Introduction to Outcome Mapping
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The document outlines the principles, steps, and application of outcome mapping (OM) in planning, monitoring, and evaluation, particularly in the context of social change interventions. It describes key concepts such as boundary partners, outcomes, and the importance of understanding cause and effect in open systems, while emphasizing participatory methods for effective assessment and organizational learning. Additionally, it provides insights into the Swayamsiddha project aimed at enhancing women's empowerment and health in India through community-driven approaches and self-help groups.
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Introduction to Outcome Mapping
- 1. Outcome Mapping Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Simon Hearn, Overseas Development Institute [email_address]
- 2. Outline and aims Introduce principles of OM Give an overview of the steps Present an example of OM application Q&A
- 3. Acknowledgements This presentation makes use of various materials that were shared by members of the global OM community. Without being exhaustive, special thanks goes to Terry Smutylo, Steff Deprez, Jan Van Ongevalle, Robert Chipimbi, Daniel Roduner, Kaia Ambrose and many others.
- 4. Source: A guide for project M&E: IFAD
- 5. Social change can be … Complex : involve a confluence of actors and factors Unstable: independent of project duration Non-linear: unexpected, emergent, discontinuous Two-way: intervention may change Beyond control: but subject to influence Incremental, cumulative: watersheds & tipping points Source: Terry Smutylo
- 6. Challenges in evaluating in social change interventions Establishing cause & effect in open systems Measuring what did not happen Reporting on emerging objectives Justify continuing “successful” interventions Timing – when to evaluate Encouraging iterative learning among partners Clarifying values Working in ‘insecure’ situations Source: Terry Smutylo
- 7. Brief definition of OM A participatory method for planning, monitoring and evaluation Focused on changes in behaviour of those with whom the project or program works Oriented towards social & organizational learning
- 8. OM: Brief history 1990s : post-Rio need to demonstrate ‘sustainable’ results 1998 : Barry Kibel and Outcome Engineering 1999 : Methodological collaboration with projects 2000 : Publication of manual in English 2002 : Training, facilitation & usage globally 2006 : OM Learning Community 2008 : CLAMA 2010 : East Africa and beyond
- 10. “ The only real voyage of discovery exists, not in seeing new landscapes, but in having new eyes” Marcel Proust
- 11. Three key concepts in OM: Sphere of influence Boundary Partners Outcomes understood as changes in behaviour
- 12. There is a limit to our influence Project Partners Beneficiaries Sphere of control Sphere of influence Sphere of interest
- 13. There is a limit to our influence Inputs, activities, outputs Outcomes: Changes in behavior Impact: Changes in state Sphere of control Sphere of influence Sphere of interest
- 14. Participatory research on demonstration farms to develop approaches to drip irrigation Farmers participate in field trials Participating farmers learn how to use drip irrigation equipment Extension workers visit demonstration farms Training of extension workers Publication of performance of different set-ups Increased knowledge of techniques Extension workers promoting drip irrigation Farmers adopting drip irrigation methods Reduced numbers of new wells Greater quantities of groundwater available Source: Terry Smutylo
- 15. Who are your boundary partners? Programme Beneficiaries Stakeholders Boundary Partners
- 17. The Problem with Impact Source: Terry Smutylo Impact implies… The reality is… Cause & effect Open system Positive, intended results Unexpected positive & negative results occur Focus on ultimate effects Upstream effects are important Credit goes to a single contributor Multiple actors create results & need credit Story ends when program obtains success Change process never ends
- 18. Focus of Outcome Mapping Outcome Mapping Community ownership increases Program influence decreases Inputs Activities Outputs Outcomes Impacts
- 20. 4 Key Planning Questions Vision Boundary Partners Outcomes Challenges, Progress Markers Mission, Strategy Map, Organizational Practices Why? Who? What? How?
- 21. Step 1: Vision improved human, social, & environmental wellbeing
- 22. Step 2: Mission The mission is that “bite” of the vision statement on which the program is going to focus.
- 23. Step 3: Boundary Partners Those individuals, groups, & organizations with whom a program interacts directly to effect change & with whom the program can anticipate some opportunities for influence.
