Operations Research

To ensure that a program remains effective in achieving its objectives, it is critical to maintain consistent planning, coordination, training, and evaluation processes. Conducting operations research (OR) allows one to identify any potential and/or existing barriers to these processes and develop appropriate solutions to overcome them. OR studies can have various objectives: they can identify key important variables, test solutions for overcoming existing barriers, evaluate a program’s impact, or analyze an intervention’s cost-effectiveness. Whether an OR study incorporates one or all of these objectives or not, its ultimate goal is to improve a program’s efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of services. Futures Group staff have a broad range of operations research experience in applying quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches to their studies.

The Futures Group team in Mexico, operating under the USAID│Health Policy Initiative, Task Order One (HPI), has contributed to innovative national policy dialogue efforts by presenting cutting-edge information gained in its operations research on gender-based violence, most-at-risk-populations, and post-exposure prophylaxis. Findings of these studies have prompted subsequent pilot interventions and further policy assessment. The HPI Mexico team is now developing intervention materials and training to help mediate the barriers identified.