Challenging evaluation: an introduction to Outcome Mapping

See also

Full report: what Exchange lunchtime discussion participants thought of Outcome Mapping

Key list: Impact assessment in complex development situations

Introduction to Outcome Mapping on the IDRC website

Key points: Exchange lunchtime discussion 6 April 2004

It's difficult to demonstrate that particular programmes result in changes in the well-being of their intended beneficiaries: in a complex world, no single agency can realistically claim full credit for change.

Sarah Earl from IDRC believes Outcome Mapping can help people working in health and development programmes evaluate specific changes in behaviour, relationships, actions and activities. The methodology insists programmes are realistic about their sphere of influence, but at the same time encourages them to consider their contribution to much larger dreams, such as universal health care or an end to violence against women.

“No vagueness is allowed,” said Earl. Changes in the people and organisations that programmes work with directly, their “boundary partners”, are what get measured with Outcome Mapping. Earl said: “A programme at its best influences its partners. Nothing more.”

Outcome Mapping has been used in several programmes in India, Senegal and other countries, but it's still being tested and tried out. Earl stressed that it needs to be adapted for each context.

• Read the full report to find out what discussion participants thought of Outcome Mapping and its relationship with other evaluation and programme planning tools.
• See the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) website for case studies and a full description of the methodology.
• Find further key resources in the Source Key list: Impact assessment in complex development situations