The ARA Steering Committee met to debrief their 2023 ARA Intensive on Spiritual Metrics. The team discusses their key takeaways and reflections of the day.بقلم The Accord Research Alliance Podcast

Dr. Jayakumar Christian, author of "God of the Empty-handed: Poverty, Power, and the Kingdom of God" was the keynote speaker of the 2022 Accord Research Alliance Intensive. This podcast is a recording of his talk, with an introduction from Dr. David Bronkema.بقلم The Accord Research Alliance Podcast

Dr. Drew Hart, author, activist and professor of theology and the Bible at Messiah University and Rodney Green, Senior Manager of Monitoring and Evaluation at Compassion International, have a conversation about the theological foundation to resist perpetuating colonial legacies in the data journey. One framework introduced is “decolonization”, a te…

Emilie Jackson joins the podcast to talk with Nathan Mallonee about the listening work HOPE International does in their microfinance institutions. Their listening practice is geared toward helping them design new microfinance products and services for their clients. Emilie also goes into depth about one particular tool they use for quicker feedback…

Rhett Bailey and Nathan Mallonee from Living Water International share their experience applying rapid testing and experimentation to inform the organization’s strategy development process. The approach — based in design thinking — produced data insights and fostered a discernment process to inform a strategic direction for an organization working …

Rodney Green interviews Allan Kakinda, Senior Manager of Innovation and M&E at Compassion International, about integrating and utilizing different types of evidence in M&E design –generating unique insights for decision-making. Lean Impact by Ann Mei Chang is mentioned, with a helpful review here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/book-review-lean-imp…

This episode is the conversation with Pete Howard, Leadership Consultant with Christian Relief, Development and Advocacy organization hosted by Dr. Subodh Kumar, Chief Data Officer with World Vision International. This conversation touches upon the three theological virtues of Beauty, Goodness and Truth and its importance to Christian Relief, Devel…

Lincoln Lau is back on the podcast! Nathan Mallonee interviews Lincoln, who is the director of research at International Care Ministries (ICM) in the Philippines. ICM has been conducting different RCTs in partnership with Innovations for Poverty Action, and Lincoln comes back to talk to us since they published the results of their first RCT and how…

Nathan Mallonee interviews Nell Becker Sweeden and Zekarias Asfaw from Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) about their global COVID-19 response and a recent evaluation they conducted.For more information about NCM, you can visit: https://www.ncm.orgTo register for the upcoming OneAccord forum on Oct 19-21, visit: https://accordnetwork.org…

Rodney Green talks with Dr. Subodh Kumar, Chief Data Officer from World Vision International, about how to view and utilize data through a Jesus-centered way, or in other words, from a Kingdom perspective, where data is a way to listen to and meet with God as revealed in Jesus. Contact Subodh with questions at: mamtasubodh1702@gmail.com or https://…

Nathan Mallonee talks with Michelle Wijaya, Will Kendall, and Vicky Madzure from HOPE International's Savings Group team about developing their theory of change. HOPE SG Theory of Change Visual Summary: https://hopeinternational.box.com/HOPESGTOCVisual HOPE SG Theory of Change Detailed Visual : https://hopeinternational.box.com/HOPESGTOCDetail HOPE…

Kristen Check interviews Alistair Sim, Principle Scientific Advisor, Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning, at Compassion International. Innovations for Poverty Action/JPAL(causational attribution): https://www.povertyactionlab.org/person/duflo.Self-assessment tool and group facilitation: http://www.grahambodie.com/Evidence-based journalism: …

Mary Kay Gugerty discusses her book, The Goldilocks Challenge: Right-Fit Evidence for the Social Sector, with co-host Nathan Mallonee. Professor Gugerty studies nonprofit performance and accountability systems and teaches public policy to master's students at the Evans School of Public Policy at the University of Washington.Topics include:+ why we …

Last week (October 5-9), we held our sixth annual (and first virtual) intensive. This year it was all online and focused on the theme of "Cultivating a Christ-Centered, Data-Informed, and Responsive Organization: Listening in your M&E Practice."In this special episode, the steering committee talks with each other about the highlights of the week an…

In this special episode, we are playing Dr. Olivia Wilkinson's keynote speech from the 2019 Accord Research Intensive as a way to promote the upcoming 2020 Research Intensive.If you haven't registered yet, the deadline is Thursday, October 1. https://accordnetwork.regfox.com/oneaccord-research To watch a video of Olivia's presentation, go to: https…

Today one of our co-hosts goes on the other side of the mic. Kristen Check interviews Nathan Mallonee about why your organization should have a Theory of Change. Nathan provides details about the process he led at Living Water for developing a Theory of Change and the lessons learned along the way. You can read Living Water's Theory of Change here:…

