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.
Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice
The fourth edition of Michael Quinn Patton's Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods Integrating Theory and Practice, published by Sage Publications, analyses and provides clear guidance and advice for using a range of differMonitoring and evaluating advocacy: Companion to the advocacy toolkit
This guide, written by Julia Coffman for UNICEF, looks at strategies and features of evaluations that focus on assessing the impact of advocacy campaigns.How to manage an evaluation and disseminate its results
This guide from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) outlines the roles and responsibilities of evaluation managers during and after the evaluation has taken place.Using qualitative comparative analysis to explore causal links for scaling up investments in renewable energy
This paper illustrates how qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) was used to identify causal pathways for scaling renewable energy to meet sustainable development and climate goals.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.Realist impact evaluation: An introduction
Realist impact evaluation is an approach to impact evaluation that emphasises the importance of context for programme outcomes.Case study: QuIP & RCT to evaluate a cash transfer and gender training programme in Malawi
This case study discusses the combination of the Qualitative Impact Assessment Protocol (QuIP) and Randomised Control Trial (RCT) approaches in the evaluation of Concern Worldwide's "Graduation" programme.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.Understanding process tracing
This 2011 paper, from David Collier, outlines a new framework for process tracing to achieve greater systemisation of qualitative methods. This version includes some reflections in 2019 on subsequent developments.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.Outcome harvesting
This 27-page brief, written by Ricardo Wilson-Grau and Heather Britt, introduces the key concepts and approach used by Outcome Harvesting (published by the Ford Foundation in May 2012; revised in Nov 2013).Cosecha de alcances
Cosecha de Alcances es una herramienta centrada en la utilización y altamente participativo que permite a evaluadores, donantes y gerentes de proyectos y programas identificar, formular, verificar y dar sentido a los alcances en que han inf20 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":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.Compasss: Comparative methods for systematic cross-case analysis
COMPASSS (Comparative methods for systematic cross-case analysis) is a website that has been designed to develop the use of systematic comparative case analysis as a research strategy by bringing together scholars and practitioners who sharLearning through and about contribution analysis for impact evaluation
This article from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) discusses the Centre for Development Impact's five-year journey in innovating and understanding contribution analysis as a primary method for impact evaluation.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.Process tracing and contribution analysis: A combined approach to generative causal inference for impact evaluation
This article, written by Barbara Befani and John Mayne for the IDS Bulletin (Volume 45 Number 6), outlines how the combined use of contribution analysis (CA) with process tracing (PT) can shift the focus of impact evaluation from ‘assessingContribution analysis: A promising method for assessing advocacy's impact
The paper provides a background about contribution analysis and a summary of the steps involved in carrying out the method.10 years of outcome mapping
This webinar from the Outcome Mapping Learning Community (OMLC) presents the key findings from research conducted into the extent of Outcome Mapping use and the support required for its implementation.Case study: Using QuIP to evaluate Tearfund’s church and community transformation programme
This resource provides an example of the use of the Qualitative Impact Assessment Protocol (QuIP) approach in an ongoing evaluation of a Tearfund programme.QuIP: Understanding clients through in-depth interviews
This practice note gives a step-by-step guide to developing and conducting in-depth interviews using the QuIP approach, and analysing the information and making conclusions based on what you have learned.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.Contribution analysis: An approach to exploring cause and effect
This brief from the Institutional Learning and Change Initiative (ILAC) explores contribution analysis and how it can be used to provide credible assessments of cause and effect.Set-theoretic methods for the social sciences: A guide to qualitative comparative analysis
This book, by Schneider and Wagemann, provides a comprehensive overview of the basic principles of set theory to model causality and applications of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), the most developed form of set-theoretic method, foThe art and craft of bricolage in evaluation
This CDI Practice Paper, by Tom Aston and Marina Apgar, makes the case for ‘bricolage’ in complexity-aware and qualitative evaluation methods.Clearing the fog: New tools for improving the credibility of impact claims
This IIED Briefing Paper shows that the methods of process tracing and Bayesian updating can facilitate a dialogue between theory and evidence that allows for the assessing of the degree of confidence in ‘contribution claims’ in a transpareTools and tips for implementing contribution analysis
This learning brief offers practical lessons on applying contribution analysis to advocacy impact evaluations. Authors Laura Hopkins, ITAD Ltd., published by Center for Evaluation Innovation.Retrospective 'outcome harvesting': Generating robust insights
This paper describes the use of the Outcome Harvesting approach to evaluate a global voluntary network.QuIP in action: Save the Children case study
This resource provides an example of the use of the Qualitative Impact Assessment Protocol (QuIP) approach in evaluations of Save the Children's programmes.From narrative text to causal maps: QuIP analysis and visualisation
This paper focuses on analysing raw data to produce useful visual summaries, describing in detail the processes involved in a QuIP analysis.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.