Since its launch in 2010, SoCha has grown, developed, and specialized. Our vision, mission, and values remain at the core of what we do.
Our vision
Global equality of opportunity where everyone can participate to realize their full potential.
Our mission
To empower change through high-quality and cost-effective analytical and project management services.
Our values and ways of working
Our values and ways of working
Have open dialogues
We include a wide range of perspectives, people, and ideas in our work to foster improvement and innovation.
Make informed decisions
We work to understand new, alternative, and potential pathways and approaches for success so we can make decisions with confidence.
Manage complexity
We recognize the world is complex but that approaches and solutions can be simple – we embrace as much complexity as needed but no more.
Keep discovering
We seek out and test innovative ideas that help empower individual, organizational, and societal growth and change.
Use resources efficiently
We work to use any resources in the best possible way for the greatest return and support our clients to do the same.
Technical excellence that empowers change
SoCha helps its clients generate evidence and insight with solutions that employ rigorous, state-of-the-art mixed methods to assess progress, manage effectively, and maximize future impact.
For example, SoCha uses its custom Predictive Performance Modelling approach to help clients model and manage change and complexity in their local development environments. We have also developed a custom platform that facilitates safer data collection in non-permissive environments.
SoCha has conducted more than 1,100 evaluations, assessments, third-party monitoring visits, learning initiatives, and other analytical assignments across 47 countries, and has mobilized over 250 local and international personnel to deliver technical assistance throughout Africa and Asia.
Where we are
SoCha’s global structure and well-established networks allow us to respond to requests in a wide range of places and settings.
We have current company registrations in 11 countries and have experience in 47.
See the map below to see where we have recent experience and current hubs and offices.
What we do
Our services include:
- Evaluations, assessments, and studies
- Third-party monitoring and verification
- Data collection, management, and visualization
- Grant management
- Data quality assurance
- Training for project management and monitoring and evaluation (M&E)
- Expertise sourcing
- Result framework development and indicator selection
- Learning and dissemination event logistics and facilitation
- Knowledge management and learning products
- Organizational development
See below for more details on a few of our services and specialisms.
Evaluations
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all evaluations. So, every assignment starts with two questions: What decisions will this evaluation inform, and how can we make the findings useful? We use streamlined and innovative methods to drive a cost-effective evaluation process, and then pay attention to how results and recommendations are communicated.
We’ve conducted evaluations across complex and dynamic environments, including looking at potential development catalysts in the conflict-affected Kivu provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, detailing options for scaling-up successful HIV/AIDS programs in Uganda and Zambia, and developing recommendations to improve social protection systems for migrant laborers in Southeast Asia.
In our evaluations we don’t just ask if a project has met its targets. We look at how and why change happened (or didn’t), who benefitted, and what it means for future action. Our evaluations balance rigor with realism, combining solid data with deep listening, and translating complexity into clear, actionable findings.
Third-party monitoring
SoCha provides clients with on-site and virtual independent performance and context monitoring that provides timely feedback on observations, concerns, and changes. In performance monitoring we follow the implementation of organizational strategies and work plans and provide timely feedback on observations, concerns, and changes. This includes reporting on any misuse of funds or resources. In context monitoring we track indicators and markers related to the operational environment, including prices of goods, upcoming political changes, digital access, and public opinions on key issues.
Our approaches create valuable insights that lead to improved decision-making by implementers, flag misdirection of resources, highlight opportunities, and ultimately improve services. We make sure clients can understand what’s really happening, not just what’s reported or planned.
We’ve carried out third-party monitoring in some of the world’s most challenging settings. These include conflict-affected areas in Myanmar and the Sahel and other hard-to-reach communities where traditional oversight isn’t always possible. We have invested in the right tools for the work, including a bespoke and security-aware data collection platform and app, options for remote sensing, and local enumerator networks.
We build strong local teams, invest in training and oversight, and ensure that our work strengthens, not undermines, the relationships between donors, implementers, and communities.
Grant management
SoCha conducts on-site grantee verifications, monitors and reports on grant and grantee performance, and provides grant management and related training to grantees.
This has included work in hard-to -reach locations in Myanmar and with grantees working across various sectors including health, governance building, civic empowerment, women’s participation and representation, humanitarian relief, resilience building, cohesion and coalition-building, and research and analysis.
Our reports contain actionable recommendations for both funders and grantees, and our impartial verification can help ensure grant funding is used for the intended purpose.
Reports designed to be read
Recognizing that reports are only valuable if they are trusted, used, and understood, all our evaluations, studies, and other analytical products have a clear utility focus, including being clearly and concisely written.
Our reports go through a technical quality assurance process that includes guidance and updates by our global team of lead evaluators and editors, and we use plain language so that findings and recommendations can be understood and followed by everyone.
Organizational development
Our organizational development services help teams achieve their full potential. Our services include strategic planning facilitation, organizational capacity assessment, change management planning, team building events and retreats, staff surveys, skills training, and knowledge management. These services are based on strong theoretical frameworks and have clear practical applications.
Sourcing and managing expertise
Our refined HR processes, legal know-how, and expansive networks mean we can promptly find and deploy the staff and expertise needed for a wide range of roles needed by our clients, in a wide range of locations. We can help make sure agencies and organizations have the right people doing the right thing, in the right place at the right time.
We have a database of pre-vetted staff and consultants, including those with security clearances, and practical experience of placing staff in non-permissive contexts. Our online tools and systems make contracting, onboarding, and management – including remotely – smooth processes and build transparency.
