Chapter 5: Working Smartly With Assumptions in Programs: Results From a Survey on Assumptions

Examining assumptions is essential for high-quality program Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation (DME). While evaluators, donor agencies, and development organizations recognize the importance of clarifying assumptions, there is less consensus on how to systematically approach them. Improved guidance on when and how to apply tools for examining assumptions is needed.

This chapter presents findings from an exploratory survey conducted by World Vision on-field staff, assessing their awareness of assumptions in DME, how they define and categorize assumptions, and the tools used to examine them. The survey targeted 51 purposively selected program staff across four regions and was structured around widely recognized categories of assumptions related to program design and implementation.

Findings reveal that staff encounter various assumptions-ranging from causal, methodological, and social justice assumptions to diagnostic and prescriptive ones-yet struggle with selecting appropriate tools to address them. While multiple tools exist, field staff face high workloads, making it impractical to assess every assumption in depth. Strengthening program DME quality requires a unified yet flexible approach, including clear guidance, prioritization of contextually significant assumptions, and capacity-building efforts. Moreover, program staff are more likely to recognize and address assumptions that are reinforced by their organization’s DME tools, highlighting the need for institutional support in assumption-aware M&E.