SPEAK: Strategic Planning, Evaluation and Knowledge Networking Right Here Workshop, London October 2009

Where did SPEAK Come From? Need to understand relationship between inputs and outputs on an ongoing basis Need ways of understanding results beyond numbers Need to involve all stakeholders in the process Annual reporting not taking into account individual circumstances, challenges Everything has to be counted Systems designed from top down and completed by one or very few people Challenges for Local Organisations and Projects Limitations of Existing Evaluation Responses

How did It Come about? Community Development Programme in Ireland: Working with Programme and Projects to develop alternatives. Implementation of alternative approach in national evaluation. Development of Software to support this process.

Subsequent Applications in: Irish Programmes: Family Resource Centres, Irish Advocacy Network, Area- based Partnerships, Community Based Drugs Projects, Youth Outreach Projects, Irish Sports Council, Healthy Living Centres, Regional Support Agencies Irish projects working with Gay and Lesbian community, ethnic minorities; adult learners Now developing applications in Canada, Cambodia, Germany, Austria, Poland

Principles to Inform a Different Approach 1. You can’t ‘count’ development or learning 2. Every project and environment is different and changes constantly, but 3. Common language enhances capacity 4. Impacts are also secondary and usually longer term 5. A relevance to planning requires capacity to link inputs to outcomes 6. Ownership leads to validity and reliability 7. ‘External’ Evaluation should be about validation if internal process is correct

SPEAK Framework Area and Project AuditArea & Project Indicators Operational Environment What are Local or Community Needs? What are Current Responses to These? Project Environment What is the Project Trying to Do? How is it Doing This? With Whom? Output Indicators What has Project succeeded in doing? With which Target Groups? Impact Indicators What is the effect on the broader area or community, beyond target outputs?

Using Software

All Committee and Workers Collective Staff Meeting Individual Staff and Volunteers All Committee and Workers Who Implements at Project Level?

Interactive Implementation at Project Level

Easy Access to Programme Results

Review & Revision Design and Development of SPEAK Design Workshop Speak Version Installation National Database Projects Programme and Project Networking Training Ongoing support and Assistance Reports