IMPACT

The ability to demonstrate change in an objective and transferable manner is pivotal to the achievement of Peace Direct’s goal of increasing the resources devoted to local peacebuilding. Traditional reviewing methods, mainly focussing on measurement and log frame analysis, can only be applied with difficulty both to Peace Direct’s work and that of the projects we support.

Therefore Peace Direct is piloting an innovative reflection and review framework rooted in objectivity and flexibility to account for the changes that occur in the project’s lifetime. Underpinning this framework is the awareness that:

• The groups we support (and Peace Direct’s work by reflection) operate in a complex and volatile environment
• There is a need to reflect and learn on what has happened, however this is not always possible due to lack of time and/or resources
• People involved know and feel that they are an integral part of the process
• Both the review process and its outcomes need to be significant and useful experiences for all those involved, so that the process will begin a positive cycle of feedback and learning
• The review needs to be approached in a systemic way: for example, also reflecting on influencing factors and the relationship with partners and stakeholders

Peace Direct believes that this process can benefit from the participation of an external facilitator, chosen by the group/team, who:

• Is familiar with the project, however, is not directly involved
• Is respected and held in high esteem by the group/team
• Will facilitate reflection and offer constructive criticism

This approach focuses on the project life as a whole. Starting from the initial plan and chosen desired outcomes, the review will include questions like:

• Has the project context changed? If there have been changes, how have these influenced the project’s desired outcomes and objectives? How have the approaches and methods of the interventions been influenced/changed?
• Do the achieved outcomes reflect those expected from the initial plan and how have they contributed overall to the objectives?
• Who (staff, stakeholders, partners, donors, supporters, etc.) has been influential and how have they contributed?
• What have been the successes and the challenges?
• What opportunities have there been? How have they been exploited?
• What are the key learnings and which of these can be shared with others?
• How have the project’s capabilities changed (in terms of the organisations and people involved)?

We believe that this process can be applied both to Peace Direct’s work as well as that of the groups we support. We feel that it is important to capture experiences that can be shared elsewhere and that can be used to promote the work of the group. Highlights can include:

• Individual and collective reflections
• Stories
• Significant facts
• Learning gained from this process
• Future action as a result of the evaluation