Charting Progress Amidst Challenges: Monkeys, Metrics, and Measuring Change

Greetings once again!

Life in Delhi continues to unfold with a blend of excitement, learning, and, of course, a few unexpected challenges. Over the weekend, I was slowed down by a rather severe ENT infection triggered by allergies. Fortunately, Delhi's healthcare facilities were prompt and efficient, and I'm now on the road to recovery.

The office environment has been rather serene recently with many colleagues off on field visits. On the flip side, we had another amusing visit from our resident balcony monkey,

which always livens up the atmosphere!

Progress on the work front continues to thrive amidst all this. My internal and external research for mapping the theory of change is finalized, pending a final review from the central team before we proceed to the workshop stage.

A significant shift is brewing in the direction of my second deliverable. This week, our focus will pivot towards defining the study objectives and measurement metrics for the survey design deliverable. After multiple discussions with the team, we've decided to morph the survey into a longitudinal focus group discussion (FGD) for the program alumni. This shift aims to measure the intangible outcomes of the program.

Under the guidance of the ASER Head, we anticipate that the process of developing this tool will require multiple iterations to get it just right. Our approach? Design a series of pilot FGDs to test our questions. I'm currently delving deep into the Life Skills module of the Second Chance program, framing relevant questions, and designing an approach to measure these facets through FGDs. There have been several iterations, but I believe this process will ensure our tool is as effective as possible.

Outside work, Delhi continues to be delightful! I've settled into more permanent housing and have even found a local gym to maintain my fitness routine.

Despite a few hiccups, my journey continues to be filled with rewarding work, new experiences, and the occasional monkey encounter! I'm looking forward to sharing more with you soon.

Until next time,

Safira