In which model are outcomes used to evaluate program impact?

• A. Essential services
• B. Non prescriptive models
• C. Results-based
• D. Domains/Activities/Partners

Answer: (C)

Outcomes used to evaluate program impact point to a results-based approach. In a results-based model, the focus is on the changes the program is intended to produce and proving that those changes actually occurred. Practitioners start by defining specific, measurable outcomes, establish indicators and targets, and then collect data to determine whether the program achieved the intended impact. This framework ties planning, funding, and evaluation to real results, supporting learning and accountability.

Other models center more on what is done rather than the effects those actions have. One emphasizes delivering essential services, where the emphasis is on access and provision of services rather than linking those services to measured outcomes. Another is non-prescriptive, valuing flexibility over a fixed evaluation framework, which can mean outcomes aren’t required or standardized. A third describes the program’s structure—domains, activities, and partners—focusing on components rather than on measuring impact.