 Since 1966, Macro has conducted thousands of research and technical
assistance projects. For the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID), for example, we have completed almost 200 large-scale
surveys and
comparable studies on health, nutrition, disease, and fertility in
more than 75 countries. In recent years, surveys also have covered
immunizations, HIV/AIDS,
women’s opportunities, education, and other topics. Host countries rely on
our demographic surveys to improve their health and human services
programs. Donor organizations and donor countries use these surveys
to evaluate options
and investments. Scholars and academics look to them for research purposes.
As part of the USAID’s Child Survival Technical Support program, Macro provides assistance to community-based child survival programs implemented by private voluntary organizations (PVOs) and their local partners.
We also provide program evaluations and policy assessments, including evaluating the impact of international economic education in 21 countries, developing evaluation tools for the Fulbright Scholar Program, and piloting monitoring and evaluation materials for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Global AIDS Program.
For international radio broadcasters, we have conducted comprehensive media research across Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
We specialize in conducting research with difficult-to-reach populations, often in adverse environments and on sensitive topics. We maintain relationships with local research companies and national statistical agencies around the world and have a network of field-trained experts in education, health, demography, media, and communications.
Macro’s work in this area meets the need for timely, high-quality information.
Our health reseachers conduct surveys, including multi-year efforts to identify
patterns and measure trends, on topics such as health, nutrition, family planning
methods, and fertility. Demographic surveys are supported by proprietary software
that helps produce highly customized questionnaires and that allows the results
of large surveys to become available shortly after field work is completed.
Putting information to work is critical. Macro produces a continuing flow
of briefing packages, comprehensive reports, and comparative analyses. We also
developed one of the most frequently used references for child survival data.
Another special resource developed by our staff is a population policy data
bank containing information on demographics, family planning, government policy,
and socioeconomic data for 150 countries.
Building capacity is a continuing priority. Macro works closely with local
researchers to plan and carry out analyses. A vigorous program of training
and technical assistance enables local researchers to move forward with their
own survey processing and data analysis activities. This work is facilitated
by our staff’s fluency in Arabic, French, Spanish, and several other
languages.
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