Understanding Program Adaptations: A Practical Guide for Development Programs

This guidance helps teams document and assess adaptations that occur during program implementation using the MADI Framework. It walks users through identifying what adaptations were made, how and why they were made, and how they may influence implementation quality and program outcomes. The guide provides a structured approach to distinguishing planned and unplanned adaptations, linking adaptations to contextual drivers, and ensuring that core program components are maintained.

To support practical application, the guidance includes four case study examples that show how adaptation decisions can be documented and analyzed in real programs. These examples demonstrate how teams can apply the MADI approach to make adaptations more intentional, transparent, and aligned with program goals and theory of change.

  • Adaptations Advancing Women and Girls in the Seize the Moment Project, Ethiopia: Applying the MADI Framework to Analyze Adaptations and Outcomes

  • Adaptations Advancing Women and Girls in the RANO WASH Project, Madagascar: Applying the MADI Framework to analyze Adaptations and Outcomes

  • Adaptations Advancing Women and Girls in the Isoko y’Ubuzima Project, Rwanda: Applying the MADI Framework to Analyze Adaptations and Outcomes

  • Adaptations Advancing Women and Girls in the Afia WASH project, South Sudan: Applying the MADI Framework to Analyze Adaptations and Outcomes

Coming soon!

Use it for

Documenting adaptations, strengthening implementation fidelity, and improving cross-program learning.

Developed by

This guidance was developed through the CARE–Emory Implementation Science Partnership. The core team leading this collaboration includes Matthew C. Freeman, Jedidiah S. Snyder, Erika Canda, Lilly O’Brien, and Emily Ogutu Awino from Emory University, along with Sara Hoffman, Florence Santos, and Paul Bagtas from CARE. Staff from CARE projects and country offices also played an essential role in shaping this work.

Published Date

2025

Recommended Citaiton

Ogutu, E. A., O’Brien, L. A., Hoffman, S., Snyder, J. S., Canda, E., Santos, F., Bagtas, P., & Freeman, M. C. (2025). Understanding program adaptations: A practical guide for development programs. CARE & Emory University. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/37BJK