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Agricultural productivity, Senegal (2023) Catholic Relief Services (CRS) analyzed the cost-efficiency of improving agricultural productivity in Senegal rural areas through capacity strengthening of Private Agricultural Service Providers (PASPs), who in turn support young men and women farmers and existing Savings and Internal Lending Community- (SILC) groups with access to quality agricultural inputs, technical services, training, and markets, to increase production, yields and revenue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1758648194611-75VVLY90NPFXBGEA97M9/image-asset.png Dioptra Case Studies - Agricultural productivity, Senegal (2023) Catholic Relief Services (CRS) analyzed the cost-efficiency of improving agricultural productivity in Senegal rural areas through capacity strengthening of Private Agricultural Service Providers (PASPs), who in turn support young men and women farmers and existing Savings and Internal Lending Community- (SILC) groups with access to quality agricultural inputs, technical services, training, and markets, to increase production, yields and revenue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1758648067081-RNWMIPMAG69JZDPVEWZG/image-asset.png Dioptra Case Studies - Emergency Nutrition, Nigeria (2023) Catholic Relief Services (CRS) analyzed the cost-efficiency of preventing and treating Moderate Acute Malnutrition in children under the age of 5 years through the community‑based supplementary feeding program “Tom Brown” in Nigeria. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1758647914055-L99IACU4LFM4DNF33SBF/image-asset.png Dioptra Case Studies - Improving Literacy Outcomes, Sierra Leone (2023) Catholic Relief Services (CRS) analyzed the cost-efficiency of improving literacy outcomes of in-school children in Sierra Leone through interventions of promoting literacy, teacher professional development, strengthening school management and administration, daily nutritious hot meal provision, promoting health and nutrition practices, and supporting caregivers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1758647740825-BUAWL50WQTP5LQIV306S/image-asset.png Dioptra Case Studies - Restoring Landscapes through Resilient Water Smart Coffee Systems, Honduras, Nicaragua (2024) Catholic Relief Services (CRS) analysed the cost-efficiency of the Blue Harvest model which incorporated water-smart approaches resulting in a unique set of simple, proven practices, tools and methods that are tailored for resilient coffee production in rural Honduras and Nicaragua. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1758645445157-C0UIZ22RMDKSG1UKAYT4/image-asset.png Dioptra Case Studies - Emergency Response and Resilience, Sahel Region (2024) Catholic Relief Services (CRS) analyzed the cost-efficiency of an integrated, locally led response, offering holistic food security, livelihood, health and nutrition packages to meet families’ immediate needs and strengthen household and community resilience to new shocks and longer-term precarity in Sahel Regions’ Liptako-Gourma. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1758645169269-0NR23PU9MBTF3DEA0QYT/image-asset.jpeg Dioptra Case Studies - Rapid Agriculture and Income Support and Empowerment Project, El Salvador (2023) Catholic Relief Services (CRS) analysed the cost-efficiency of Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) to meet immediate needs and agricultural productivity support through provision of technical training and agricultural inputs provided to vulnerable and food insecure households in the Eastern and Western regions of El Salvador. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1758644741011-V7Y04WHEL7442FKXP9FN/image-asset.png Dioptra Case Studies - Regreening Africa, Ghana, Rwanda (2023) This case study summarizes an analysis conducted by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) with support from World Vision (WVI), World Agroforestry (ICRAF), and International Refugee Committee (IRC) using the Dioptra tool to assess the cost-efficiency of the Regreening Africa program, which addresses agricultural land degradation by decreasing soil erosion, increasing soil organic carbon, and improving total farm income of farmers engaged in the restoration actions. In Ghana, Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) was implemented, complemented by tree growing through planting and grafting. In Rwanda, the program promoted the practice of agroforestry with complementary soil and water conservation measures. Value chain and policy options were also pursued to create incentives and an enabling environment for practice change. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1758618866225-FUD3G724C63H2DGN0FM6/image-asset.png Dioptra Case Studies - Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance, Guatemala (2022) Catholic Relief Services (CRS) analysed the cost-efficiency of Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) provided to households affected by Hurricanes Eta and Iota in Izabal and Alta Verapaz departments in Guatemala. