Step 9: Learning & Impact
Project’s methodology, rationale and purpose of participation, as well as the rationale and evidence base for final decision-making should be transparent from the outset. Regular reviews should be undertaken to assess progress, and shared learning opportunities should be promoted.
Embed evaluation, learning and impact
Project’s methodology, rationale and purpose of participation, as well as the rationale and evidence base for final decision-making should be transparent from the outset.
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Regular reviews should be undertaken to assess progress, and shared learning opportunities should be promoted.
Questions for Project Leads
- How will the process be shared with the community and stakeholders
- What will success look like for you?
- How does the community define success?
- What qualitative and quantitative data will be captured throughout the process?
- Do you have appropriate permissions in place to contact the community for feedback and use any data they provide?
Suggested Actions
- Consider monitoring and evaluation measures of community engagement and of delivery of any agreed social impact outcomes.
- Determine initial community baselines and follow-up measures of engagement with appropriate frameworks/metrics.
- Evidence wider economic impacts where possible (e.g. number of jobs brought to the area).
- Utilise and evidence best practice frameworks.
- Share progress reports, highlighting social impacts delivered by the project.
Example Evidencing Measures
- Impact measures identified by the project and the community
- Baseline surveys undertaken at intervals
- Peer interviews from the community
- Evaluation and learning sessions hosted by the project and attended by the community
Wellbeing Web
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A wellbeing web is a simple tool used to capture an individuals’ feeling towards project outcomes.
The web would be used multiple times through the life of a project, producing a visual of outcomes which have shifted either positively or negatively. Desired outcomes are translated into appropriate statements which are then graded on a scale of 1-10 by the participant and marked on the web.
Example below (source - Deciding Matters):
