Digital Ecosystem Country Assessment (DECA) Toolkit: A How-To Guide for USAID Missions

The DECA Toolkit is a step-by-step guide designed to help USAID Mission staff hire and manage a research team to independently conduct high-quality research. DECA findings and recommendations will directly inform Mission decision-making about digital development at both strategic and programmatic levels. 

Once a Mission decides to conduct a DECA, it will form a Mission DECA Team, responsible for managing the process. The Mission DECA Team will hire a DECA Research Team to carry out the assessment. The Toolkit details guidance for both of these teams and is divided into three sections:

1. Introduction: provides an overview of the DECA purpose and process;
2. Mission’s Guide to Managing a DECA: describes the Mission’s recommended roles and responsibilities, and offers guidance on how to plan for, procure, and manage a DECA;
3. Research Guide: details how to execute a DECA including guidelines, best practices, and templates for each DECA phase:
   1. Desk research and planning
   2. Interviews
   3. Analysis and report writing