Resources - Participatory Impact Monitoring

"Development implemented by the people"

One important way in which this can be achieved is to ensure that rural people are fully involved in planning, implementing and assessing the impact of development processes. If these processes are conceptualised as stages in a cyclical learning process, the chances are far better that the improvements will be sustained.

Participatory Impact Monitoring (PIM) provides a set of tools for planning and assessing development initiatives. PIM is more than just assessing the impact of a project - it helps the beneficiaries to steer the project and to improve results in an ongoing way. PIM enables people to agree on what impact they want to achieve with their project, to define how they will assess the impact, and to adjust the project to improve the impact.

PIM is simple and adaptable. It can be adjusted as needed to suit any setting. The methodology enables learning and promotes ownership of initiatives. PIM enables people to steer and manage their own developmental processes more effectively and transparently.

Participation... is an ongoing process that requires ongoing changes. PIM cannot be implemented quickly; it takes time before all partners in an initiative understand how to use PIM effectively. It is important that facilitators support the group in its efforts to conduct an autonomous process of analysis and decision making.

PIM is a concept that:

• Provides a simplified representation of more complex processes
• Is limited to a manageable number of dynamic elements
• Supports a planned and methodological approach
• Must be adapted to local conditions
• Contributes to learning processes

Steps in a typical PIM process

Setting up a PIM system:

1. What aspects of the initiative should be monitored? (in terms of the planned impacts, agree on the key aspects to be monitored: bio-physical, social, economic, organisational, etc.)
2. How can it be observed? (formulate simple, robust indicators)
3. Who should observe? (sharing responsibility, designating observers)
4. How can the results be documented? (recording and reporting)

Monitoring and adjustment:

1. What did we observe? (sharing results)
2. Why do we have these results? (analysis)
3. What should we do? (adjusting plans)

EMG's experience with PIM

EMG has facilitated Participatory Impact Monitoring processes in Paulshoek (Namaqualand), Mier (Kalahari) and Okhombe (Drakensberg). By providing training and support to implementing organisations, EMG supports further development of initiatives in these areas. EMG can provide a comprehensive PIM package to development agencies in South Africa, and beyond.

Further reading

Gohl E., Germann D., 1996, Participatory Impact Monitoring, Deutsches Zentrum fuer Entwicklungstechnologie – GATE, a division of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH – Braunschweig, . ISBN 3-528-02086-5