The BetterEvaluation Resource Library contains hundreds of curated and co-created resources related to managing, conducting, using, and strengthening capacity for evaluation.
You can use the search field and filtering on this page to find resources that you are interested in or you can browse our extensive list. An alternative way to find resources best suited to your needs is to explore the Rainbow Framework, where you can find resources relating to evaluation methods, approaches and tasks.
Identifying evaluative criteria
This chapter details the use of a needs assessment to identify evaluative criteria.20 years of outcome mapping: Evolving practices for transformative change
This paper reflects on the evolving use of Outcome Mapping 20 years after the first publication on this approach. The resource also provides a "set of guiding practices to support transformative change":A guiding framework for needs assessment evaluations to embed digital platforms in partnership with Indigenous communities
This open-access journal article describes a needs assessment with a subarctic Métis community in Saskatchewan, Canada.Outcome mapping + equity, gender, and social justice
This paper introduces OM+, a new approach to thinking about and using Outcome Mapping (OM) for supporting transformative change through a focus on inclusion and leadership for equity, gender, and social justice.Power analysis: A practical guide
This guide was developed in response to a recommendation of the Swedish Government Policy on Democratic Development and Human Rights, that power be analysed as part of context-specific poverty analysis.Quick guide to power analysis
This 2-page guide developed by Oxfam in 2014 and updated in 2021, provides an overview of key concepts in power analysis and why it is useful, with links to additional resources.Process tracing as a practical evaluation method: Comparative learning from six evaluations
This 2020 paper by Alix Wadeson, Bernardo Monzani and Tom Aston presents and reflects on six evaluations where process tracing was used and identifies some key learnings.Power analysis briefing: Review of tools and methods
This paper, developed for WaterAid in 2012, provides an overview of different types of tools and methods for power analysis, including the use of lists, network maps, and classification systems.Example outcome journal template
This template is based on the original Outcome Mapping guidance, incorporating elements from Outcome Harvesting (e.g. significance) and allowing tagging to particular progress markers (rather than listing them all as the original does).Causal map app
This site includes a range of resources on causal mapping and the use of the causal map app including a guide that covers basic and advanced coding and analysis.Reflecting: journals and learning (b)logs – Using journals and learning (b)logs to assess learning
The "Reflecting: Journals and Learning (b)logs" resource from the University of Warwick provides comprehensive guidance on the use of reflective writing for assessment and personal development.Diaries and logs
This article provides comprehensive guidance on using diaries and logs to assess physical activity.Lost causal: Debunking myths about causal analysis in philanthropy
This 2021 paper, updated in 2024, advocates for more causal analysis in philanthropic evaluation - not just describing actions taken and changes observed, but also learning how and why change occurred.Rethinking rigour to embrace complexity in peacebuilding evaluation
This 2024 open-access journal article presents the inclusive rigour framework and applies it to three cases of peace-building evaluation.Causal Pathways introductory session: How do I mix and combine methods?
This session of the Causal Pathways Symposium 2023 explores when to use different methods and how to combine them to better understand and visualise causal pathways.Causal Pathways introductory session: Causal mapping
This session of the Causal Pathways Symposium 2023, by Steve Powell, focused on causal mapping, a tool for mapping causal relationships in evaluation, including visualizing them.Causal Pathways introductory session: Qualitative Impact Protocol (QuIP)
This session of the Causal Pathways Symposium 2023, by Fiona Remnant and James Copestake, discusses QuIP, a non-experimental goal-free approach to impact evaluation that can map and analyze causal mechanisms.Causal Pathways introductory session: Realist evaluation
This session of the Causal Pathways Symposium 2023, by Melanie Punton, is an introduction to Realist Evaluation, a theory-based evaluation approach based on the idea that interventions do not work for everyone, all the time.Causal Pathways introductory session: Outcome harvesting for exploring causal pathways
This session of the Causal Pathways Symposium 2023, by Carlisle Levine and Hippolyt Pul, introduces outcome harvesting, a method to collect evidence of what has changed and whether and how an intervention has contributed to these changes.Causal Pathways introductory session: The inclusive rigour framework
This session of the Causal Pathways Symposium 2023, by Marina Apgar, Leslie Wingender, and Helene Bradburn, introduces the inclusive rigour framework.Causal Pathways introductory session: Causal link monitoring
This session of the Causal Pathways Symposium 2023, by Heather Britt, introduced causal link monitoring, a method for integrating monitoring data and evaluation in order to address causality amid complexity.Causal Pathways introductory session: Contribution analysis
This session of the Causal Pathways Symposium 2023, by Drew Koleros, explored the use of contribution analysis as a theory-based approach to evaluation to unpack complexity within complex systems change evaluations.Causal Pathways breakout session: Process tracing
This session of the Causal Pathways Symposium 2023, by Zoë Sutherland, explores process tracing and how it can be used to understand causal pathways.Designing contribution analysis of participatory programming to tackle the worst forms of child labour
This Research and Evidence Paper presents the theory-based and participatory evaluation design of the Child Labour: Action-Research-Innovation in South and South-Eastern Asia (CLARISSA) programme.Assessing the contribution to market system change of the private enterprise programme Ethiopia
This IDS Bulletin paper examines an impact evaluation of the "Making Markets Work for the Poor" (M4P) program in Ethiopia.Causal pathways: A shared understanding
This 2022 document by members of the Causal Pathways Initiative articulates a shared understanding of the concept of “causal pathways'' in evaluation and strategy.Making causal pathways visible amid complexity
This report from 2021 shares findings from an investigation into how social change agents, including philanthropists, can better understand and learn from ongoing changes and improve their strategies now and in the future.CARICOM results-based management collaboration Dominica’s monitoring and evaluation system analysis (MESA)
This report presents the findings from the monitoring and evaluation system analysis (MESA) for the Commonwealth of Dominica, providing information on the existing strengths and opportunities to develop a sustainable RBM System in the countCARICOM results based management collaboration. Monitoring and evaluation system analysis (MESA) integrated report: Regional institutions
This report presents the main findings from the monitoring and evaluation system analysis (MESA) diagnostic for three pilot CARICOM regional institutions, the CARICOM Development Fund, the Caribbean Examinations Council, and the CARICOM ImpCARICOM results-based management collaboration: Jamaica’s monitoring and evaluation system analysis (MESA)
This report presents the findings from the monitoring and evaluation system analysis (MESA) for Jamaica, providing information on the existing strengths and opportunities to develop a sustainable RBM System in the country.Monitoring and evaluation systems analysis (MESA) in Solomon Islands - Diagnostic study
This report presents the findings from the Monitoring and Evaluation Systems Analysis (MESA) in the Solomon Islands, a comprehensive assessment of the national monitoring and evaluation (M&E) ecosystem.Diagnostic tool for a monitoring and evaluation systems analysis (MESA) - Guidance Note
The MESA is a diagnostic tool created by the Global Evaluation Initiative that guides country stakeholders in gathering, structuring and analyzing information on the current capacity of their country's M&E ecosystem.