Participatory Outcome Harvesting

The Outcome Harvesting helps us collect observable changes in behavior and in relationships among actors. Then we verify when, where, and how the changes occurred, in what context, and what contributed to the outcomes - including the project (program) being evaluated.

Compared to the original description of the method (Ricardo Wilson-Grau, Heather Britt, 2012), we collect changes in a participatory way and also interpret them together with the actors.

Advantages:

• It can be used regularly to track even small, early-stage changes (e.g., an MP mentioned decent working conditions on the parliamentary floor for the first time) that so-called "change agents" outside the project are aware of.

• After training, the organization itself can collect the changes (though beware of bias).

• Collecting changes works best during interviews, but surveys can also be used.

• Participatory interpretation and discussion of the findings bring new insights and new energy for further joint work.

Disadvantages:

• Collecting—and especially verifying—stories takes time if we want high-quality data.

Examples of use:

Ongoing assessment of the progress of an international campaign for a just transition in the garment industry — specific changes were mapped among young people, teachers, non-profit organizations, garment companies, and politicians. 

Image: Garment Industry — an educational poster that highlights current problems in the garment industry while also offering a vision of a just and sustainable future for this sector. (NaZemi) 

Sources:

See Betterevaluation.org for more about Outcome Harvesting.

Involved people are often surprised by how much has been achieved and what they can built on together. 
Inka Bartošová, evaluátorka