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1758138254213-3OYH31SS13VX8LZFUXD8/Screenshot+%2820%29.png Dioptra Case Studies - Multipurpose Cash Assistance in Sudan, Sudan (2025) Mercy Corps conducted a Value for Money (VfM) analysis of multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA) interventions implemented in Sudan between July 2024 and March 2025. The programme provided critical, multi-sectoral emergency support to populations affected by conflict and displacement across eight regions. The analysis reviewed efficiency, effectiveness, and equity, contributing new VfM evidence on MPCA interventions in Sudan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1665754315972-W66CLC21HF08XVWJFN00/image-asset.png Dioptra Case Studies - Remote and In-Person Teacher Training, Honduras (2022) Catholic Relief Services (CRS) using the Dioptra tool to assess the cost-efficiency of teacher training programs delivered remotely or in-person in Honduras. Teacher training in Honduras cost between $83 and $162 per teacher-day, and the variation in costs appears to be partly explained by training modality, with remote trainings cost less than in-person trainings. Learn more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1665702335497-FSIE14JLTXMBSGZWYTRI/image-asset.jpeg Dioptra Case Studies - Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance in Colombia (2022) The VenEsperanza Emergency Response Consortium (VE) analyzed the Value for Money of MPCA distribution in Colombia between 2019-2022, and identified several trade-offs between efficiency, effectiveness, and equity. The MPCA transfer value was not sufficient to cover households’ basic or food needs, and should be increased to increase effectiveness. Using proxy means testing to reduce targeting errors and ensure that the program reaches the most vulnerable was more resource intensive. Learn more. Ver en español. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1663256391425-JO8VBPHL5KFWEAXN1N01/image-asset.jpeg Dioptra Case Studies - Multi-Purpose Cash Transfers in Uganda (2022) Danish Refugee Council analyzed the cost-efficiency of MPCT in Uganda in 2022. They found that efficiency was affected by the amount of cash transferred as well as local contextual price levels. Lighter touch client verification and multi-month transfers could further reduce costs, if appropriate. Learn more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1635807263429-A3VUQDGFV25SYRV1YRB4/WASH.JPG Dioptra Case Studies - Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Nigeria The Nigeria Joint Response used Dioptra to estimate the cost-efficiency of latrine construction and hygiene kit distribution. National NGOs can serve the hardest to reach clients but must be funded at the same scale as international NGOs to achieve their value-for-money potential in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. Learn more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1665506538316-46FKH2BLHCMADNKQDF6V/image-asset.jpeg Dioptra Case Studies - Graduation Approach, Malawi (2022) This case study summarizes an analysis conducted by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Malawi using the Dioptra tool to assess the cost-efficiency of the Graduation Model, which is a holistic approach combining consumption support, livelihoods training and start-up provision, financial inclusion, and targeted messaging to reduce extreme poverty and improve economic self-reliance. Learn more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1641314366841-HH1HD9E4ZKOMQF41YD1B/20120304_LPender_Yida_IMG_6672.JPG Dioptra Case Studies - Family Planning in East Africa The IRC analyzed the cost-efficiency of family planning services in Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda. They found that investments in community engagement and service provider training in Uganda and Somalia resulted in a relatively high uptake of long-acting methods, which are particularly cost-effective. Learn more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1635807262807-T5NO1Q24H6TVCSBGBKNV/Child+Friendly+Spaces.JPG Dioptra Case Studies - Child-Friendly Spaces in Nigeria The Nigeria Joint Response used Dioptra to estimate the cost-efficiency of child-friendly spaces. Where children are fully integrated into formal schooling, sessions that align with school schedules could maximize reach. Where existing structures are available, rehabilitating rather than constructing child-friendly spaces could save staff time and costs. Learn more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1635807262843-Q64CLI655MC7VAJH7P1D/FSL_Nutrition.JPG Dioptra Case Studies - Food Security, Livelihoods, and Nutrition in Nigeria The Nigeria Joint Response used Dioptra to estimate the cost-efficiency of micro-enterprise management training and treatment of malnutrition. The NGO type (international/local) was not a major driver of efficiency; collaboration between NGOs based on their respective strengths contributed to client reach and technical quality. Learn more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1635807756182-K9V42F9OSGLP70CDLGGY/Family+Planning+South+Sudan.jpg Dioptra Case Studies - Family Planning in South Sudan The IRC analyzed the cost-efficiency of family planning services in South Sudan. They found that some upfront investments in stakeholder engagement and health team setup did not immediately result in high uptake of contraceptive methods which can take several months to observe, therefore value for money is expected to improve over time as more clients seek and receive services. Learn more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1635807300730-USQSHSWE04CPCN11TMXT/CARE+education+photo.JPG Dioptra Case Studies - Conditional Cash for Education in Jordan CARE used the results from a Dioptra analysis to start an analysis of how different transfer amounts of conditional cash for education and protection in Jordan could help reduce the program’s cost per child and reach more children in need. The analyses will be supplemented by further assessments when making decisions on changes in transfer amounts differentiated by age group. Learn more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1635807909539-4IF7HZOC5U6P8D5JDD9H/Livelihood+Services+Kenya.jpeg Dioptra Case Studies - Livelihood Services in Kenya The IRC used Dioptra to estimate the cost-efficiency of livelihoods services in Kajiado and Nairobi counties in Kenya. There is wide variation in the costs to provide livelihoods services—between $227 to $2,106 per client—depending on the scale at which that service can be offered, and the intensity of services in that particular location. