Frameworks, standards and methods
There are many ways to measure, manage and account for impact. Here are the frameworks, standards, methods and laws you will meet. Each one says what it is and when you use it.
Where we worked with one, it says so. Where it says nothing, we know it, but we claim no experience.
70 frameworks
Mapping your impact logic
Theory of change (ToC)Dutch: Verandertheorie
A theory of change shows how your work leads to change. Step by step, you set out what you do, what it delivers and what changes because of it. Your assumptions are in it too.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: At the start, when you want to know what to measure and why. And when you want to explain your approach to a funder or partner.
Where Narrate worked with it: In almost every project. For The Green Village we built the whole chain from input to impact, across 12.5 years of projects. For Oost NL and at Impact Hub Amsterdam we made impact frameworks. The Green Village: 12.5 years of impact in one story, Impact framework for the Smart Energy Hubs programme, Impact Hub Amsterdam and the global network: resident impact expert
Services: Coaching & guidance, Advice, design & prototype, Workshops, Training, Second opinion & peer review
For: Impact-driven organisations, Financing & capital, Public & institutional
See also: theory of change, outcome, impact, Theory of change, Impact framework
Articles: How measuring shapes decisions, In praise of pidgin, From crickets to a stadium: seven years with Impact Hub Amsterdam, Your funder asks for results. Where do you start?, A theory of change in an afternoon, Theory of change: how you think change happens, Choosing the right impact framework
Logic model
A logic model is a short version of your theory of change, often on one page. It lines up inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes and impact.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to show your theory of change at a glance. Or when you need a base for your indicators.
Where Narrate worked with it: We design logic models together with a map of the stakeholders.
Services: Coaching & guidance, Advice, design & prototype, Workshops
For: Impact-driven organisations, Public & institutional
See also: theory of change, Theory of change, Indicator set
Logical frameworkDutch: Logframe
A logframe is a table with your goals, results and activities. Each row says how you measure it, where the evidence comes from and what the risks are.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: Often in projects funded by government, the EU or development aid. The funder then asks for it.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with logframes, often in programmes with public money.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Coaching & guidance
For: Public & institutional, Impact-driven organisations
See also: Monitoring plan, Indicator set
Articles: From M&E to MEALP
Impact value chainDutch: Impactwaardeketen
The impact value chain follows your work from inputs through activities and outputs to outcomes and impact. At each link you look at what you add.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to see where in the chain you make the biggest difference.
Where Narrate worked with it: We analyse the value chain when we design an impact framework.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Evaluations
For: Impact-driven organisations, Financing & capital
See also: outcome, impact, contribution, Impact framework, Impact measurement
Impact Gaps Canvas
A canvas that starts with the problem, not with your solution. You map what already happens and where a gap is left.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: At the start of a venture or programme. It keeps you from building what already exists.
Services: Workshops, Coaching & guidance, Impact maturity discovery
For: Growth & resilience, Ecosystem partners
See also: Impact strategy, Workshop
Systems mapDutch: Systeemkaart
A drawing of the parties, forces and links around an issue. It shows where you can change something.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When a problem is too big for one party, or when you look for its causes.
Where Narrate worked with it: We make systems maps to map an issue together.
Services: Workshops, Impact maturity discovery, Advice, design & prototype
For: Ecosystem partners, Public & institutional
See also: stakeholders, Workshop, Impact strategy
Iceberg modelDutch: IJsbergmodel
A model with four layers. At the top what you see, below it the patterns, the structures and the ideas that drive it all.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to look beyond single events.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use the iceberg model to look below the surface of an issue.
Services: Workshops, Impact maturity discovery
For: Ecosystem partners, Impact-driven organisations
See also: Workshop
Three Horizons
A framework with three lines over time: the system of today, the transition and the future you want.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you think with partners about a long-term transition.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use Three Horizons to look at the long term with partners.
