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What is an evaluation plan?
An evaluation plan outlines how you will understand whether your program is achieving its intended outcomes. It maps what success looks like, who your program is for, and how you will collect and use data to assess impact over time.
At its core, an evaluation plan helps you answer a simple but important question: what is working, for whom, and under what circumstances?
Why are evaluation plans useful?
Evaluation plans are practical tools that support better program design and delivery. They help you:
Clarify your goals – by identifying your primary and supporting outcomes
Stay focused – by linking activities to intended impact
Collect meaningful data – by choosing the right tools, at the right time, with the right people
Reflect and improve – by identifying what is working well and where changes may be needed
Demonstrate impact – to your community, partners, and funders
Importantly, evaluation should not feel like it is tacked on, or being done simply for the sake of ticking a reporting box. A well-designed evaluation plan is integrated into your program from the beginning and helps strengthen its effectiveness over time.
Evaluation plans and program logics
In Stage 4, there is guidance on creating a program logic. A program logic and an evaluation plan are closely connected, but they serve different purposes.
A program logic explains how your program is intended to work. It maps the relationship between your activities, outputs, and intended outcomes.
An evaluation plan builds directly from this by explaining how you will know if that logic is working in practice. It translates your intended outcomes into measurable elements and outlines how you will collect and use data to assess them.
In simple terms:
Program logic = your theory (what you think will happen and why)
Evaluation plan = your evidence (how you will find out what actually happened)
A strong evaluation plan should align closely with your program logic, using it as a foundation to ensure you are measuring what matters most.
Build your own
Example Evaluation Plan.pdfExample Plan
Example Plan
This exemplar shares an example of how one primary outcome could be evaluated. In actuality, you will likely have multiple primary outcomes, so your plan will be more extensive.
This plan links a clear primary outcome (confidence and understanding of pathways) with supporting outcomes that are observable and measurable. It uses a mix of quantitative (surveys) and qualitative (reflections, focus groups) methods to provide a well-rounded picture of impact.
Data is collected at multiple points (before, during, after) to show change over time, while keeping tools simple and manageable for staff and participants.
Plan Template
Plan Template
This template is designed to support simple, practical evaluation planning. It prompts you to think through:
Your primary and supporting outcomes
Your target audience
The data collection tools you will use
When, where and how data will be collected
Who will be responsible for collecting it
Revisiting a plan
It is important to revisit evaluation plans, just as we revisit a program plan or program logic. Consider reflecting on the following questions at set points throughout your programs:
What evidence do we need to support learning, improvement, and accountability?
Are we measuring outcomes that matter to communities and partners, not just funders?
Is the evaluation aligned to the program logic and local context?
Are data collection methods ethical, culturally appropriate, and realistic?
Is the reporting burden proportionate to capacity and scale?
How will findings inform ongoing reflection and CQI, not just end‑of‑project reporting?
How and to who do we intend to share findings?
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