DSWD Good Practice Standard Criteria and Documentation Guide

Capacity Building Bureau - Department of Social Welfare and Development

October 1, 2013
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
Good Practice Standard Criteria and Documentation Guide

I.

Purpose and Definition:

In the field of social protection, documentation of good practices helps facilitate increased capacity and
improved service delivery by way of sharing effective and efficient practices. Good practices can be used
for a variety of purposes. These purposes can include:
Informing and improving practice, learning from experience about what approaches work
best. Good practices provide a means of being able to learn from and to apply experiences
of others. Otherwise, one may devote considerable effort in reinventing the wheel or in
repeating mistakes that others already have made.
Contributing to the knowledge base not only to DSWD but as well as in the field of Social
Protection
Addresses the need for existing tacit and explicit knowledge of the Department to be
converted into products that can form part of a resilient organizational memory.
Represents one of the core knowledge of DSWD derived from the experiences and lessons
learned from program/project or support service implementation.
Good Practices with complete and accurate documentation can be very vital in the
replication process as this will serve as reference document for the replicating
office/individual understand how the practice was implemented.
In DSWD, good practice is defined as a process/methodology initiated by a unit in the Department that
has been shown to be effective in addressing an identified problem/challenge or provided breakthrough
results in one part of the Department that have implications for practice at any level within the
organization or in the field of Social Protection. Key aspect of a good practice is that it has been tried
and shown to work and has its potential use for others in the organization. It can represent a practice at
any level (e.g. operations and service implementation; administrative process, policy and plans, capacity
building).
II.

DSWD Good Practice Criteria

Note: These criteria should be treated as fundamental part of the above-mentioned definition. The
descriptions at the right column characterize each major criterion which may not all be present in an
identified practice. While good practices may not meet all of the stated conditions, they should
specifically aim to achieve at least some of the aspects, and must not undermine any of the other
criteria. They may vary in applicability depending upon the level or nature of the specific practice.
Criteria
Development
Orientation

Descriptions
a. Guided by the Departments vision, mission and strategy
b. In line with national/local and international commitments, standards or
instruments
c. Addresses a priority problem or concern in the Department, in the locality or
within the field of practice itself

Knowledge Management Division, Capacity Building Bureau - DSWD

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DSWD Good Practice Standard Criteria and Documentation Guide

Capacity Building Bureau - Department of Social Welfare and Development
October 1, 2013
a. Led to the achievement of (the targets or) objectives of the program and to
Positive Results /
effective changes in capacity that produce desired outcomes
Impact
b. Created improvements in (the workplace or) in the quality of life in the
locality/community
c. Interventions result in the achievements that made a community rise from major
disadvantages / difficulties / drawbacks
d. Ability of the practice or program to show significant results/ improvements in
the quality of life in the locality. Results may cover incremental achievement of
milestones along indicative areas and has generated community life
transformation. The impact indicators may vary depending on the type of
program.
Efficiency of
Practice

a. Responsive to the requirements of its target clientele at the time it is needed

b. Can be applied within existing management and operational structures
c. Employed monitoring and evaluation process to track on results and improve its
operations
d. Has a system for accessing and using technology to improve on its processes
e. Wise and creative use of limited resources; creative / innovative ways to mobilize
resources; cost efficiency specifically indicated by
f.

Delivery mechanism through a clear management and operational structure

delineating responsibilities and accountabilities;

g. Timeliness and quality of service that are responsive to the requirements of the
constituents;
h. Efficiency in terms of reaching the critical mass of the target population, especially of
the poorer sectors given the amount of time and resources of the program;
i.

Cost effectiveness in terms of maximizing target coverage and impact, vis--vis,

project cost;

j.