Services: Workshops, Impact maturity discovery, Advice, design & prototype
For: Ecosystem partners, Public & institutional
See also: Workshop, Impact strategy
Balanced scorecard (BSC)
An overview that looks at goals and figures from four sides: money, customers, processes and learning.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to build impact into the way your organisation already steers.
Where Narrate worked with it: We build impact into organisations' balanced scorecards.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Teams and workflows
For: Growth & resilience, Impact-driven organisations
See also: Indicator set, Impact dashboard
Objectives and key results (OKR)
You choose a few goals per period. For each goal you agree on measurable results and you check them often.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When teams want to steer on impact quickly, next to their other goals.
Where Narrate worked with it: We help teams with OKRs that give impact a place.
Services: Teams and workflows, Coaching & guidance
For: Growth & resilience
See also: Indicator set
Shared agreements on impact
Impact Management Platform (IMP)
A collaboration of the main organisations behind impact standards. They agree on what impact management is and which words to use.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want your approach to match what is common around the world.
Where Narrate worked with it: Jeroen contributed to the definitions of the Impact Management Platform. We use them as a base in our work.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Coaching & guidance, Training, Second opinion & peer review
For: Impact-driven organisations, Financing & capital, Ecosystem partners
See also: impact management, Impact framework, Impact strategy
Five dimensions of impactDutch: Vijf dimensies van impact
Five questions about each effect: what changes, for whom, how much, what is your contribution and what is the risk. Impact Frontiers looks after them, with a way to sort impact into types.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to describe effects in a way investors and funders know.
Where Narrate worked with it: We describe and sort impact with the five dimensions.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Coaching & guidance, Training
For: Financing & capital, Impact-driven organisations
See also: impact, contribution, rights-holders, Impact framework, Indicator set
Articles: Do the standards finally speak one language?, From crickets to a stadium: seven years with Impact Hub Amsterdam, A theory of change in an afternoon
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)Dutch: Duurzame Ontwikkelingsdoelen
The 17 goals of the United Nations for a better world by 2030. They cover poverty, health, climate, equality and more.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to link your work to a language partners all over the world know.
Where Narrate worked with it: Narrate was in the first cohort of the UN Sustainable Development Partnership Initiative. At The Green Village we linked projects to the SDGs. The Green Village: 12.5 years of impact in one story
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Impact stories & reports, Coaching & guidance
For: Impact-driven organisations, Public & institutional, Growth & resilience
See also: Impact framework, Impact report
Articles: Your funder asks for results. Where do you start?, Choosing the right impact framework
UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP)Dutch: UN-richtlijnen voor bedrijfsleven en mensenrechten
United Nations principles on the duty of companies to respect human rights. They build on the human-rights idea of rights-holders: the people it is about.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to know who your work touches and what you owe them. The CSDDD builds on them too.
Where Narrate worked with it: The word rights-holders is in all our work. At The Green Village we sorted the rights-holders of each project by this list. The Green Village: 12.5 years of impact in one story
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Coaching & guidance, Second opinion & peer review
For: CSRD & compliance, Impact-driven organisations
See also: rights-holders, stakeholders
Operating Principles for Impact Management
Nine principles for investors who want to manage impact across their whole way of working. Signatories have their practice checked independently.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you are a fund or investor and want your impact policy checked.
Where Narrate worked with it: We know the principles and use them as a check in our work for investors.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Second opinion & peer review
For: Financing & capital
SDG Impact Standards
UNDP standards for how an organisation decides and steers with the SDGs. They cover your strategy, your way of working, openness and governance.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to go further than SDG logos in your annual report.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use parts of these standards in our work with the SDGs.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Second opinion & peer review
ISO 26000
An international guideline on social responsibility. You cannot get certified against it. It is a guide.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want a first overview of all the topics you are responsible for.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use ISO 26000 as a guide for a first overview.
