Outcome mapping is a development project approach that focuses on a project’s overall effect on a community over time, documenting changes in community behavior. It involves intentional design, outcome and performance monitoring, and evaluation planning, and is often used in conjunction with traditional assessment methodologies. Success is sustainable progress brought about by behavioral changes of border partners.
Outcome mapping is an approach to planning, implementing and evaluating development projects. The focus is on the project’s overall effect on a community over time. This is in contrast to traditional methods which typically only look at the impact on the primary objective for the duration of the project. Outcome mapping attempts to document changes in community behavior in an effort to favor those who support the long-term intentions of the program. This methodology was advanced by the International Development Research Center (IDRC), a Canadian economic and social development organization.
The behavioral changes of boundary partners, individuals and groups who are directly involved in a project are termed outcomes. Reviewing the results allows for training and resource allocation tailored to the context of the community. The behavior of those directly involved in a project can change the behavior of those directly less involved, and so on throughout the social matrix. Outcome mapping provides the tools to assess these changes and respond to them. It recognizes that sustainable change involves the interaction of outcomes unique to the project and the community in question.
Intentional Design is the first stage of outcome mapping. Border partners are identified and are typically brought into the process at this point. The overall vision of the project is defined and the deliverables needed to achieve that vision are identified. Consideration is given to how the project will be implemented in order to facilitate these outcomes.
In the second phase, Outcome and Performance Monitoring, the actions of a project are documented in relation to the progress of the border partners towards the stated objectives. These are changes in behavior that may be related to the project though not necessarily directly caused by its actions. Comparison with a set of progress indicators, defined in the previous design phase, allows for feedback and adjustment to the ongoing project management process.
Evaluation planning is the third stage of results mapping, in which criteria for evaluating the achievement of project objectives are considered. Typically, this involves formulating an ideal, a best case, and a probable set of possible outcomes. Because program actions may not be the proximate cause of positive change, the methodology used may evolve over the course of a project.
In outcome mapping, success is sustainable progress brought about by behavioral changes of border partners. Changes may not be directly linked to project actions, but the project will always be a catalyst for that change. This approach is often used in conjunction with traditional assessment methodology such as Project Cycle Management (PCM) or Logical Framework Approach (LFA). These methods emphasize careful examination of the project itself, in terms of quality control and implementation efficiency.
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