Impact assessment: Drivers, dilemmas and deliberations

This paper investigates key debates and issues around impact assessment and performance measurement for UK development NGOs. It was originally written for Sightsavers to stimulate debate and thinking among staff, Board and senior management team. This version has been
amended to be relevant for a wider NGO audience. It is based on the authors’ many years experience, reading of key documents and 11 interviews with informants selected because they are influential in these debates and/or they have first hand experience of trying to implement impact assessment or performance measurement systems within NGOs. The paper has been put together in a relatively short period of time and does not claim to be based on rigorous research.