Services: Impact maturity discovery, Advice, design & prototype
Broad wellbeingDutch: Brede welvaart
A way of looking at progress that goes beyond money. Statistics Netherlands measures it every year: here and now, later and elsewhere.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: In government and public programmes that want to show what they add to people's lives.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with broad wellbeing for public clients.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Evaluations
Articles: How impact management shapes democracy
Doughnut EconomicsDutch: Donuteconomie
A model by Kate Raworth with two limits. Between the two rings, people have what they need without overloading the planet.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When a city, region or organisation wants to test its goals against what people and planet need.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with the doughnut to test goals.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Workshops, Speaking and moderation
Six CapitalsDutch: Zes kapitalen
The Integrated Reporting framework with six kinds of value: financial, manufactured, intellectual, human, social and natural capital.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to show how your organisation creates or uses up value, beyond money alone.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use the six capitals in impact reports and annual reports.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Expertise & expert panels
For: CSRD & compliance, Growth & resilience
See also: Impact report, Annual report
Standards and indicators
IRIS+
A catalogue of impact indicators from the Global Impact Investing Network. Investors use it to measure impact in the same way.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you choose indicators and want investors to recognise them.
Where Narrate worked with it: Jeroen was a reviewer of the IRIS+ indicators.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Coaching & guidance, Monitoring and evaluation
For: Financing & capital, Growth & resilience
See also: Indicator set, Monitoring plan
Articles: From crickets to a stadium: seven years with Impact Hub Amsterdam, Your funder asks for results. Where do you start?, Does impact come off the peg?
GRI StandardsDutch: GRI-standaarden
The most used standards for sustainability reports worldwide, from the Global Reporting Initiative. They cover your effect on the economy, the environment and people.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you write a sustainability report that also needs to compare outside Europe.
Where Narrate worked with it: Jeroen was a reviewer of the GRI Standards.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Impact stories & reports, Second opinion & peer review
For: CSRD & compliance, Growth & resilience
See also: Annual report, Impact report
Articles: Do the standards finally speak one language?, Does impact come off the peg?
B Impact Assessment (BIA)
B Lab's questionnaire on governance, workers, community, environment and customers. B Corp certification builds on it.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to become a B Corp, or compare your company with others.
Where Narrate worked with it: We guide companies through the B Impact Assessment.
Services: Coaching & guidance, Advice, design & prototype, Second opinion & peer review
For: Growth & resilience, Impact-driven organisations
See also: Impact maturity scan, Benchmark
Articles: Do the standards finally speak one language?, Does impact come off the peg?
Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG)
The standard for calculating a company's greenhouse gas emissions. It sorts them into three scopes: your own, bought energy and the rest of the chain.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to calculate your carbon footprint or have to report on it.
Where Narrate worked with it: We calculate company footprints with this protocol.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Monitoring and evaluation
For: CSRD & compliance, Growth & resilience
See also: Baseline study, Impact measurement
Life cycle assessment (LCA)Dutch: Levenscyclusanalyse
A method for measuring a product's effect on the environment, from raw material to waste. The ISO 14040 and 14044 norms describe how.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to compare products or back up an environmental claim.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with LCA, also for food. We contributed to the World Food LCA Database and the Ecochain Academy. With Ecochain's technology we made LCAs for BYBORRE, Willicroft and Dopper.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Expertise & expert panels
For: Growth & resilience, CSRD & compliance
See also: Life cycle assessment (LCA), Impact measurement, Benchmark
Technology Readiness Levels (TRL)
A scale from 1 to 9 for how far a technology has come. At 1 it is an idea, at 9 it works in practice.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: In innovation and test programmes, to show how far projects get.
Where Narrate worked with it: For The Green Village we showed how the TRL of projects rose. The Green Village: 12.5 years of impact in one story
Services: Evaluations, Monitoring and evaluation, Impact stories & reports
For: Public & institutional, Ecosystem partners
See also: Impact measurement, Impact dashboard
Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)
A framework for reporting on how you depend on nature and how you affect it. And on the risks that follow.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When investors or banks ask about nature and biodiversity.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with the TNFD.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Expertise & expert panels
MAEX
A Dutch platform where social initiatives show their impact. They use the SDGs to do so.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you are a community initiative or small organisation and want to share a first picture of your impact.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with MAEX for social initiatives.
