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Step 3: Plan the outcome and impact assessment

What are you looking for?

Even before the project is implemented, plans must be laid for how its effects are to be measured and assessed. The results of this step must be written down.

How it is done

Activities There must be clarification of what has to be answered to whom for what purpose. This gives indications of how the findings of the impact assessment are to be compared, and who will later carry out the evaluation. The targeted outputs and effects must be converted into indicators and target values must be defined. For each indicator, the methods used to collect the necessary data must be planned.
QuestionsComing up with answers to the following questions can be the third step in an impact assessment:
– What do we want to find out?
– What will we compare the results against?
– Who is to carry out the impact assessment, and who is responsible?
– Which indicators can we use to measure our outputs (deliverables) and outcomes (effects)?
– What are the sources of this data?
– How is the data collected and who is responsible for doing it?
– Has everything been considered in the drawing up of the terms of reference for the impact assessment?
ResultsResponsibilities have been defined. 
The indicators, data sources, collection methods, frequency and timing of the measurements are clear, as are the reference figures for the purposes of comparison.
The design, plan and terms of reference for the impact assessment have been formulated.
ResourcesLogical Framework Approach: Logical Framework Matrix
Outcome Mapping: Outcome and Performance Monitoring, Evaluation Planning
Theory of Change: Developing Indicators
ExamplesWell building: objectives, indicators, measurement
Health course: objectives, indicators, measurement
Medical care: objectives, indicators, measurement


Important
There are important feedback loops within this step and also to the previous steps (Define the project objectives and Develop a results model):

Formulating the objectives through indicators helps to check that the planned project objectives are realistic and achievable. 
Planning data collection helps to check whether the indicators can be measured in a timely fashion and at a justifiable cost. 
Combining the two shows whether the evaluation question can be answered.