The W3 Framework Guide
The W3 Framework Guide
The W3 Framework is a tool to help peer responses enhance their monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) practices. We designed this guide to help you apply the W3 Framework to your peer work. Applying the W3 Framework can help peer responses develop evaluation tools that produce more meaningful evidence to show the full impact and value of their work.
We present the guide in three parts:
- The first part provides background information about peer work and the W3 Framework
- The second part is a step-by-step guide to applying the W3 Framework to peer work
- The third part is a toolkit of templates and examples to help you apply the W3 Framework to your work
Keep in mind that we designed the process to help you completely overhaul and streamline your MEL processes. We based the process on organisational change theory, and aimed to make it comprehensive enough to help guide this level of application.
Depending on why you want to use the W3 Framework in your work, you may not need to go through everything in the process to achieve your desired outcomes.
The guide assumes a basic general understanding of MEL principles. If you need more information about MEL, we recommend the BetterEvaluation website.
Part 1: About the W3 Framework for peer work in public health
Part 1 is for people:
- With little to no knowledge of the W3 Framework
- Who understand the W3 Framework and want more information about when and why to use it
It provides background information about:
- The role of peer work in a public health response
- Effectively evaluating peer work
- Understanding the W3 Framework
- Using the W3 Framework to enhance MEL and inform change
Part 2: The W3 Framework application process
Part 2 is for people looking to apply the W3 Framework:
- Within existing peer programs (run by peer or non-peer organisations)
- Across whole peer organisations
It provides:
- Step-by-step guidance for applying the W3 Framework
- Tips for achieving successful, lasting change
Part 3: The W3 Framework application process toolkit
Part 3 is for people who would like to use our tools and templates to work through the activities in Part 2. It contains:
- W3 Framework application tools
- Worked examples of completed W3 Framework application tools
- Examples of evaluation tools and other resources developed through applying the W3 Framework
All resources in the toolkit were developed by (or adapted from work developed by) peer workers who have already implemented the W3 Framework in their own work.
Editable Microsoft Word versions of the tools and selected other resources are available below. You are free to download and change them to suit your needs. For more information on using these resources, please refer to our terms of use.
W3 Framework application tools (editable versions)
W3 indicators brainstorming tool
Use this tool to help develop a first draft of ‘indicators’ or outcome measures that:
- Are tailored to the specific context of your peer response
- Cover all the W3 Functions
- Provide all the information you need to inform continuous quality improvement
- Cover everything you need to report to your funders
MEL assessment tool
Use this tool to help:
- Determine how well your current evaluation tools and other MEL processes can gather information about your new outcome measures
- Plan how to adapt and enhance your evaluation tools and other MEL processes so they accurately capture information about all your work
Evaluation and quality improvement tools for peer work (editable versions)
Peer insight tool
Use this tool to help:
- Collect and collate information picked up by peer staff at meetings
- Quickly identify, respond to, and communicate about emerging trends in the community or health sector and policy environment
- Identify broad trends across the organisation and its programs
- Inform planning processes
Do you have feedback? Let us know!
This is the first version of the W3 Framework Guide.
The information in the guide is based on what we have learned so far during the W3 Project. We would love to continue learning from people who apply the W3 Framework to their work.
Let us know if you have any feedback or ideas about anything you think we could improve or include to make it easier for peer responses to use the W3 Framework.