ORIENTATION OBJECTIVES
By the end of this orientation you should:
• Understand the purpose of the ClASS framework
• Understand the main objectives of the ClASS visit
• Understand your role in each phase of the ClASS
process
• Know how to best prepare for the assessment
• Understand how the ClASS modules will be used
PURPOSE OF ClASS FRAMEWORK
• Assess capacity of USG-supported
programs
• Identify technical assistance needs and
available resources
• Facilitate a process to determine next
steps
• Be adaptable to country and program
specific needs
WHAT IS CLASS?
( Adapted from Appreciative Inquiry)
Is Scientific/
Theoretical
Is
Normative
Is
Empowering
Is
Pragmatic
Seeks
sociorational
knowledge
(interpretive)
Seeks practical
knowledge
Seeks appreciative
knowledge of the
unique context
Seeks
knowledgeable
action
Grounded
Observation
Collaborative
dialogue and
choice
Vision Logic
Collective
experimentation
Best of “WHAT
IS”
Consent of
“WHAT SHOULD
BE”
Ideals of “WHAT
MIGHT BE”
Experiencing of
“WHAT CAN BE”
ClASS identified
improvement
opportunities
ClASS identified
best practices
and
considerations
ClASS led Action
Planning
ClASS identified
strengths
ClASS ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES
• Ensure that organizational systems, policies, and procedures
are in place to accomplish stated program goals and
objectives
• Assess the organization’s capacity to provide the funded
services and manage funding
• Identify systems strengthening to enable organizations to
enhance and sustain their programs and service delivery
• Identify program strengths and challenges and provide
appropriate consultation to enhance capacity to provide
quality services
THE ClASS PROCESS
Phase I: Initiation &
Scope
Phase II: Planning &
Preparation
Phase III: Implementation
Phase IV: Reporting &
Evaluation
Phase V: Technical
Assistance &
Action Planning
Phase V:
Technical
Assistance &
Action
Planning
Phase I:
Initiation &
Scope
Phase IV:
Reporting &
Evaluation
Phase II:
Planning &
Preparation
Phase III:
Implementation
Phase
I
INITIATION & SCOPE

Collaborate with the in-country
USG team and implementing
partners to plan the visit

Assist in developing the scope
and defining the purpose of the
assessment
Phase
II
PLANNING & PREPARATION
• Finalize scope of work

Finalize Scope of Work

Provide advance documents

Participate on conference
calls
• Begin logistic
preparations for team

Assist in coordinating
logistics (as needed)
• Conduct conference
calls with the Program
and the Team

Assist in identifying the staff
that will need to be
available during the
assessment
• Identify best matched
consultant team to
Scope of Work
• Recruit Consultants
“The assessment team had strong
competencies and approached
organizations without bias, willing to
learn from them… The pre-assessment
document review was useful as the
team had already acquainted
themselves with the background
information which made their
comments more insightful.”
Partner Staff, Kenya, March 2010
Phase
III
IMPLEMENTATION
• Conduct entrance meeting
with in-country USG
team/implementing partners
• Conduct ClASS / interviews
• Conduct exit conference with
in-country USG
team/implementing partners



Prepare informative
“Entrance presentation” for
ClASS team
Have documents on-site
ready for review if they
cannot be sent in advance
Have key staff available for
interviews on the day(s) of
the ClASS team visit
Phase
III
ENTRANCE PRESENTATION
What to Include:
• Brief synopsis of program
history/background,
• Program/project aims,
• Governance structure,
• Organogram,
• Grants management and program
monitoring activities,
• Accomplishments,
• Current challenges,
• Perceived technical assistance
needs.
Try and limit the presentation to
30 minutes, covering an overview
of the program and program
highlights.
Phase
III
TYPICAL CLASS ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE
• Opening meeting: (30-60 mins)
• Introductions
• Review of ClASS Process by HRSA representative
• Short presentation by site/program staff (overview of
program services)
• Discussion about days schedules/confirm staff to be
interviewed
• Assessment/Interviews (4-6 hours over 1-2 days)
• Debriefing session at the end of the day to review
assessment (1 hour)
Phase
IV
REPORTING & EVALUATION
• Synthesize Program Strengths
Opportunities for Improvement
• Develop recommendations for
final report
• Share draft with partners and
sites for comments
• Collect feedback from all
participants in the process via
online survey
• Finalize report and share with
CDC and local partners



Review the draft report,
make comments,
suggestions, provide
clarification
Finalize action plan
Complete the online
survey on the ClASS
process
Phase
V
FOLLOW-UP & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
• Work with implementing
partners to develop
Action Plans based on
assessment
Opportunities for
Improvement
• Identify existing technical
assistance resources

Coordinate and monitor
capacity development or
action plan activities
“The assessment highlighted in a very
practical way areas that required
improvement and offered some very
constructive suggestions. The CIASS team
conducted a very friendly review and their
affirmations were a great encouragement
to staff.”
Site Staff, Kenya, March 2010
ClASS MODULE DESIGN
• Guiding document for reviewers
• Lists core competencies in each
area and has open-ended
questions
• Reference for reviewers to use
while writing the final report
• Gauge to assess technical
assistance needs
CLASS MODULES
The Leadership and Management module
Covers leadership, management, supervision, and policy and advocacy. Policy
and advocacy competencies explored by this ClASS module include
organizational strategy, resource mobilization, community formation and
mobilization, and advocating for public health for key populations at national,
state, district, and local levels.
The Financial module
Helps review income and expenditures, charges and fees, billing and
collections, accounting systems, accounts payable and cash flow, fixed assets,
inventory and purchasing, payroll, revenue, cost allocation, financial
monitoring, and grants management.
The Administrative module
Assesses organization structure and management, governance, strategic
planning, personnel policies and procedures, clinical personnel issues, licenses
and certifications, risk management and liability protection, facility buildings
and equipment, networking, collaboration, linkages, and management
information systems.
For additional information or to view the ClASS modules in their entirety please
visit the online toolkit at http://classtoolkit.org/assessment-tools
KEY AREAS FOR COLLABORATION
Areas for collaboration include:








Identifying the scope and nature of the
assessment
Selecting representative sites to be
visited
Providing advanced documents well in
advanced of the visit
Making staff available for interviews
Preparing an informative “Entrance
Presentation”
Accompanying the assessment team
Reviewing the assessment report and
providing recommendations
Leveraging existing technical assistance
resources
KEY SUMMARY POINTS
• The ClASS visit is designed to assess the capacity of USG supported
programs and to facilitate a process to determine capacity and
transition readiness (if appropriate)
• Two modules (administrative, financial) are used to conduct a
comprehensive assessment of the organization’s current capacity to
manage grant funds.
• The modules are not meant to be a checklist but rather a guide for
reviewers during the on-site interviews and a reference for writing
the final report
The ClASS framework has been
piloted, refined, and structured for
quality improvement. The approach is
supported by the prepared
implementation, training, and project
management resources. These
materials, in addition to the modular
tools, are now available online at:
http://www.classtoolkit.org.