WHAT IS

“CLASS”?

A B R I E F O R I E N T A T I O N T O T H E C L A S S ME T H O D O L O G Y

ORIENTATION OBJECTIVES

By the end of this orientation you should:

• Understand the purpose of the ClASS framework

• Understand the main objectives of the ClASS visit

• Understand your role in each phase of the ClASS process

• Know how to best prepare for the assessment

• Understand how the ClASS modules will be used

• Assess capacity of USG-supported programs• Identify technical assistance needs and

available resources• Facilitate a process to determine next

steps• Be adaptable to country and program

specific needs

PURPOSE OF ClASS FRAMEWORK

WHAT IS CLASS? ( Adapted from Appreciative Inquiry)

ClASS led Action Planning

ClASS identified best practices

and considerations

ClASS identified improvement opportunities

ClASS identified strengths

Is Pragmatic

Seeks knowledgeable

action

Collective experimentation

Experiencing of “WHAT CAN BE”

Is Empowering

Seeks appreciative knowledge of the

unique context

Vision Logic

Ideals of “WHAT MIGHT BE”

Is Normative

Seeks practical knowledge

Collaborative dialogue and

choice

Consent of “WHAT SHOULD

BE”

Is Scientific/ Theoretical

Seeks sociorational knowledge

(interpretive)

Grounded Observation

Best of “WHAT IS”

ClASS ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES

• Ensure that organizational systems, policies, and procedures are in place to accomplish stated program goals and objectives

• Assess the organization’s capacity to provide the funded services and manage funding

• Identify systems strengthening to enable organizations to enhance and sustain their programs and service delivery

• Identify program strengths and challenges and provide appropriate consultation to enhance capacity to provide quality services

Phase I: Initiation & Scope

Phase II: Planning & Preparation

Phase III: ImplementationPhase IV: Reporting &

EvaluationPhase V: Technical

Assistance & Action Planning

THE ClASS PROCESS

Phase I: Initiation &

Scope

Phase II: Planning & Preparation

Phase III: Implementation

Phase IV: Reporting & Evaluation

Phase V: Technical

Assistance & Action

Planning

INITIATION & SCOPE

Collaborate with the in-country USG team and implementing partners to plan the visit

Assist in developing the scope and defining the purpose of the assessment

Phase I

• Finalize scope of work• Identify best matched

consultant team to Scope of Work

• Recruit Consultants• Begin logistic

preparations for team• Conduct conference

calls with the Program and the Team

Finalize Scope of Work Provide advance documents Participate on conference

calls Assist in coordinating

logistics (as needed) Assist in identifying the staff

that will need to be available during the assessment

PLANNING & PREPARATIONPhase II

“The assessment team had strong competencies and approached organizations without bias, willing to learn from them… The pre-assessment document review was useful as the team had already acquainted themselves with the background information which made their comments more insightful.”

Partner Staff, Kenya, March 2010

• Conduct entrance meeting with in-country USG team/implementing partners• Conduct ClASS / interviews• Conduct exit conference with

in-country USG team/implementing partners

IMPLEMENTATIONPhase

III

Prepare informative “Entrance presentation” for ClASS team

Have documents on-site ready for review if they cannot be sent in advance

Have key staff available for interviews on the day(s) of the ClASS team visit

What to Include:• Brief synopsis of program

history/background, • Program/project aims, • Governance structure, • Organogram, • Grants management and

program monitoring activities, • Accomplishments, • Current challenges,• Perceived technical assistance

needs.

ENTRANCE PRESENTATIONPhase III

Try and limit the presentation to 30 minutes, covering an overview

of the program and program highlights.

TYPICAL CLASS ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE

• Opening meeting: (30-60 mins)• Introductions• Review of ClASS Process by HRSA representative• Short presentation by site/program staff (overview of

program services)• Discussion about days schedules/confirm staff to be

interviewed• Assessment/Interviews (4-6 hours over 1-2 days)• Debriefing session at the end of the day to review

assessment (1 hour)

Phase III

• Synthesize Program Strengths Opportunities for Improvement• Develop recommendations for

final report• Share draft with partners and

sites for comments• Collect feedback from all

participants in the process via online survey• Finalize report and share with

CDC and local partners

REPORTING & EVALUATIONPhase IV

Review the draft report, make comments, suggestions, provide clarification

Finalize action plan Complete the online

survey on the ClASS process

• Work with implementing partners to develop Action Plans based on assessment Opportunities for Improvement

• Identify existing technical assistance resources

FOLLOW-UP & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCEPhase V

Coordinate and monitor capacity development or action plan activities

“The assessment highlighted in a very practical way areas that required improvement and offered some very constructive suggestions. The CIASS team conducted a very friendly review and their affirmations were a great encouragement to staff.”

Site Staff, Kenya, March 2010

ClASS MODULE DESIGN

• Guiding document for reviewers• Lists core competencies in each

area and has open-ended questions

• Reference for reviewers to use while writing the final report

• Gauge to assess technical assistance needs

CLASS MODULES The Leadership and Management module

Covers leadership, management, supervision, and policy and advocacy. Policy and advocacy competencies explored by this ClASS module include organizational strategy, resource mobilization, community formation and mobilization, and advocating for public health for key populations at national, state, district, and local levels.

The Financial module

Helps review income and expenditures, charges and fees, billing and collections, accounting systems, accounts payable and cash flow, fixed assets, inventory and purchasing, payroll, revenue, cost allocation, financial monitoring, and grants management.

The Administrative module

Assesses organization structure and management, governance, strategic planning, personnel policies and procedures, clinical personnel issues, licenses and certifications, risk management and liability protection, facility buildings and equipment, networking, collaboration, linkages, and management information systems.

For additional information or to view the ClASS modules in their entirety please visit the online toolkit at http://classtoolkit.org/assessment-tools

Areas for collaboration include:

Identifying the scope and nature of the assessment

Selecting representative sites to be visited

Providing advanced documents well in advanced of the visit

Making staff available for interviews Preparing an informative “Entrance

Presentation” Accompanying the assessment team Reviewing the assessment report and

providing recommendations Leveraging existing technical

assistance resources

KEY AREAS FOR COLLABORATION

KEY SUMMARY POINTS• The ClASS visit is designed to assess the capacity of USG supported

programs and to facilitate a process to determine capacity and transition readiness (if appropriate)

• Two modules (administrative, financial) are used to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the organization’s current capacity to manage grant funds.

• The modules are not meant to be a checklist but rather a guide for reviewers during the on-site interviews and a reference for writing the final report

The ClASS framework has been piloted, refined, and structured for quality

improvement. The approach is supported by the prepared implementation, training, and project management resources. These

materials, in addition to the modular tools, are now available online at:

http://www.classtoolkit.org.