- 24. Step 4: Outcome Challenge Describes behaviour of a single boundary partner Sets out the ideal actions, relationships activities Describes the boundary partner’s contribution to the vision
- 25. Step 5: Progress Markers (Deep transformation) (Active engagement) (Early positive responses) Love to see Like to see Expect to see
- 26. How can we measure... ? Greater awareness… Empowered women… Community ownership… Reduced conflict… Increased collaboration… Governmental commitment… Gender sensitivity… Equal access… Budgetary transparency… Active participation… Poverty alleviation… Strengthened capacity…
- 27. Step 6: Strategy Maps Causal Persuasive Supportive I E
- 28. Step 7: Organisational Practices Prospecting for new ideas, opportunities, and resources Seeking feedback from key informants Obtaining the support of your next highest power Assessing and (re)designing products, services, systems, and procedures Checking up on those already served to add value Sharing your best wisdom with the world Experimenting to remain innovative Engaging in organizational reflection
- 29. Five kinds of monitoring information Program Partner outcomes (behaviour changes in the partners) implementation (interventions by the program) relevance & viability (actions of the program) C o n t e x t u a l I n f o r m a t I o n State, status or situational data Strategies
- 30. Swayamsiddha Project Context: Women in India are disempowered Project: Started in 2000, closed in 2005 Funded by CIDA and IDRC Managed by national NGO and local NGOs Aims: Develop network of government, non-governmental and community based organisations Increase gender responsiveness in local health care, families and community institutions Decreasing drudgery in women’s and girl’s work Increase access to and control of financial services
- 31. Swayamsiddha Vision Across rural India, women and girls utilize and benefit from appropriate health care, education, food and water security and freedom from violence. Women have access to the markets, credit, banking and municipal services they need to pursue their livelihood goals. They use drudgery-reducing technologies and agricultural inputs that contribute to personal well-being and to ecological sustainability. Villages are fully served by public transport, are well lit at night and police enforce all laws fully and equitably. Girls attend school full time and families have the information and resources to make informed decisions regarding their health, safety and social needs. Gender equity governs household labor and decision-making; and men in the community understand and support gender-responsive laws.
- 32. Swayamsiddha Mission The Swayamsiddha Project works with governments, NGOs & CBOs to improve women’s health and empowerment. It facilitates the development of women’s self help groups. It provides them with funding and training to help them influence community and government services to be more responsive to their health and livelihood needs. It fosters mutual respect and joint action between these self-help groups and: banks; police; health and social service providers; and government agencies. It researches and promotes the application of ecosystem approaches to human health in agriculture and in the provision of health and sanitation services. Swayamsiddha addresses equity issues in all its activities. It uses participatory methods to monitor progress, to learn how to become more effective in supporting its partners and to report on its results.
- 33. Swayamsiddha BPs CIDA IDRC BAIF State NGO State NGO State NGO State NGO State NGO State NGO SHG Police Community Leaders Families Banks PHCs
- 34. Outcome Challenge for SHG Women’s self help groups are taking action to make community and government services more responsive to the health and livelihood needs of women and girls. They influence banks, police, health and social service providers, local officials and state and national government agencies in relationships of mutual respect and joint action to improve women’s well being. Women’s self help groups arrange bank loans for members and for life skills training for girls to be included in the school curriculum. They influence local, state and national government policies and expenditures on community improvement and transportation and support women candidates to run for election to local government office.
- 35. Progress Markers for SHG Expect to See Women’s Self Help Groups: Holding meetings regularly Discussing a list of shared concerns Opening and contributing to a group bank account Acquiring skills in managing credit programs Soliciting training in maternal & child health for members from NGOs Like to See Women’s Self Help Groups: Forming grain banks Lending money to members to finance income generating activities Seeking ration cards from local authorities for needful women Arranging for immunizations by the public health clinic Lobbying police to close down illegal alcohol vendors Calling upon outside expertise to help identify drudgery-reducing technologies Pooling finances to purchase drudgery-reducing technologies Conducting maternal and child health education sessions for their communities Love to See Women’s Self Help Groups: Arranging bank loans for members Arranging for life skills training for girls to be included in school curriculum Lobbying local government for expenditures on community improvements Approaching the State Transport Dept for bus service to their villages Taking action responding to the incidence of violence in their community Lobbying national government depts. to invest in local development projects Putting forth candidates for election to local government council
- 36. Strategy Map Causal Persuasive Supportive I - Fund collection of monitoring data - Take women’s photos - Take women to banks to open accounts - Provide training in organizing and conducting group meetings - Training in needs identification sessions for SHGs - Training sessions on dealing gov’t departments - Conduct knowledge sessions on maternal and child health - Provide training in maintenance & repair of technologies - Leadership training for local leaders - Linking with active, successful SHGs in other communities - Link SHG work to national health program - Exposure visits to income generating projects elsewhere E - Provide training for health care workers - Fund creation of Sanitation Planning community-based group - Conduct training for PHCs on reproductive health - Training and placing researchers in the communities - Provide bicycles for girls - Conduct community info sessions on: violence, women’s rights, sustainable agriculture - Home visits to educate families - Visit banks, discuss with, educate officials - Bring in Water and Sanitation NGOs to conduct water purification demonstrations - Conduct community forums on SHGs - Information sessions on new technologies (chullha stoves, growing fuel woods, toilets, agricultural tools for women, well repair) - Link PHCs to others delivering gender-based services - Initiate regular Parent/Teacher group meetings
- 37. Girls & Women Community Leaders Women’s Self Help Groups Families Police State NGOs Banks Public Health Clinics Strategic Partners Strategies Project’s Outcomes Boundary Partners BP’s outcomes BAIF Source: Terry Smutylo mission vision
Editor's Notes
- #5: M & E is sometimes like this. Outsiders turn up at a project and observe for a limited time, through their particular perspective, with their preconceptions, and completely miss the reality of the situation. This is fine for monitoring rigid processes like building a bridge or growing crops, or even sending a rocket to the mood, but development is almost totally about social change and this requires very different approach....
