Monitoring, Evaluation & Impact Assessment
Funders and implementers need to know more than whether activities happened. SRC provides credible, independent evidence of what changed, for whom and why — and how programmes can improve.
Built for these clients.
- Development partners, donors and foundations
- Government departments and public institutions
- NGOs and programme implementers
- Organisations running SME and entrepreneurship programmes
Where clients come to us.
- A theory of change that hasn't been tested against evidence
- Indicators that are reported but not used for learning or decisions
- Uncertainty about what a programme has actually contributed to outcomes
- A programme that isn't yet ready to be evaluated
- Needing an independent view for funders or boards
Specialist capabilities.
- Programme impact evaluation
Independent assessment of performance and outcomes.
- Theory of Change validation
Testing the logic and assumptions behind a programme.
- Results frameworks & indicators
Practical MEL systems that support learning and accountability.
- Evaluability assessments
Checking whether a programme is ready to be evaluated, and how.
- SME & entrepreneurship evaluation
Evaluation of enterprise-support programmes.
- Economic impact assessment
Estimating wider economic effects where the evidence allows.
Methods are matched to the question and the available data — including mixed methods, OECD-DAC criteria, Contribution Analysis and Difference-in-Differences.
Typical deliverables: an evaluation design or inception report, data collection and analysis, an independent findings report, a reviewed theory of change and results framework, and learning-focused recommendations.
Evaluations are supported by in-house statistical expertise, including a PhD statistician, so quantitative findings are rigorous and clearly explained.
A clear, disciplined process.
- 01
Scoping and evaluability check
- 02
Evaluation design and agreed questions
- 03
Data collection — quantitative and stakeholder perspectives
- 04
Analysis
- 05
Findings validated with stakeholders
- 06
Reporting and learning recommendations
Methods, deliverables and scope are agreed after an initial scoping discussion.
Questions clients ask.
What is the difference between monitoring and evaluation?
Monitoring tracks progress routinely against indicators; evaluation steps back to assess whether, how and why a programme achieved its outcomes.
Which evaluation methods do you use?
We choose methods to fit the question and the data — including OECD-DAC criteria, Contribution Analysis, Difference-in-Differences and mixed methods.
Can you help before a programme starts?
Yes. We can develop or validate a theory of change and build a results framework so the programme can be evaluated later.
Are your evaluations independent?
Yes. We provide independent findings on programme performance and outcomes.
Do you evaluate SME and entrepreneurship programmes?
Yes. SME and entrepreneurship evaluation is one of our specialist capabilities.
Do you work across Africa?
Yes. Our offices are in Sandton (Johannesburg), Rondebosch (Cape Town) and Harare, and we welcome enquiries from across Africa. Delivery arrangements are agreed for each mandate.
Related offerings: Financial & economic analysis · Strategy & performance
Local context. An integrated perspective.
SRC welcomes enquiries from Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mauritius, Botswana, Zambia and Namibia. Our offices are in Sandton, Johannesburg; Rondebosch, Cape Town; and Harare. The scope and delivery arrangements for each mandate are agreed with the client.
Meet the team behind this work