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Scaling-up Effective Program Approaches and Methodologies

CARE works around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty, and achieve social justice.

We have identified a set of CARE program approaches/methodologies that we want to adopt, adapt, or scale-up during the strategy cycle to strengthen the quality of our programs:

Model Program Current level of expertiseAmbition
Village Savings and Loans (VSLA)All ProgramsRobust expertise in implementing VSLAiE.
Lead convener for Financial Inclusion Platform
Scale up the use of VSLA in development programming, including as a tool to incentivize health workers, with (women) farmer and entrepreneurial cooperatives, and VSLA.
Start the establishment of VSLA networks and cooperatives.
Maintain lead convener role
Social Analysis and ActionAll ProgramsSAA is fundamental to Women Lead in Emergencies and other CARE models. All project staff are trained on SAA.Systematize the use of SAA alongside VSLA activities and measures to strengthen health and food and market system institutions; investigate potential improvements to better address gender discrimination
Engaging Boys and MenAll ProgramsThis is a core approach in CARE Gender Justice and Women Economic Empowerment models and is used throughout our programSystematize its use in all programs and projects that have a women’s empowerment component and the need to mitigate SGBV, while exploring adaptations to work more effectively with adolescents and young men.
Farmer Field Business SchoolsClimate, Right to Food, Water and NutritionRecently introduced to a few trained staff, extensionists, and academicsFacilitate adoption of the approach by government through academia and Ministry of Agriculture.
Community ScorecardsHealth and Nutrition, Gender and Economic EmpowermentStaff from two projects have received this training; it was implemented in a health projectSystematize the use of Community Scorecards alongside measures to improve health, nutrition, and SGBV services.
Women Lead in EmergenciesHumanitarian ResponseCurrently used at small-scaleContinue testing the approach to decide on future use and potential scaling up.
Gender in EmergenciesHumanitarian ResponseImplemented by CARE Nigeria and widely in CAREContinue to use the approach.
Adolescent Mothers Against ALL Odds (AMAL)Health and Nutrition, Gender JusticeImplemented by CARE Nigeria and widely in CAREContinue to use the approach.
Rapid Gender AnalysisAll ProgramsImplemented by CARE Nigeria and widely in CARECurrently integrated in all country programming. Continue integration.
Gender MarkerAll ProgramsImplemented by CARE Nigeria and widely in CARECurrently integrated in all country programming. Continue integration.
Governance MarkerAll ProgramsImplemented by CARE Nigeria and widely in CARECurrently integrated in all country programming. Continue integration.
Community Vulnerability and Climate AssessmentAll ProgramsCurrently used in several parts of CAREPilot and scale up.
Cash Voucher Assistance/Cash Based TransfersHumanitarian ResponseImplemented by CARE Nigeria and widely in CAREIn-country capacity.

Model 

Program 

Current level of expertise

Ambition

Village Savings and 

Loans (VSLA)

All Programs

Robust expertise in 

implementing VSLAiE. 


Lead convener for Financial 

Inclusion Platform

Scale up the use of VSLA in development programming, 

including as a tool to incentivize health workers, with (women) farmer and entrepreneurial cooperatives, and VSLA.


Start the establishment of VSLA networks and 

cooperatives. 


Maintain lead convener role

Social Analysis and Action

All Programs

SAA is fundamental to Women 

Lead in Emergencies and other 

CARE models. All project staff are 

trained on SAA.

Systematize the use of SAA alongside VSLA activities and 

measures to strengthen health and food and market 

system institutions; investigate potential improvements to better address gender discrimination

Engaging Boys and Men

All Programs

This is a core approach in CARE 

Gender Justice and Women Economic Empowerment models and is used throughout our 

program

Systematize its use in all programs and projects that 

have a women’s empowerment component and the need 

to mitigate SGBV, while exploring adaptations to work 

more effectively with adolescents and young men.

Farmer Field Business Schools

Climate, Right to Food, Water and 

Nutrition

Recently introduced to a few trained staff, extensionists, and 

academics

Facilitate adoption of the approach by government 

through academia and Ministry of Agriculture.

Community Scorecards

Health and Nutrition, Gender and Economic Empowerment

Staff from two projects have received this training; it was implemented in a health project

Systematize the use of Community Scorecards alongside measures to improve health, nutrition, and SGBV services.

Women Lead in Emergencies

Humanitarian Response

Currently used at small-scale

Continue testing the approach to decide on future use and potential scaling up.

Gender in Emergencies

Humanitarian Response

Implemented by CARE Nigeria and widely in CARE

Continue to use the approach.

Adolescent Mothers 

Against ALL Odds (AMAL)

Health and Nutrition, Gender Justice

Implemented by CARE Nigeria and widely in CARE

Continue to use the approach.

Rapid Gender Analysis

All Programs

Implemented by CARE Nigeria and widely in CARE

Currently integrated in all country programming. 

Continue integration.

Gender Marker

All Programs

Implemented by CARE Nigeria and widely in CARE

Currently integrated in all country programming. 

Continue integration.

Governance Marker

All Programs

Implemented by CARE Nigeria and widely in CARE

Currently integrated in all country programming. 

Continue integration.

Community 

Vulnerability and 

Climate Assessment

All Programs

Currently used in several parts of CARE

Pilot and scale up.

Cash Voucher 

Assistance/Cash Based Transfers

Humanitarian 

Response

Implemented by CARE Nigeria and widely in CARE

In-country capacity.