Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning for Impact

Measuring impact planning, assessment, reporting and learning (IPARL) are critical activities for effectively reaching objectives both as an internal management tool and as a way to describe achievement.

Monitoring and evaluation is nothing new, yet IPARL systems with their emphasis on continuous feedback, learning and improvement are much more than an accountability mechanism. They differ from traditional monitoring and evaluation frameworks in several ways.  They:

1. Provide strategic guidance by tying program level objectives to mission and vision and embedding these within a clear theory of change
2. Promote multiple accountability: internal and external, top down and bottom up
3. Create a framework flexible enough to be valuable at the local level while maintaining comparability at the global level
4. Emphasize continuous improvement and value "failure" as a case to learn from
5. Use stakeholder feedback to directly inform strategy and planning

IPARL practices are the gears, grease and daily maintenance that allow an organization to run well today and even better tomorrow. iScale works with networks, organizations and others to think through the complexities of IPARL practices and help develop appropriate IPARL systems. We also explore these issues collectively through our Impacts Community of Practice, including the partnership with Keystone and the Constituency Voice methods.