Looking Beyond NRN Self-Assessment

Evaluating the impact of networking activities is a complex task that is well beyond the scope of this Self-Assessment Toolkit and commonly left to the independent evaluators working at the level of programme evaluation. However, it is inevitable that some NRNs may from time-to-time look beyond the logical chain of inputs, outputs and results, and ask themselves questions about the impact of their activities.

The available guidance on the assessment of impacts of NRNs is closely related to the general guidance on the assessment of impacts of Rural Development Programmes. However, it is likely to be beneficial to adopt a “change of mind” and look outside of standard approaches.

The following links and publications provide some useful sources of inspiration, methodology and lessons.

	Newsletter of the Good Practice Workshop "Evaluation of National Rural Network Programmes" - Brussels, Belgium – 7 February 2012 [PDF ].
	Working Paper on Capturing impacts of Leader and of measures to Improve Quality of Life in Rural Areas (July 2010) - provides information on Leader-type self-assessment methods. Full document [PDF ]. Newsletter article [PDF ].
	Working Paper on Approaches for assessing the impacts of the Rural Development Programmes in the context of multiple intervening factors (March 2010). Full document [PDF ]. Interactive version [PDF ] Newsletter article [PDF ].
	A Guide to Assessing Our Contribution to Change - [PDF ]

DG Information Society – a study undertaken with specific reference to the needs of DG InfoSoc on the identification of evaluation models and tools for assessment of innovation and sustainable development at the EU level
https://ec.europa.eu/dgs/information_society/evaluation/studies/s2005_02/index_en.htm

DG EuropeAid Development and Co-operation – a comprehensive selection of evaluation tools
https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/evaluation/methodology/tools/too_en.htm

DG Regional Policy – EVALSAD: an online resource providing guidance on the evaluation of socio-economic development
https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/evaluation/evalsed/guide/development/index_en.htm

	United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) UNDP Handbook on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluating for Development Results - [PDF ]
	World Bank Monitoring and Evaluation: Some Tools, Methods and Approaches - [PDF ]
	Sida Looking Back, Moving Forward: Sida Evaluation Manual 2nd revised edition - [PDF ]
	Outcome Mapping is a methodology for assessing change and social transformation arising from various different types of interventions (including policy networks) for promoting sustainable development. The methodology is particularly useful for creating planning, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for enabling organizations to record, report on and learn from their achievements. More information can be found at www.outcomemapping.ca, including numerous resources to download and use.