Project evaluation

Evaluation is an important aspect of your project planning. It identifies how the project has achieved its aims. Evaluation also informs decisions about what to do next and how best to develop the project.

You need to choose the right monitoring and evaluation method that will suit your group and project at the start. You will need to think about how much time to dedicate to monitoring and evaluation.

Funders can have different requirements and you should try to find out their preferred method first. If you apply for a large sum, for example £250,000, this will require substantial monitoring. If the amount is smaller, such as £2000, it is generally accepted that the monitoring requirement will be less.

Here are some definitions concerning evaluation:

Outcomes are the changes, benefits or learning that actually occur as a result of your activities.

Monitoring tracks where you are up to in the project to ensure that targets and outcomes are being met at appropriate stages of the project.