The story on measuring aid effectiveness in Haiti run by NPR this morning has plenty of material to stimulate a critical reflection on our work. Although I tend to become a little defensive when I hear criticism of NGO work, especially in such a difficult environment as Haiti after the quake, I have to admit that the report does a great job in highlighting some problematic areas. What interests me the most is the difficulty NGOs experience in presenting the impact of their work to the general public. M&E has made quantum leaps in analyzing and presenting information to institutional donors, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to improve accountability and communication to a wider audience.
Usually, what you find on websites, newsletters, etc. is a personal story of one of the beneficiaries that tells how the project changed her/his life. Nothing wrong with that: it allows the reader to establish a connection with the beneficiaries and to get a better understanding of how the project works. However, a personal story cannot tell the whole tale of how the project has been implemented. Success stories should be measured against costs, expected results, sustainability, etc.
A proper report should be able to present in layman’s terms the efficiency and effectiveness of your program and the wider impact on society. I remember seeing a couple of really cool software tools that combine maps, pictures and graphs to deliver a clear view of a project performance.
Here is one:
