Technical Services » Research and Strategic Information

Futures Group provides research and strategic information services that include

  • Demographic Research
  • Qualitative Research
  • Quantitative Research
  • Operations Research
  • Surveys
  • Data Demand and Information Use (DDIU)
  • Program Monitoring
  • Program Evaluation
  • Surveillance

These services are described in more detail below.

Demographic Research

Understanding the demographics of a selected population is essential when undertaking public health initiatives, especially when developing social marketing, policy and advocacy, and awareness-raising activities. Existing demographic datasets, such as the nationally representative household Demographic and Health Surveys (DHSs) conducted every five years in many countries, are invaluable assets when performing secondary analyses.

Futures Group recognizes the importance of maintaining a solid understanding of target populations when working in the health sector and often calls on existing demographic datasets for its project activities, such as market segmentation analyses. For example, Futures Group in Rwanda is supporting national-level public-private dialogue to increase private sector participation in family planning (FP) provision. The lack of good information on the private sector in Rwanda spurred the Futures Group team to conduct a baseline assessment of private sector services for FP in Rwanda. The team used the 2007 DHS dataset to undertake a market segmentation analysis, which served as the quantitative data inputs for the baseline assessment. By discussing the assessment’s results in high-level stakeholder workshops, the team hopes to foster development of innovative strategies for increasing private sector involvement in family planning.

Qualitative Research

Qualitative research provides valuable insight into what people think and believe about key public health issues. Although quantitative approaches offer structured datasets, the flexibility of subjective information inherent within qualitative methods allows for more in-depth exploration of a specific issue. Qualitative research studies are vital for assessing the needs of populations and planning appropriate programs to meet those needs and can be applied in efforts spanning the public health discipline—from advocacy and policy initiatives to social marketing and behavior change programs.

Futures Group uses a variety of approaches when conducting qualitative research, including targeted focus group discussions and individual in-depth interviews. For example, under its USAID-funded Communication for Behavior Change: Expanding Access to Private Sector Health Products and Services in Afghanistan (COMPRI-A) Project, Futures Group is currently conducting a qualitative research “Community Influencers Study” to measure understanding and behavior against FP/MCH service use in Afghanistan. Interviews of more than 800 primary and secondary influencers will help assess their importance in the decisions of potential users to use a health product and help design effective communication strategies to overcome any barriers resulting from that influence.

Quantitative Research

Decisionmakers rely on strong datasets to make strategic and evidence-based decisions on public health initiatives. Quantitative research studies generate many of those vital datasets. Recognizing this link, Futures Group’s approach to research is to work with key stakeholders throughout the research process with the goal of collecting relevant information that is aligned with local health initiatives, leading to findings that can be used to draw practical and actionable conclusions for program development and improvement. In collaboration with local stakeholders, Futures Group experts actively conduct primary research studies, as well as secondary analyses and triangulation of existing datasets.

Under the MEASURE Evaluation Project, for example, Futures Group is now conducting an exploratory survey of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Kigali, jointly with the National AIDS Control Commission and UNAIDS. Rwandan HIV policy has not yet addressed HIV prevention among MSM, primarily due to a lack of data on the nature of homosexual (risk) activity in Rwanda. This study is designed to obtain preliminary data on the nature of MSM HIV risk activity in Kigali to influence national HIV/STI prevention and care policy, as well as inform a more comprehensive national survey of MSM.

Operations Research

To ensure that a program remains effective in achieving its objectives, it is critical to maintain consistent planning, coordination, training, and evaluation processes. Conducting operations research (OR) allows one to identify any potential and/or existing barriers to these processes and develop appropriate solutions to overcome them. OR studies can have various objectives: they can identify key important variables, test solutions for overcoming existing barriers, evaluate a program’s impact, or analyze an intervention’s cost-effectiveness. Whether an OR study incorporates one or all of these objectives or not, its ultimate goal is to improve a program’s efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of services. Futures Group staff have a broad range of operations research experience in applying quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches to their studies.

The Futures Group team in Mexico, operating under the USAID│Health Policy Initiative, Task Order One (HPI), has contributed to innovative national policy dialogue efforts by presenting cutting-edge information gained in its operations research on gender-based violence, most-at-risk-populations, and post-exposure prophylaxis. Findings of these studies have prompted subsequent pilot interventions and further policy assessment. The HPI Mexico team is now developing intervention materials and training to help mediate the barriers identified.

Surveys

Futures Group believes that a hallmark of effective policy development is the use of up-to-date and accurate information throughout the policy process. Filling information gaps requires relevant research studies that generate reliable and current datasets. One of the most efficient and effective methods for producing such data is to systematically survey target populations. Futures Group has expertise in carrying out all aspects of survey research, including questionnaire development; sampling; data collection, entry, and analysis; and reporting.

When beginning its work in post-military rule Nigeria, the Futures Group team faced a paucity of information essential for good policymaking. Collection, analysis, and use of data and original research were thus vital to Nigeria’s process in national health policymaking. To fill the information void, Futures Group supported 14 surveys and research studies in that country under the USAID-funded POLICY Project, covering a variety of health areas. As a result, current and accurate information guided all work completed by the Futures Group in Nigeria under this project.

Data Demand and Information Use (DDIU)

One of the basic premises of Futures Group’s approach to sustainable development is that “health data and information lack value unless they are used to inform decisions.” Interventions that increase local demand for information and facilitate its use enhance evidence-based decisionmaking. Therefore, data demand and information use (DDIU) are critical to improving the effectiveness and sustainability of the health system.

Since 1979 Futures Group has led the field in using data for decisionmaking on international development, in general, and in public health, in particular. For example, as the prime contractor on a series of USAID-funded projects (RAPID, OPTIONS, POLICY, and HPI), Futures Group has helped introduce the use of evidence in the development of and advocacy for health and population policies around the world. And, as a key partner on the USAID-funded MEASURE Evaluation Project, Futures Group is working globally to increase demand for quality data, methods, and tools and facilitate information use in decisionmaking. Under the project, Futures Group developed the DDIU conceptual framework and tools, which are used to aid policymakers and stakeholders in decisionmaking strategies that are viable, sustainable, and evidence-based decisions.

Program Monitoring

Program monitoring is critical for all types of health programs: from nationally sponsored health initiatives to smaller-scale projects implemented by cooperating agencies. Recognizing the importance of maintaining consistent and accurate monitoring activities, Futures Group not only ensures that its own projects contain robust monitoring systems, but has also developed and implemented monitoring systems for several projects led by other implementing partners in the field. Futures Group also provides stakeholders in national governments and civil society organizations with technical assistance in adopting appropriate monitoring systems and creating efficient and effective monitoring practices.

Under the USAID│Health Policy Initiative, for example, Futures Group developed a Results Database to monitor results designated within the project’s results framework. Submitted quarterly by country teams, Futures Group’s M&E and Quality Assurance teams review the results to ensure their appropriate definition within HPI’s results framework before entry into the database. Country teams can use the Results Database to monitor their progress over time as a country—in either a particular area or specific intermediate result—and compare their progress with other countries, regions, or subject areas. The database is an extremely useful tool for all HPI staff, both management and programmatic, for tracking progress and identifying gaps in HPI’s program.

Program Evaluation

The key to determining the merit and value of a specific program is program evaluation. Whether evaluating program processes, outcomes, or impact, the findings of evaluation studies can be used to improve programs and make more informed decisions about future resource allocations.

With more than 30 years of experience, Futures Group has developed a deep understanding of and respect for evaluation activities. Futures Group experts have conducted a wide array of evaluation studies, including cost analyses, surveys, implementation assessments, operations research, and quality assessments. For example, under the MEASURE Evaluation Project, the Futures Group team conducted cost-effectiveness analyses under a targeted evaluation of orphans and vulnerable children programs in Tanzania and Kenya. The evaluations allowed the MEASURE team and national governments to identify which program models and interventions were most effective at improving child outcomes. Also under MEASURE Evaluation, Futures Group collaborated on a cost-effectiveness analysis through a larger, two-phase evaluation of PEPFAR-funded HIV/AIDS palliative care services in Uganda and Kenya. This analysis evaluated how program components and costs related to health outcomes. As with all evaluation activities, these analyses were intended to provide relevant national governments with information needed to improve their programs, thus expanding program reach and impact for target populations.

Surveillance

Defined as “ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data” by the CDC, surveillance is an essential activity for planning, implementing, and evaluating public health priorities and programs. By conducting analyses of sentinel surveillance data and targeted behavioral surveillance studies, Futures Group has provided guidance to governments throughout the developing world on national HIV prevalence estimates and appropriate, focused prevention activities for addressing high-risk populations. In addition, Futures Group has worked with ministries of health (MOHs) on improving planning, protocols, and infrastructure supporting implementation of surveillance systems. This support has provided regional and national decisionmakers with accurate and reliable information on the HIV epidemic among high-risk populations.

For example, under the CDC-funded Support for HIV Surveillance in Central America Program, Futures Group supported evaluation of surveillance systems in the Honduran and Guatemalan MOHs to assist the National AIDS Programs in strengthening their information system infrastructures by improving data collection tools and study protocols.