SOLO’S IMPACT ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK

SOLO introduces a comprehensive impact assessment framework designed to evaluate the real-world effects of Mission Soil research and innovation activities across society, the economy, policy, and practice. This adaptable tool supports Mission Soil projects in monitoring and evaluation, with future potential for ex-ante assessment and project design. Beyond defining key components, qualitative indicators, quantitative metrics, and impact narratives, SOLO also outlines the mechanisms needed to effectively implement the framework in practice.

The assessment framework allows for the evaluation of 5 types of impact of Mission Soil Research and Innovation (R&I) activities. Each type of impact is assessed by a number of KPIs.

Detailed KPI sheets can be found in the categories below.

Project impact in practice

focus on impact among land managers, advisors, urban planners and other stakeholders

Project impact on policy and administration

focus on policy strategies and tools, and other institutional arrangements

Project impact on value chain organisation and practices

focus on market mechanisms, business models and requirements

Broader societal impact

focus on literacy, awareness, school programmes and education

Impact in research and innovation

focus on academic institutions, researchers, publications and funding

Impact assessment framework illustration

These 5 types of impact correspond to categories under which key performance indicators, both quantitative and qualitative, are grouped.

The other component of the impact assessment framework is the impact narrative: a compelling, substantiated statement which reflects the contributions of R&I activities to society, the economy, policy and practice beyond numbers and quantitative targets.

An impact narrative must describe the societal challenge to be tackled; identify the stakeholders and beneficiaries who are positively impacted, explaining how they have experienced meaningful change; describe the situation at the start of the project vis-a-vis the goal of the assessment; describe the specific outcomes and results of the R&I activities; describe changes in behaviour, practices and policies; include real-world examples and stories; be supported by quantitative and qualitative evidence; connect the impact to broader societal goals; and provide insights into the potential future implications and opportunities resulting from the developed R&I.