In this episode, Rodney Green speaks with Dr. Jamie Aten from the Humanitarian Disaster Institute (HDI) about a wide range of inter-connected topics including faith, resilience, and approaches to better understanding and measuring spiritual fortitude in the midst of personal and shared suffering, racial injustice, and the covid-19 pandemic. Resourc…

The ARA podcast is back today talking about (what else?) COVID-19. Nathan Mallonee talks with Rebecca Mentzer and Rodney Green about how different organizations within Accord are responding to COVID-19, especially as it relates to our work to "measure what matters."Resources mentioned in the podcast are available at https://accordnetwork.org/resour…

Today's podcast was recorded live from the 2019 Accord Research Alliance intensive. It provides a recap and analysis of the day from David Bronkema, Kristen Check, Rodney Green, and Nathan Mallonee. To get connected to the Accord Research Alliance and find out more about next year's intensive, email us at ara@accordnetwork.org.…

Dr. Steve Offutt presents on research he and others have conducted on Christian ideas for development, understanding the current theories, networks, and priorities of Accord member organizations.بقلم The Accord Research Alliance Podcast

In advance of the 2019 ARA Research & Spiritual Metrics Intensive, we are sharing several sessions from the 2018 intensive. In this episode, Dr. Laura Shannonhouse gives examples of spiritual metrics used in two studies. Join us at the Accord Research Alliance intensive on September 30, 2019 in Ridgecrest, NC. We will be discussing: “Measuring What…

2018 ARA Spiritual Metrics and Research Intensive panel discussion: "Case Studies of Integrating Development & Faith in Research".Panelists:Kristen Check, Water MissionRebecca Mentzer, HOPE InternationalNathan Mallonee, Living Water InternationalRyan Smedes, FFHMikaela Cochran, Compassion InternationalRegister NOW for the OneAccord Summit!: https:/…

In advance of the 2019 ARA Research & Spiritual Metrics Intensive, we are sharing several keynote sessions from the 2018 intensive. In this episode, Jean Duff, President of the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities shares with the audience an overview of the faith and development sector, including the main actors, issues of focus, …

Stacy Nam is the Senior Programs & Knowledge Manager at the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith & Local Communities (JLI). In this podcast, Nathan Mallonee (from Living Water International) and Stacy talk about what JLI does, how it can be valuable to Accord members, and how Accord members can participate in the Learning Hubs that JLI facilitates. Y…

In this episode, Nathan Mallonee catches back up with Luis Noda, VP for Transformational Engagement at Food for the Hungry. In episode 9, Luis talked about how FH was working on developing a document on the theological foundation for their work in relief and development. This document is now available (https://www.fh.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/…

Michael Woolcock has been at the World Bank for 20 years, where he is the Lead Social Scientist in the Development Research Group. For twelve years he has also been a (part-time) Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.As a sociologist, he's written about culture, social development, and social capital. Michae…

Have you ever wondered if Toms Shoes, child sponsorship, or de-worming interventions are really making a difference? Dr. Bruce Wydick,a professor of development economics at the University of San Francisco, shares from a researcher perspective about what kinds interventions are truly effective for holistic human flourishing. Dr. Wydick has a new bo…

Today's podcast was recorded live at the end of the Spiritual Metrics and Research Intensive on October 29, 2018 at the Accord Forum in Ridgecrest, NC. The podcast's co-hosts, Kristen Check, Rodney Green, and Nathan Mallonee, are joined by David Bronkema to discuss their thoughts on the day and possible next steps for the Accord Research Alliance. …

ARA Podcast Co-Host Rodney Green discusses partnering with a university professor on a mixed-methods case study.Show Notes: This study used a quasi-experimental differences in differences design with 4 comparison groupshttps://www.meda.org/innovate-projectshttp://www.worldrelief.orgEmail us at ara@accordnetwork.org with your ideas for future podcas…

Interviewed by Kristen Check (Water Mission), Mikaela Cochran (Compassion International)describes how the Program Effectiveness Research team is using a quasi-experimental design to study the causal relationship between Compassion's programs and childhood development outcomes.https://www.compassion.com/MCochran@us.ci.org…

Interviewed by Rodney Green (World Relief), Matt Kistler (American Bible Society) describes a research project in Rwanda that required a translation of spiritual metrics from a US context to an international context.Link to the trauma-healing curriculum mentioned in the interview: https://bit.ly/2IIdaxu…

Jeff Bloem is a PhD student in applied economics at the University of Minnesota. He's written several peer-reviewed papers, including a recent one on "measuring hope" in Myanmar and a program evaluation of the material, social, and spiritual impacts of a business skills training program in western Kenya. Jeff is also an active blogger on the topics…