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1635807913454-JXXE12BGJCUFWJP6WXK0/Disaster+Relief+Indonesia.jpg Dioptra Case Studies - Disaster Relief in Indonesia Save the Children analyzed the cost-efficiency of the distribution of conditional cash transfer to 523 households, as well as construction of latrines for 1,900 people displaced by an earthquake in Indonesia. They found that the cost-efficiency of latrine construction was consistent with benchmarks from other contexts, given the scale of need in this case. Learn more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1635808414778-DJC5ERQEWFY8XOEVOCHU/Livelihoods+Jordan.jpg Dioptra Case Studies - Cash & Protection Services in Jordan CARE analyzed the cost-efficiency of protection case management, conditional cash for education, and emergency cash assistance in Jordan. They found that case manager staff time was the main contributor of case management costs, and the cost-efficiency of cash transfers depended on the number of clients referred from case management. Learn more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1635957355851-FJ07KEM14DJKI2A6TT2W/Saving+Lives+report.JPG Dioptra Case Studies - Health Systems Strengthening in Sierra Leone The UNITE Consortium analyzed the cost-efficiency of health worker mentorship, community mobilization, family planning, and drug distribution in Sierra Leone. The efficiency of health worker mentorship was slightly higher in urban areas than in rural areas. If the number of mentors are to be reduced in order to reduce costs, the remaining mentors will need to cover more mentees and target the most critical areas for improvement during each mentorship visit. Learn more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1648352792989-SBVWP8A48J3OSY1QP0SV/image-asset.jpeg Dioptra Case Studies - Psychosocial Support at Child-Friendly Spaces in Myanmar Save the Children analyzed the cost-efficiency of Psychosocial Support (PSS) in Myanmar. They found that delivering PSS through volunteers at mobile Child-Friendly Spaces is more cost-efficient than through fixed Child-Friendly Spaces, suggesting that it can be scaled up to address immediate needs. Learn more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1662911444172-VR9JH5QYTZYYKKJEGCFM/image-asset.jpeg Dioptra Case Studies - Family Planning in South Sudan (2021) The IRC analyzed the cost-efficiency of family planning services in South Sudan in 2021. They found that efficiency increased compared to previous years of programming due to the higher uptake of services and contraceptive methods realized from initial investments in community engagement and health team setup. Learn more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1683601514367-W76EPFU1ZEOZAYR4FQ6K/image-asset.png Dioptra Case Studies - Vocational and Life Skills Training, India (2023) Save the Children used Dioptra to reveal a broad range of costs to run vocational training and life skill training for adolescents in India. They found that reducing targeting restrictions to reach more adolescents with life skill training and then referring the most vulnerable for vocational training could save targeting costs, reach vulnerable adolescents effectively, and minimize cost per adolescent trained. Learn more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1662911277987-4RUQI6AJD8QQLBK5RT2W/image-asset.jpeg Dioptra Case Studies - Reproductive Health Systems Strengthening in Sierra Leone (2021) The UNITE Consortium analyzed the cost-efficiency of health worker mentorship, family planning, and drug distribution in Sierra Leone in 2021. While the outputs and efficiency were largely maintained during this year, quality and impact were adversely affected by significant funding cuts, therefore effectiveness is not expected to be maintained compared to the previous year. Learn more. https://www.dioptratool.org/help-videos daily 0.75 2025-10-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1663286433695-Q72P172RY9K6CSDLNSI8/image-asset.jpeg How to Use Dioptra - The Dioptra tool for rapid, rigorous cost efficiency analysis As someone who is cognizant of the on-ground realities of humanitarian aid, relief, and development activities, you’re also aware of how the lack of evidence in this sector makes it difficult to prioritize activities and implementation approaches that can provide the most ‘value for money’ by providing more impact for more people in need within limited funds. In response to these gaps, Dioptra is an online tool that can be used for rapid, rigorous, and consistent cost-efficiency analysis, in order to generate evidence-based strategies to reach more people and have greater impact, even