Adaptive Interventions to Promote Change in the 21st Century: The Responsive Feedback Approach

 

The responsive feedback (RF) approach is part of a family of intervention designs that aim to collect timely data to serve as feedback to planners and implementers and make appropriate changes to the interventions to enhance their success while the intervention is still in progress. The RF approach is similar to but also builds on other approaches (e.g., adaptive management and feedback loops/mechanisms) to offer an integrated, systematic, and systemic method to improve outcomes. In sum, the RF approach is a culmination of a movement of experimentation aimed at improving social change programs building on the strengths of different intervention practices. Several initiatives are already using elements of the RF approach with varying degrees of success. 

This supplement aims to describe:

• The RF approach and discuss similarities and differences with other approaches, such as continuous quality improvement
• Major challenges in designing and implementing an RF effort
• Theoretical, interventional, and methodological considerations in adopting and adapting RF
• Challenges in introducing and establishing “test and learn” cultures within organizations
• Exemplar cases using an RF approach in different variations

​TABLE OF CONTENTS

Getting Rigor Right: A Framework for Methodological Choice in Adaptive Monitoring and Evaluation

Christina Synowiec, Erin Fletcher, Luke Heinkel, and Taylor Salisbury

Evidence for Decision-Making: The Importance of Systematic Data Collection as an Essential Component of Responsive Feedback

Rachel F. McCloud, Mesfin A. Bekalu, Tom Vaughan, Lydia Maranta, Eliz Peck, K. Viswanath

Using a Responsive Feedback Approach to Develop and Pilot a Counseling Chatbot to Strengthen Child Nutrition in Rural India

Namrata Tomar, Sriya Srikrishnan, Neal Lesh and Brian DeRenzi

Designing and Implementing the Adaptive Learning Meeting Cycle: The (re)solve Project Experience in Burkina Faso

Reshma Trasi, Cecelia Angelone, and Ginette Hounkanrin

Codeveloping an Adolescent Health Program in India During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of a Community-Partnered Responsive Feedback Approach

Ricky Sharma, Mohammed Danish, Yasmin Khajenoori, Daniya Shaikh, Yasmeen Chaudary, Hiba Khan, Neha Bhat, Avani Doshi, Samruddhi Nalawade, Pawan Rajput, Snigdha Shahi and Priya Shankar

Improving State Government’s Responsiveness to Family Planning Interventions in Nigeria Using an Innovative Reflection and Action Tool

Lekan Ajijola, Victor Igharo, Nneoma Anieto, Lisa Mwaikambo

Strengthening Social and Behavior Change Programming Through Application of an Adaptive Management Framework: A Case Study in Tanzania

Claire Gillum, Kara Tureski, Joseph Msofe

Using Responsive Feedback in Scaling a Gender Norms-Shifting Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Intervention in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Kathryn M. Barker, Jennifer Gayles, Mariam Diakité, Florentine Gracia Diantisa, Rebecka Lundgren

Improving Program Outcomes Through Responsive Feedback: A Case Study of a Leadership Development Academy in Nigeria

Teslim Aminu, Onajite Otokpen, Ijeoma Mmirikwe, Oluwasegun Adetunde, Ibidun Ajuwon, Adesina Adelakun, Abdulateef Salisu, Faisal Shuaib, Uchenna Igbokwe and Muyi Aina

How The Challenge Initiative Adapted and Used Pause and Reflect Responsive Feedback Sessions for Adaptive Management in Nigeria

Nneoma Anieto, Lekan Ajijola, Victor Igharo, Sarah Jane Holcombe, Lisa Mwaikambo

Leveraging Responsive Feedback to Redesign a Demand Generation Strategy: Experience From the IntegratE Project in Lagos State, Nigeria

Emeka Emmanuel Okafor, Bolaji Gbenuade Oladejo, Michael Alagbile, Sikiru Baruwa, David O. Ayinde, Jennifer Anyanti, Toyin O. Akomolafe