Vale a Pena

Population Service International's Human Centered Design Program

OVERVIEW

Role

Learning Partner

Category

Non-profit Organization

In my role as the Lead Data Analyst at Visualst, I provided an independent systematic review of PSI's Vale a Pena project implementation, serving as a learning partner to support decision-making. Through operational research, I continuously informed the design and implementation of project solutions. I contributed to adjusting the demand-creation packages and providing training and capacity building for staff, while also tracking the appeal of different models to beneficiaries' aspirations and increasing awareness of adolescent health.

The project employed human-centered design (HCD) to gain deeper insights into the barriers and motivations of rural adolescent girls. User-centered interventions were designed to promote the use of family planning as a means for them to achieve their goals, such as starting a business or completing their education before starting a family.

Deliverables | Target Audience

Bi-annual Operational Learning Report | Department of International Development
Quarterly Learning Report | Executive Leadership
Monthly Newsletter | Field Team & Executive Leadership
Adaptive Learning & Implementation Workshop | Field Team
Feedback Mechanisms | Field Team & Target User

Qualitative research: Field visits, interviews across the organizational hierarchy (target group to the donor), surveys, and team reports.

Quantitative research: Health Impact, Financial, and Resource Data

Added value: Synthesizing large sums of information into actionable insights easily digestible for decision-makers of the target audience, leveraging visualization through custom-made data visualizations Adobe with Illustrator and report design, maintaining brand-integrity.

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Thematic Areas for Assesment

Technical feasibility: VAP's capacity to implement the project

Desirability: The project and team's ability to spark beneficiaries' dreams and joys

Reach and scale: VAP's ability to expand the number of sites or increase project coverage

Health impact: The difference between before and after periods

Value for Money: The impact of money invested in the project

Learning Questions

How are youth voices involved in the design process? How do their contributions ultimately manifest in the intervention(s)?

How does VAP draw on and integrate the AYSRH and/or health systems evidence-base in the design of its intervention(s)?

How do the insights derived from the project’s formative phase inform and manifest in the ultimate designed intervention(s)?

Challenge

Challenge #1

Language barrier

Operational Learning Report

Two months into working in Maputo, I conducted my first field visit, where I stood as the sole representative tasked with analyzing the program conducted in both Portuguese and the local language, with only a week to prepare.

Solution

I adapted by studying and writing questions in Portuguese, implementing interviews with pre-practiced questions, and closely observing body language, engagement, and event flow to gather accurate information.

Results

My adaptations became informed standardized procedures for future visits.

Received high praise for the quality of analysis and insights.

Secured a two-year contract

Custom Visualization Samples

Operational Learning Report