CII is partnering with Dalberg's Design Impact Group (DIG) to utilize human-centered design across the Bureau for Global Health's work. Below, we have outlined two major themes as possible ways to leverage HCD in your work: Designing for User Needs and Improving Collaboration across Diverse Stakeholders.
Design for User Needs (and reduce risk by engaging them early)
Development programs frequently target the same beneficiaries - there is potential for implementers to gain a more holistic picture of beneficiaries’ needs and expectations. HCD integrates a broad set of practices around a common understanding of beneficiary needs that can improve strategic decision-making as well as increase the effectiveness of individual programs. We work with all stakeholders, from end-beneficiaries to key decision-makers, to align around the most promising opportunities to create value across the ecosystem, before engaging in specific program designs through rapid prototyping.
Improve Collaboration across Diverse Stakeholders
Impact is not just a function of understanding (and designing for) user needs. In most cases the reach and impact of a program is equally dependent on the network of partners that comes together to collaborate on a shared goal. Design can be a powerful tool to increase motivation and engagement across a broad set of diverse partners to get the most out of multi-sector collaborations, particularly those which involve public and private sector partners. DIG is skilled at creating highly collaborative environments as well as building creative problem solving capacity within partner organizations.
Design Use Cases and Methods
When leveraged appropriately, Engage HCD can strengthen each stage of program development. This program has been intentionally designed to be flexible in the ways in which HCD can be applied across various stages of program development. A few examples are noted below.
Method Descriptions
Quantitative research
The collection and analysis of large scale demographic and psychographic data through methods such as surveys and in interviews to gather representative data on current perceptions and practices
Qualitative research
Direct engagement with target users and influencers through interviews, observational and participatory techniques to gather directional data on emerging needs and behavior
Ethnography
A type of qualitative research based on the social sciences that relies on deep immersion in user’s lives and culture in order to minimize bias
User testing
The evaluation of a product or service by directly testing it with users, focusing on the product’s ability to meet users needs and fit into their lives so adoption is easy and natural
Product & service design
Use of agile techniques to test and validate new product, service or business concepts
Prototyping
The process of building an early sample or model of a product, service or system in order to refine and validate the concept or generate new concepts
Co-creation
The process whereby users directly participate in the design of a product or service intended for their use
Messaging & communication
The process of crafting the value proposition of a product or service in a way that is compelling and determining where and when that message is best communicated to different user segments
Awareness & access
Includes any activities to increase the knowledge and reach of a product or service among target user segments, including marketing and sales channels
Community engagement
The process of building long-term relationships with communities to increase trust and the potential to influence behavior and norms
USAID’s Center for Accelerating Innovation and Impact (CII) is partnering with Dalberg’s Design Impact Group (DIG) to utilize HCD across the Bureau for Global Health's work. Please see the contact page to explore how you can engage HCD.