Our Work

Maximising Impact

IdeasUnbound can maximise impact of projects as follows.

• Theory of Change

  

  Development of theme-wise and organization level ToCs helps in mapping the vision and goals of the organization to the programme interventions and processes. A participatory exercise identifies the long term and medium term outcomes, and links them to the interventions on the ground, thus outlining a clear pathway of change. As part of the exercise, the assumptions being made in achieving the outcomes and the risks associated are also outlined. Overall, the ToCs serve as an input to the development of the MEL framework and allow for the presentation of a more holistic picture of progress, from intervention to impact. It serves as an easy to use, guiding document for the entire organization staff to work towards a common goal with maximum clarity.

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• MEL framework

  We help organizations develop a comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (M&E) framework, to operationalize the ToC in their day-to-day work. The primary goals of the M&E framework development are to help partner organizations assess their programme's progress on a real time basis as well as frequently report on the progress to the donor agencies / incubators.

  The M&E framework details out a workplan covering the resources required, timelines, roles and responsibilities and frequency for implementing different M&E components like needs and situation assessment, progress monitoring, programme assessment and impact evaluation.

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• Monitoring solution

  

  We work with partner organizations to develop a customized monitoring solution for them which is instrumental in tracking progress on a real time basis and enabling timely course correction. As part of the hand holding exercise, we introduce key organization staff to do-it-yourself tools like Commcare (data capture).

  Since progress monitoring is an ongoing process, our focus is also on capacity building of relevant personnel in the organization. This ensures that any further iterations to the monitoring solution can be carried out by the organization internally, thus institutionalising the practice of review and monitoring.

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• Analytical dashboards

  

  Based on the information needs matrix and organizational structure (verticals and horizontals) of the organization, customized dashboards are created on an IT backbone. These dashboards are geared towards triggering relevant action on the ground. One way of achieving this is to present the data from the field along the organizational pathway of change. Additionally, each piece of data is presented with some kind of perspective, which includes understanding the significance of the data in the larger ecosystem of operation.

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• Frameworks and Modelling

  We use different types of frameworks and modelling to help organizations get a better view of the macro picture of progress on the ground. This allows for a better quantitative and qualitative understanding of the different variables contributing to impact. The frameworks and modelling exercise also helps in incorporating the context-related specifics which eventually leads to a more holistic understanding of the ecosystem in which change is occurring. Hence, this leads to an objective assessment regarding the scalability of development models in different contexts.

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