Faith-based Measurement & Metrics

Learning Exchange with MEAL Hub member, Sam Verbi at Eido Research

January 22 Presentation

1. How Eido started
2. Initial feedback from local faith actors
3. Impact evaluation frameworks
4. Kingdom Impact Framework
5. Impact Evaluation Design: response shift bias

Join the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Working Group (MEAL WG). Each month, the group will host a learning exchange on MEAL and local faith actors. Learn more about the group and register here

See powerpoint slides below:

Learning Exchange with MEAL WG member, Michelle Garred

Nov 20, 2019

Listen to Michelle Garred’s presentation on Outcome Harvesting & Attitude Change for Grassroots Interreligious Peacebuilding looking at two pilot evaluations with Tearfund and Peace Catalyst:

Join the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Working Group (MEAL WG). Each month, the group will host a learning exchange on MEAL and local faith actors. Learn more about the group and register here

See powerpoint slides below:

Most Christian organisations are missing out on the power of measuring and communicating the impact that they are having – both socially and spiritually. Casting vision for transformation is critical as it allows people to understand the dreams and goals of an organisation, but measuring and communicating impact then allows successes to be celebrated and processes to be improved moving forward. Furthermore, clear reporting of impact could help to inspire the whole Church to join in transforming societies whilst enabling projects to qualify for funding beyond the normal Christian avenues.

The following document from Eido Research outlines a plan to develop a framework and research process that will enable Christian mission and development organisations, educational institutions and churches to measure and communicate the social and spiritual impact of their work. Together these will form the Kingdom Impact Framework (KIF).

The Organization of African Initiated Churches (OAIC) and International Care Ministries (ICM) have partnered up to learn from each other on monitoring, evaluation, and learning for organizations working through local faith communities. We spoke to Rev. Nicta Lubaale (OAIC) and Dr. Lincoln Lau (ICM) to find out more about their collaboration. See preview or click download for the interview summary

This is a conference report from Yale University 20 & 21 September 2016 on measuring, evaluating and reporting the role of faith-based interventions on reducing poverty and promoting well-being globally. The conference was sponsored by Yale University, Innovations for Poverty Action, Joint Learning Initiative for Faith & Local Communities, and International Care Ministries.

This was published in the March issue of Christian Journal for Global Health, and can be accessed here.

Many faith-based organizations are increasingly concerned that secular systems of measurement and evaluation do not fully reflect their organizations’ work or desired impact. Calls have been made for the development of “faith-based measurement and metrics”. This framework includes ‘spiritual’ outcomes valued by faith-based organizations but often not measured in mainstream impact evaluations, such as a person’s experience with trust, hope, and love.

A meeting was held in New York City at Salvation Army NYC Offices in-person and via conference dial-in to review current work related to “Faith-based Metrics and Measurement”.

This report provides a brief summary of the discussion, as well as recommendations for possible next steps.

Bruce Wydick writes in the World Bank Group’s Development Impact blog about a new body of work within development economics that views lack of hope and aspirations failure as an important contributor to development traps.

Link: http://blogs.worldbank.org/impactevaluations/measuring-hope-guest-post-by-bruce-wydick

Abstract: This paper seeks to create a framework for understanding the role of hope and aspirations in economic development. We review the literature on hope from philosophy, theology, psychology, and its relationship to emerging work on aspirations in development economics. We then create an economic model of hope based on recent psychology literature that understands hope as a function of aspirations, avenues, and agency. This model of hope illustrates the vital role hope can play in the realization of causal effects from development interventions and how these effects emerge from the impact and interaction of tree constituent elements of hope. By clarifying definitions and relationships among these concepts and by leveraging relevant work from other disciplines, we aim to create a framework within which economists can engage in rigorous empirical and experimental work that seeks to better understand the role of hope in economic development.

Christian development agencies, mission organizations, educational institutions and churches who want to have people come to know Christ and deepen their relationship of discipleship with Him, have a struggle on their hands:  how do they know if they are having this kind of spiritual impact, and how do they know whether they are being as faithful and effective as they can be in this area?

This introductory chapter of “Towards an Understanding and Practice of Spiritual Metrics: Measuring Spiritual Impact Faithfully and Productively in  Christian Development Agencies, Missions Organizations, Schools, and Churches” frames an exploration of these questions and was shared as part of a session on Spiritual Metrics at an Accord Network Conference in November 2015.

Transform program

In December 2013, representatives from 12 faith-based organisations came together to explore and articulate a theory of change for faith group and community mobilisation. The process examined assumptions about what success looks like and how we contribute to change; and specifically analyzed the role of faith, drawing on any existing evidence base. A small working group then met together in July 2014 to draw together the theory of change. Throughout the process, the group was careful to surface both similarities and differences. The theory of change diagram captures the core underlying beliefs that the group hold in common, while the narrative explains the diagram, fills in more detail and highlights areas of debate and that need further learning and testing.