2. A brief introduction to the usefulness of Outcome Mapping for assessing impact
In our experience, OM can contribute to our understanding of, and bring evidence to, the effectiveness of development cooperation.
Throughout the morning we’ll be seeing different pieces of how this plays out.

3. Conventional logic for achieving results
IMPACT
OUTCOMES
OUTPUTS
Are we efficient?
Are we effective?
ACTIVITIES
OM was developed by IDRC, based in Ottawa, as a response to some of the challenges they were facing when using a more conventional results chain.
Projects were having difficulty with the linear characteristic of this logic
As well as the it’s cause-and-effect nature
INPUTS
Time
Inspired by Jeff Conklin, cognexus.org

4. Conventional logic may work for outputs
IMPACT
IMPACT
Workshops, training manuals, research and assessment reports, guidelines and action plans, strategies, and technical assistance packages, amongst others.
OUTCOMES
OUTCOMES
OUTPUTS
OUTPUTS
ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITIES
They were seeing that this logic could perhaps work at the level of outputs; they could say with confidence that x activities were producing certain products.
But assessing deeper social change was more complex.
As we move further along this results change, linearity dissipates, reality becomes messy.
INPUTS
INPUTS
Time
Inspired by Jeff Conklin, cognexus.org
Inspired by Jeff Conklin, cognexus.org

5. But usually not for outcomes and impact
Vision and Mission
Intentional design
Multiple pathways of changes in behaviour of different, interacting actors; this is where we have the possibility of collecting and making sense of evidence that sustains the impact we are aiming to contribute to.
IMPACT
IMPACT
OUTCOMES
OUTCOMES
OUTPUTS
OUTPUTS
Social change is long-term, complex and is the result of what many actors do (their actions and interactions)
ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITIES
OM defines social change at the impact level as long-term, complex and the result of what many actors do.
What OM responds to is the need to look at those results that contribute to and help sustain impact.
So while we can collect much interesting data at this level, at the appropriate time, OM argues for a focus on these messy processes and results here, to:
Help us understand impact
Help us clarify who is contributing to impact and in what way; and helps us understand the change a project or program can realistically contribute to
Help us understand the complex nature of the context in which we are working and how those influence long-term impact
READ BLOCK
INPUTS
INPUTS
Time
Inspired by Jeff Conklin, cognexus.org
Inspired by Jeff Conklin, cognexus.org 5

6. Inspired by Jeff Conklin, cognexus.org
Organizations with better capacity to support Women’s Empowerment & Gender Diversity
IMPACT
IMPACT
OUTCOMES
OUTCOMES
OUTPUTS
OUTPUTS
Women’s lives are improved (equal opportunity, empowered, etc.)
ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITIES
A women’s empowerment and gender diversity program – ultimately aims to see change in women’s lives; but their focus is helping to strengthen local organizations so that they in turn can support (advocate, promote, build capacity) for those changes in in women’s lives.
OM unpacks what this stronger capacity looks like – what organizations are doing differently, who they are interacting with, what changes in the types of activites or the way they are doing them looks like
INPUTS
INPUTS
Time
Inspired by Jeff Conklin, cognexus.org
Inspired by Jeff Conklin, cognexus.org 6

7. OM explores outcomes using this overall framework;
Three stages, 12 steps.
The concepts and descriptions behind V, M, BP, OC, PM, SM, OP – these are the touchstones for whether we are engaging in planning, monitoring or evaluation using OM