Concept Paper on Alternative Monitoring and Evaluation published

Greater recognition of the merits of ‘sports for development’ and interest from NGOs, donors and policy makers are moving towards ways to effectively measure and prove the outcomes and impact of sports projects. In light of these developments, Network for Sports and Development (NSD) commissioned SELA Advisory Group to produce a concept paper on different M&E methodologies.

The concept paper
In light of the new interest in the field, NSD contracted SELA Advisory Group, an international consulting firm in development, to assess different methods and tools and finally issue recommendations that would best apply to the field of ‘Sports for Development’.

Download the Concept Paper

Alternative M&E
Considering the type of participants and activities involved in sports for development projects, SELA Advisory Group recommended exploring participatory M&E methodologies such as Outcome Mapping and Most Significant Change with a series of alternative and creative tools.

Both models have their pros and cons but are most effective to measure the social impact of these sports projects on the different actors and participants.

Disadvantages
As any methodology, both Outcome Mapping and Most Significant Change present certain disadvantages such as being time consuming, more costly and some time biased.

Advantages
However, the advantages offset the disadvantages as both methods focus on learning rather than just accountability, building staff capacity and data analysis rather than just data collecting.

Consequently, a growing number of organisations are considering these new participatory monitoring and evaluation methodologies as alternative methods.

Recommendations
Although a learning process is required for both methodologies, SELA Advisory Group suggested to NSD to start integrating, within their M&E programs, some aspects of both Outcome Mapping and Most Significant Change to evaluate the social impact of sports on the participants and the communities.

About NSD
NSD is a network of various Danish organisations, high schools and universities. The Network was established in 2007 with the aim of strengthening and developing the field of ‘Sports for Development’.

More information:
Find out more on NSD
SELA Advisory Group website

[This article has been edited by the Operating Team]