More basic terminology

Here's another set of concepts that seem to cause a great deal of confusion. They are much used in results-oriented planning (often called results-based management or RBM). I like to explain them as follows:

Output = The direct result of an activity - something that is under your/ your project's control. For instance, I brush and floss my teeth several times a day, and the output is a clean set of teeth.

Outcome = Something that your activity is designed to help produce - but it takes some more factors for that kind of result to come about. For instance, I clean my teeth to avoid getting caries, so healthy teeth are my desired outcome. But my chances to have good teeth are much enhanced if I avoid eating sweets or very acid food, if I have healthy gums, if I have the right kind of genes, and so on. Even people with clean teeth get caries.

Impact = A long-lasting result that can be directly traced to an intervention. For example, if my dentist extracts a tooth, the impact is a gap in my mouth. 

Evaluation terminology

Today a friend has asked me about the difference between findings and conclusions. I put it this way:

Findings:

• Dust has gathered into small woolly clouds in the corner of the room.
• Crumbs are scattered all over the floor.
• There are a couple of spiderwebs in the corners of the ceiling.

Conclusion: This room is dirty.
Recommendation: Clean it.

Also a nice way to explain indicators.

Busy!

Deep into the evaluation of this exciting project, www.womenonthefrontline.eu Will be back by April with new posts...