Project monitoring and evaluation system that determine progress status, results of
implementation and manner of addressing gaps, issues and challenges;

k. Collaboration and linkage along similar programs with the national government and
other agencies or groups to maximize program efficiency and effectiveness thereby
avoiding overlaps and waste in the use of resources.
Participatory and
Empowering
(Functional
Collaboration)

a. Develops, promotes and nurture partnerships

b. Integrates human perspective is empowering as it builds capacities, enhance
awareness and/or educate other people; (gender sensitive;) and participatory
c. In the context of implemented programs Institutionalized mechanisms and
process of peoples participation in every aspect of program development,
implementation, management and evaluation evidenced by the following
d. The practice involves people particularly in planning and decision making

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DSWD Good Practice Standard Criteria and Documentation Guide

Capacity Building Bureau - Department of Social Welfare and Development
October 1, 2013
a. Presents a unique and innovative approach resulting to new or improved
Innovative
processes or positive changes
b. Successfully introduced new and useful methods, techniques, or practices or new
or improved products and services. The innovation may be in the program itself,
or in the processes used in implementing the program.
c. A value addition derived from a similar concept that has already been introduced
or used elsewhere must be present for the program to be deemed innovative.
d. In the organizational context, innovation may be linked to performance and
growth through improvements in efficiency, productivity, quality, service
delivery, etc.
e. Innovation concretely puts into action creative ideas or insights to make a
genuine difference resulting, for example, to new or improved processes within
the organization, or to positive changes in the services provided.
Transferable and
Sustainable
(Replicability)

a. Needed structures for the performance or implementation of the practice are

established
b. Planned resource allocation (if applicable)
c. Adopted Self-correcting processes/system
d. The practice is recommended for replication with specific adaptations
e. Builds partnerships among and with other stakeholders to sustain the program
gains and impact
f.

Development and implementation of a program strategic plan that made a clear

analysis of local opportunities and threats as well as organizational weaknesses
and strengths that provided corresponding program strategies in the
implementation;

g. Passage of enabling policies to support and sustain program thrusts;

h. Promotion of self-reliance through the use of internally generated funds,
materials and other local resources solely or in combination with externally
generated funds or resources;
i.

Utilization of simple systems, structures and processes or ensuring that complex

systems are broken down into small and manageable modules for easy
understanding and replication;

j.

Presence of efficient documentation, monitoring and impact evaluation systems

that reflect actual project experiences, results and impact and lessons derived
from the project;

k. Actual replication of the program or aspects of it have actually been made with
some measure of success in another area.
Gender
Responsive

a. Gender equality and women empowerment are consciously and deliberately

promoted within the context of the local culture and traditions and alongside the
issues and challenges that prevails (within the project milieu).
b. Exhibit initiatives that enhance womens participation in the development
process, address the practical needs and strategic interests of women, and
improve relations between men and women.

Knowledge Management Division, Capacity Building Bureau - DSWD

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DSWD Good Practice Standard Criteria and Documentation Guide

Capacity Building Bureau - Department of Social Welfare and Development
October 1, 2013
Transparency
and
Accountability

a. Check and balance mechanisms in the management of resources;

documentation and reporting of cost-effective processes; shared leadership,
integrity and accountability of key people and in the processes as indicated by
the following:
b. Transparent and accountable decision-making processes
c. Regular and organized open consultations of (people in the organization) citizens
creating (public) feedback mechanisms
d. Promotion of (publics) right of access to information, high standards of ethics
and professional conduct
e. Simplification of systems and the reduction of administrative discretion in
transactions
f.

Creation of transparent and predictable interdepartmental fiscal transfers

g. Clear frameworks for assigning and delegating responsibilities and

commensurate powers and resources at all levels

Knowledge Management Division, Capacity Building Bureau - DSWD

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DSWD Good Practice Standard Criteria and Documentation Guide

Capacity Building Bureau - Department of Social Welfare and Development
October 1, 2013
III.