within limited resources. It guides program staff at humanitarian and development organizations through a step-by-step process using a standardized methodology for estimating cost-per-output of program interventions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1663286433695-Q72P172RY9K6CSDLNSI8/image-asset.jpeg How to Use Dioptra - The Dioptra tool for rapid, rigorous cost efficiency analysis As someone who is cognizant of the on-ground realities of humanitarian aid, relief, and development activities, you’re also aware of how the lack of evidence in this sector makes it difficult to prioritize activities and implementation approaches that can provide the most ‘value for money’ by providing more impact for more people in need within limited funds. In response to these gaps, Dioptra is an online tool that can be used for rapid, rigorous, and consistent cost-efficiency analysis, in order to generate evidence-based strategies to reach more people and have greater impact, even within limited resources. It guides program staff at humanitarian and development organizations through a step-by-step process using a standardized methodology for estimating cost-per-output of program interventions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1663286433678-14LIIDZNU59CX4V1BKX6/image-asset.octet-stream How to Use Dioptra https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1663286479632-Y9VJKNGU2O2FBSEZFWUR/image-asset.jpeg How to Use Dioptra - Step 1: Define Your Analysis In this initial step, we will define the scope of our analysis, by giving it a title and description, specifying the type of data the analysis is based on, choosing the specific activity being analyzed, selecting the implementation period of said activity, indicating the country where the activity was implemented, and entering the project code(s) that funded the activity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1663286569624-WADPCOWS705GGKVLMZL3/image-asset.jpeg How to Use Dioptra - Step 2: Load Data In this step, we will see how Dioptra can pull existing transactions from your organization's financial database, or allow you to upload a spreadsheet with budget line information if expense data is not available (because the program is still in the proposal phase). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1663286611035-0S9BL9O26ZR77N07XK82/image-asset.jpeg How to Use Dioptra - Step 3: Assign Sectors and Categories In this step, Dioptra automatically groups the data that it pulls from your finance system or budget spreadsheet into different Sectors and Categories, based on finance codes. Some of this information may not be available from finance codes alone, so you will need to exercise your judgment to manually assign the relevant Sector and/or Category to each cost item. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1663286648680-FE5LVRAZN8Y18P1D22XV/image-asset.jpeg How to Use Dioptra - Step 4: Confirm Categorization In this step, all cost items belonging to the same Sector, Direct Shared Costs, or ICR, are automatically grouped on the same page. Within each Sector page, cost items are further grouped into Categories. Because there can be coding errors in financial data, Dioptra asks you to review that all cost items have been assigned to the correct categories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1663286684953-BMAIT710U71ZAH7AAWEJ/image-asset.jpeg How to Use Dioptra - Step 5: Set Contributions In this step, i.e. Set Contribution, Dioptra allows you to select only the relevant Sectors and Categories that contributed to the intervention being analyzed. If a particular category is relevant and contributed to the intervention, you will select ‘Yes’ for that category. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1663286731898-19H99TKTNPS8VQ4FO0D1/image-asset.jpeg How to Use Dioptra - Step 6: Allocate Costs to Activities In this step, Dioptra asks you to Allocate Costs, i.e. specify what percentage of a cost item charged to the project was used for the activity or intervention being analyzed. While allocating costs, it’s important to remember that the goal is not to apply perfect percentages, but to use your own knowledge of the program to estimate percentages for cost items as accurately as possible. Since it is not possible to easily observe how much individual shared cost items contribute to the activity being analyzed, Dioptra also helps to calculate a suggested percentage that can be easily applied to shared costs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1663286770138-UJ9H1B3530QB2KZDEEHF/image-asset.jpeg How to Use Dioptra - Step 7: Identify Output Value This step only applies to interventions that involve the distribution of monetary assets to clients (e.g. cash transfers, vouchers, cash for work, cash grants etc). In the Identify Output Value step, Dioptra allows you to identify the total value of cash transferred to clients by finding and selecting the cost items that correspond to the cash transferred. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5f1681773a350001f976f8/1663286804323-54GBN1FD821CAUFBQHSR/image-asset.jpeg How to Use Dioptra - Step 8: View Insights About Cost-Efficiency In this final step Dioptra shows you the cost-efficiency results of our analysis and how it compares with other similar programs. Dioptra also displays a top cost categories chart that shows the most significant spending areas for your activity. 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