- #6: The reality is … In summary these boil down to 3 main challenges: Establishing attribution Tracking learning along the way – new problems and solutions emerge as you learn Spin and counter-spin (fear of failure and loss of funding rather than desire for feedback) In the face of such complexity: How can we show that we have made a difference with our research / project? Proving causality is difficult, especially when there are several factors and actors at work How can we reduce the unknowns regarding our contribution? How can we share the credit? The tipping point by Malcolm Gladwell and Getting to Maybe by Westley, Zimmerman and Patton
- #8: Main Messages In a results’ chain OM helps you think about the « outcomes » section Definition of Program: A group of related projects and activities with a specific set of resources (human, financial, capital) directed to the achievement of a set of goals within a specified period of time Can be used by projects, organizations, and communities too
- #10: The problem: A development intervention starts with an input and ends with an output but the processes that turn the input into the output were either being ignored or weren’t understood. Another way to think about this is that at the beginning of a project you have objectives, inputs and activities At the end you have results, outputs and impact And there’s a process to get from one to the other – but this is often a black box, what goes on here is a mystery Outcome Mapping aims to de-mystify this black box
- #11: The journey is as important as the destination (Michael Qu OM helps you: 1) document the journey; 2) reassess (and revise) the destination; and 3) improve your capacity to continue the journey. Need to give them equal weight Difference from other evaluation methods In OM the journey is more important than the destination because it’s all you’ve got. inn Patton).
- #12: OM does three innovative things that add value to existing PM&E methods: Defines the system borders, roles and responsibilities where the program operates; Identifies the prominent actors who are the ongoing drivers of the changes; and Sets milestones that mark the path of change;
- #13: The way a focus on measuring ‘impact’ plays out is not suitable in the context of many projects and programmes -> we need to recognise the limits of a project’s influence, and shape our planning, learning, and accountability functions around “outcomes”, which are further ‘upstream’ from impacts. Limits depend on time, geography, resources, contacts, politics Looking from the point of view of a project, we see Sphere of control = operational environment Sphere of Influence = Relationships & Interactions Sphere of Interest = social, economical, environmental states & trends DIRECT CONTROL DIRECT INFLUENCE INDIRECT INFLUENCE This relates to concepts you may be familiar with from the log frame, along the results chain through to intended impacts. The premise is -> we can’t control everything we’d like to see change -> this is not something unscientific: complexity theory (and common sense!) tells us that real, sustainable change involves the combination of a number of different factors, and is a product of the interaction of many different actors and stakeholders -> Outcome Mapping is concerned with the level where a programme has direct influence Complexity cross-reference: Systems with multiple actors, inter-related and connected with each other and with their environment Various forces interacting with each other, interdependent (e.g. political and social dimensions) In these situations, change occurs because of the interaction of multiple actors and factors; can’t be controlled by one programme Very difficult to predict what ‘impacts’ might be achieved in advance; SDOIC means inherent unpredictability, that isn’t unscientific but based on careful investigation Common mistakes include trying to deliver clear, specific, measurable outcomes; better to work with inevitable uncertainty than to plan based on flimsy predictions Russell Ackoff : 3 kinds of problems: Mess, problem and puzzle. MESS has no defined form or structure, not a clear understanding of what’s wrong, often involves economic, technological, ethical and political issues. Common mistake is to carve off part of a mess, deal with it as a problem and solve it as if it was a puzzle (as the simple causal chain from inputs to impact tries to do) -> need to recognise messy realities
- #14: The way a focus on measuring ‘impact’ plays out is not suitable in the context of many projects and programmes -> we need to recognise the limits of a project’s influence, and shape our planning, learning, and accountability functions around “outcomes”, which are further ‘upstream’ from impacts. Limits depend on time, geography, resources, contacts, politics Looking from the point of view of a project, we see Sphere of control = operational environment Sphere of Influence = Relationships & Interactions Sphere of Interest = social, economical, environmental states & trends DIRECT CONTROL DIRECT INFLUENCE INDIRECT INFLUENCE This relates to concepts you may be familiar with from the log frame, along the results chain through to intended impacts. The premise is -> we can’t control everything we’d like to see change -> this is not something unscientific: complexity theory (and common sense!) tells us that real, sustainable change involves the combination of a number of different factors, and is a product of the interaction of many different actors and stakeholders -> Outcome Mapping is concerned with the level where a programme has direct influence Complexity cross-reference: Systems with multiple actors, inter-related and connected with each other and with their environment Various forces interacting with each other, interdependent (e.g. political and social dimensions) In these situations, change occurs because of the interaction of multiple actors and factors; can’t be controlled by one programme Very difficult to predict what ‘impacts’ might be achieved in advance; SDOIC means inherent unpredictability, that isn’t unscientific but based on careful investigation Common mistakes include trying to deliver clear, specific, measurable outcomes; better to work with inevitable uncertainty than to plan based on flimsy predictions Russell Ackoff : 3 kinds of problems: Mess, problem and puzzle. MESS has no defined form or structure, not a clear understanding of what’s wrong, often involves economic, technological, ethical and political issues. Common mistake is to carve off part of a mess, deal with it as a problem and solve it as if it was a puzzle (as the simple causal chain from inputs to impact tries to do) -> need to recognise messy realities
- #15: Example...
