How can you measure the impact of philanthropy programs on energy access?

1 Define your impact goals

Before you start measuring your impact, you need to define what you want to achieve with your philanthropy programs. What are your specific and measurable objectives, and how do they align with your mission and vision? How do they contribute to the global and national goals for energy access, such as the Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) or the SEforALL framework? How do they address the needs and preferences of your target beneficiaries and stakeholders? By clarifying your impact goals, you can set the direction and scope of your evaluation, and identify the indicators and data sources that will help you track your progress and performance.

2 Choose your impact framework

Once you have defined your impact goals, you need to choose a suitable framework to measure and communicate your impact. A framework is a set of principles, methods, and tools that guide your evaluation process and help you answer key questions about your impact. There are different types of frameworks available, depending on your purpose, context, and resources. For example, you can use a logic model or a theory of change to map out the inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts of your program, and the assumptions and risks involved. You can also use a standard or customized set of indicators, such as the Energy Impact Indicators (EII) or the Global LEAP Awards metrics, to measure the quantitative and qualitative aspects of your impact, such as access, affordability, quality, reliability, and sustainability of energy services.

3 Collect and analyze your impact data

After you have selected your framework, you need to collect and analyze the data that will inform your impact measurement. Data collection can be done through various methods, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, experiments, or secondary sources. Data analysis can be done through various techniques, such as descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, regression analysis, or qualitative coding. The choice of methods and techniques depends on your evaluation questions, data availability, quality, and reliability, and ethical considerations. You should also consider how to use digital technologies, such as mobile applications, remote sensing, or blockchain, to enhance your data collection and analysis, and address the challenges of data access, security, and verification.

4 Report and communicate your impact results

The final step of measuring your impact is to report and communicate your results to your relevant audiences, such as donors, partners, beneficiaries, policymakers, or the public. Reporting and communication can be done through various formats, such as reports, dashboards, stories, videos, or podcasts. The choice of format depends on your communication objectives, messages, and channels, and the preferences and expectations of your audiences. You should also consider how to use visual and interactive elements, such as graphs, charts, maps, or infographics, to make your results more engaging and accessible. Reporting and communication is not only a way to demonstrate your accountability and transparency, but also a way to share your learnings and insights, and to solicit feedback and suggestions for improvement.

5 Improve and innovate your impact practice

Measuring your impact is not a one-time exercise, but a continuous and iterative process that requires constant reflection and adaptation. You should use your impact results to assess your strengths and weaknesses, identify your gaps and opportunities, and improve your program design and implementation. You should also use your impact results to innovate your impact practice, by testing new hypotheses, experimenting with new methods and tools, and scaling up or replicating your successful interventions. By improving and innovating your impact practice, you can increase your effectiveness and efficiency, and maximize your positive impact on energy access.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?