Rebecca Mentzer & Josiah Meneghini discuss Listening, Monitoring and Evaluation at HOPE International - how they developed their unique M&E framework; their focus on “improving” rather than “proving”; successes, failures, and the tools and resources they use to measure program effectiveness; and what excites them in the research space right now.To …

The REVEAL Spiritual Life Survey has been utilized with over 2,000 churches regarding spiritual health. Join Rodney Green from World Relief and Dr. Nancy Scammacca-Lewis to unpack how the survey can inform Christ-centered relief and development.بقلم The Accord Research Alliance Podcast

Jill DeTemple is an associate professor of religious studies at Southern Methodist University. In 2012, Jill wrote "Cement, Earthworms, and Cheese Factories: Religion and Community Development in Rural Ecuador." She also serves on the steering committee for the Religion and International Development Group at the American Academy of Religion. This c…

Nathan Mallonee talks with Daudi Msseemmaa from Convoy of Hope about his experience during the organization's first impact evaluation. As the Regional Field Operations Director for Africa and Asia, Daudi had a unique perspective on what it was like to propose and help oversee an impact evaluation for a women's empowerment project in Ethiopia. He no…

Dr. Bryan Gouge and Matt Kistler are both Research Analysts from Global Scripture Impact, a team within the American Bible Society. Bryan, Matt, and Rodney Green discuss the value of qualitative research methods and the grounded theory approach in establishing an informed theory of change. Bryan and Matt are available for further questions: Bryan G…

Dr. Shannonhouse discusses her experience researching the role of religious coping with resource loss in disaster contexts, and shares resources and instruments for measuring spirituality including several she and her team at Wheaton’s Humanitarian Disaster Institute have recently developed.Show Notes:Laura's webpage: education.gsu.edu/profile/laur…

Today on the podcast we talk with Laura Shannonhouse, Assistant Professor of Counseling and Psychological Services at Georgia State. Laura is also a contributing fellow with the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College. The conversation with Laura was so rich, we will be releasing it in two parts. On today’s podcast, Part 1, we discuss th…

Luis Noda, VP for Transformational Engagement at Food for the Hungry (FH), discusses the work he's doing in his new role around defining and building the organization's philosophy of transformational development. He also discusses why it's important for Christian organizations to think deeply about our theology for relief and development.Email us y…

Dr. Ray Norman, WASH Director of Faith Leadership at World Vision shares about how spiritual metrics has been integrated in their WASH programming in West and East Africa. Beyond the Margins Film - Africa WASH and Disability Study partnership between Messiah College Collaboratory and World Vision:http://www.wvi.org/disability-inclusion/video/beyond…

Lincoln Lau, Director of Research at International Care Ministries (ICM), talks about how he reluctantly became a researcher, how he got connected to ICM, and why ICM is serious about gathering good evidence through RCTs. Bonus: he also goes into why researchers need to be thinking about epistemology. Email us your feedback at ara@accordnetwork.org…

Chad Hayward, Executive Director of the Accord Network, talks with us about the annual One Accord Forum and the role of research and evaluation in "measuring all that matters" to support the work of member organizations. Learn more at www.accordnetwork.org.بقلم The Accord Research Alliance Podcast

Today on the podcast Moriah and Kristen are LIVE from the One Accord Forum in Ridgecrest, NC. Moriah walks us through what it was like conducting Feed My Starving Children's first large-scale longitudinal study as a one-person M&E team, and some useful lessons learned along the way. Reach out to Moriah to learn more at: www.fmsc.org / motto@fmsc.or…

Kate Williams, Quantitative Research Manager for Compassion International, shares about the reasons why rigor is important for measuring what matters.بقلم The Accord Research Alliance Podcast

Nathan Mallonee talks with Kristen Check, program evaluation coordinator at Water Mission and one of the co-hosts of this podcast. Find out more about a major evaluation project Water Mission has been working on over the past year and what Kristen's experience has been as anthropologist working for a water engineering organization. To find out more…

In this episode of the Accord Research Alliance Podcast, we speak with Dr. Stephen Offutt, Associate Professor of Development Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary, about development studies at Asbury, how faith intersects with both poverty and development and what existing poverty indices have failed to consider, and touch on the Accord Research …

This is the first podcast from the Accord Research Alliance. Nathan Mallonee, Kristen Check, and Rodney Green discuss what the Accord Network is, what the Accord Research Alliance does, and why we started this podcast. Email us at ara@accordnetwork.org with your ideas for future podcasts."Cheery Monday" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under…