- #17: The three biggest mistakes when monitoring and evaluating development projects are: Only focussing on outputs (how many meetings, how many publications) Only focussing on impacts (decrease in infant mortality, new legislation, access to water, incidence of malaria) Assuming a causal link between the two
- #18: conclusion: « impact » is a highly politicized concept in development. OM focuses on outcomes not impact there are other methods to do impact assessment at OM African Users Workshop in Niamey, January 2007: OM not only about P,M&E but about the way you conceptulize development
- #19: Important to focus on outcomes… Taking again our simplified results chain, we can map the ownership of our local partners or beneficiaries. We see that this increases. At the level of inputs, our partners don’t have a lot of say – decisions about money, who to work with and where to work are largely made by the program or even the donor. But at the impact level, it all depends on the partners and the benficiaries. Outcome mapping is focussed at the level of outcomes. This is because the partner ownership is high enough to be able to see an effect, some observe changes and the programme influence is high enough to be able to say with some confidence that those changes originated from the intervention.
- #21: How does OM respond to these? Not go through these now – three day workshop
- #26: Not a lock step progression Indicate DEPTH of change; signals that change is happening Milestones Spectrum of transformation
- #27: This level of generality is OK for higher level audiences but, for M&E and at the operational level, greater specificity is essential.
- #28: I-1: $, land titles, vaccinations, mosquito netting E-1: trash cans, no smoking policy, gender element in proposal to receive funds, I-3 - can support all the other strategies E-3 partnerships and networks that sustain change when program ends (in Swayamsiddha case, police chiefs were networked)
- #29: Taken together, the Ops describe a well-functioning program OPs relate to the program’s effectiveness (not just its efficiency) 1 – not being satisfied with the status quo 2 – how are we doing? What could we do differently or better? 3 - Keeping your manager, BoG, donor, community leader informed of your program and supportive of your work 4 – keeping up with your and your partners’ needs 5 – not just surveillance; monitoring in order to find out what is happening and provide more support 6 – bringing together and disseminating your knowledge and learnings 7 – creating space to try things differently / in a new way 8 – being a learning organization; reflecting on performance in order to improve
- #30: Other methods define outcome differently - do not include behaviour change - but in OM that is ALL we look at
- #31: Context: maternal mortality, literacy, underage marriage, malnutrition, legally, wages
- #32: BAIF project worked in 6 states in India, where there is a wide range of gender inequality: Dreaming was not an option. 40 million fewer women than men Sex ratio is 927 women per 1000 men. literacy rates among women 3-50% up to 35% of girls under 18 are married Maternal mortality rate is highest in the world: 5 die per 1000 live births; 12% of deaths of women of reproductive age 40% lower wages than men Little control over health and fertility; Legally discriminated against in land & property rights
- #34: Why boundary? – program doesn’t control them, can only influence; therefore the program is on the boundary of their world Program provides new tools, tech, opps or resources to its BPs but it doesn’t control them (what they do wit these resources); respnsiblity for change rests with the BPs Shows that a program’s influence on development (in the real world) happens through its partnerships Whose influence do you want to understand? OM (and nested BPs) gives a way to identify the level which you want to evaluate behavioural change
- #35: Found in Exercise 14B - Design Worksheet 1
- #38: The five types of M&E data: Program Staying relevant and viable Delivery of program interventions Changes in behaviour of partners Situational changes of girls and women Contextual changes