation and Sainsbury’s Charitable Trusts 2012
  • Evaluating the social and economic impact of broadband using TV White Space in sub Saharan Africa – ECS Partners and Microsoft 2014-2016