DSWD Good Practice Standard Documentation Guide

This standard documentation guide shall be used as reference in meeting the BASIC information needed in
documenting a good practice. The guide shall not limit nor dictate the other possible forms/types of documenting
good practices (e.g. photo & video documentation, etc.) as long as the basic information stated herein are met.
The write-up can also be submitted using other language or dialect (e.g. Filipino, Cebuano, Iluko) that the writer is
comfortable with provided that a translated copy in English will also be provided by the endorsing office/unit.
HEADING
A. Title

DESCRIPTION/CONTENT
The title shall have three essential (3) elements: (i) a concise title for the
identified good practice that (ii) clearly reflects the practice being
documented (iii) the complete name/s of its author/writer
Sample:
Cordillera Children Learn More at Play
Good Practice on Indigenization of Neighbourhood Early Care and
Development Program (NECCDP) in the Cordillera Administrative
Region (CAR)
Written by: Mr. Rogerson Dennis Fernandez
(RIO-DSWD CAR)

B.

Context/ Challenges
addressed

C.

Results/ Impact/ Outcome of

the Good Practice

D.
Implementation of the
Practice

A brief introduction of the specific circumstances of the identified good

practice that includes the following:
i.
What is the current situation/context (e.g. political, security,
socio-economic, environmental factors, financial constraints,
human resource, urgency etc.) to which the practice emerged?
ii.
What problems did the practice solve? What were the gaps that
the practice addressed?
iii.
Who were the main players involved and the dynamics
between them?
iv.
Which segment/s of the population were affected/impacted?
How?
v.
What were the objectives of the activity?
This section shall state the following:
i.
Demonstrates the link between what is practiced and the end
result.
ii.
States the contribution of the practice to the achievement of
targets/objectives of the program/project/service by stating
indicators that we met as well as stating evidences and links
this to the overall agency performance outcome
iii.
Explains how the practice is responsive to the requirements of
its target clientele at the time it is needed
Description of Results and Impact of the Good Practice can be effectively
conveyed using quotations or testimonies of individuals who have benefited
or are affected by the practice
Describes the elements of the identified good practice in detail vis--vis how
the criteria were met. Enumerates the processes, steps and necessary
structures for the performance or implementation of the practice.
Use of action pictures in each sub-section to illustrate the processes involved
(e.g. training sessions, actual implementation, community participation,

Knowledge Management Division, Capacity Building Bureau - DSWD

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DSWD Good Practice Standard Criteria and Documentation Guide

Capacity Building Bureau - Department of Social Welfare and Development
October 1, 2013

D.1 Resources

D.2 Tools and

Techniques
D.3 Links to
Resources

E.

Lessons Learned

F.

Implication for Replication

G.

Further Readings

H. Monitoring and Evaluation of

the Practice (optional)

illustration used in advocacy campaign, workshop outputs, equipment,

infrastructures, etc.) are highly recommended.
Describes the specific capacity requirements:
Financial requirements
Manpower(Competency Needs and Staff Complement)
Materials needed to carry out the good practice
Turnaround time for the implementation of the practice
Describes the approach and methodology used in the implementation of the
good practice
Experts contact details, names and contact details of the good practice
proponent, workbooks, video clips, articles, transcripts of review meeting,
pertinent documents, compendium of activities, photos etc.
Contact details of point persons who are involved in the implementation of
the practice are critical to those who are interested to replicate the practice.
What proves difficult? What were the challenges encountered in the
implementation of the practice? How are these addressed?
As per definition, the good practice must have implication for practice at any
level elsewhere whether internal or external to DSWD in the field of Social
Protection. This section outlines the following:
i.
Identifies possible areas for replication of the good practice
or who might benefit in learning from this experience
ii.
Indicates how the good practice will be shared and how
they can be best incorporated into future practice
iii.
Suggests parallel projects, activities or processes to which
the good practice could be applied
This part provides a list of references/sources that give additional
information on the Best Practice for those who may be interested in how
the results have benefited the population.
For those practices with built-in monitoring and evaluation system to
enumerate the challenges and results of the assessment

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