Services: Impact maturity discovery, Coaching & guidance
Outcomes Star
A set of tools shaped like a star. A participant and a support worker look together at where someone stands and what changes.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: In care, welfare and support work, when you want to follow people's progress.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with the Outcomes Star.
Services: Monitoring and evaluation, Coaching & guidance
For: Impact-driven organisations, Public & institutional
See also: participants, outcome
Articles: Choosing the right impact framework
BREEAM and LEEDDutch: BREEAM en LEED
Labels for sustainable buildings. They give points for energy, water, materials, health and more.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: In construction and real estate, to show how sustainable a building is.
Where Narrate worked with it: We have experience in construction with BREEAM and LEED.
Services: Expertise & expert panels, Advice, design & prototype
For: Growth & resilience
Green Key
A label for sustainable businesses in tourism and leisure, such as hotels and campsites.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you work in hospitality and want your sustainability checked.
Where Narrate worked with it: We have experience in hospitality with Green Key.
Services: Expertise & expert panels, Coaching & guidance
For: Growth & resilience
Balanced Value Impact model (BVI)
A model by Simon Tanner for measuring the value of culture and heritage. It looks at what people and society gain.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: In museums, archives, libraries and other cultural organisations.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with the BVI model in culture and heritage.
Services: Evaluations, Advice, design & prototype
IFRS S1 and S2 (ISSB)Dutch: IFRS S1 en S2
Global standards for sustainability in the annual report. S1 covers all risks and opportunities, S2 covers climate.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When investors or a stock exchange outside the EU ask for this information.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use parts of the ISSB standards, often next to the ESRS.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Expertise & expert panels
For: CSRD & compliance, Financing & capital
See also: Impact report, Annual report
Articles: Do the standards finally speak one language?, Does impact come off the peg?
Voluntary sustainability reporting standard for SMEs (VSME)Dutch: Vrijwillige duurzaamheidsstandaard voor het mkb
A simple European standard for sustainability information from small and medium firms. It is shorter than the ESRS.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When customers, banks or large buyers ask for sustainability data, while the CSRD does not apply to you.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use parts of the VSME with small and medium firms.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Coaching & guidance, Training
For: CSRD & compliance, Growth & resilience
See also: Impact report, Indicator set
Articles: Do the standards finally speak one language?, The CSRD after the Omnibus: what changed, and for whom, Your customer sends a sustainability questionnaire. Where do you start?, Does impact come off the peg?
Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)
An initiative that checks whether a company's climate goals match what science says is needed.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to set climate goals that others can check.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with the SBTi when setting climate goals.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Expertise & expert panels
For: CSRD & compliance, Growth & resilience
See also: Indicator set
Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF)
A standard for banks and investors to measure the emissions of what they finance.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you as a funder want to know which emissions belong to your loans or investments.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with PCAF with funders.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Expertise & expert panels
For: Financing & capital
See also: Indicator set
CSR Performance LadderDutch: CSR Prestatieladder
A certifiable standard for corporate social responsibility, on five levels. It builds on ISO 26000.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to show a certificate, for example in tenders.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with the CSR Performance Ladder.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Expertise & expert panels
For: Growth & resilience, CSRD & compliance
See also: Impact maturity scan
ISO 14001
The international standard for environmental management. You set out how you control and improve your effects on the environment.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to embed environmental care in your organisation, often with a certificate.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with ISO 14001.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Expertise & expert panels
For: Growth & resilience, CSRD & compliance
See also: Impact maturity scan
Putting a value on impact
Social Return on Investment (SROI)
A method that puts a money value on social value. You set that value against what you put in.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When a funder wants to know what each euro yields. Only do it together with the people it is about.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with the SROI method.
Services: Evaluations, Advice, design & prototype, Second opinion & peer review
For: Impact-driven organisations, Public & institutional, Financing & capital
See also: estimate, range, Impact measurement, Evaluation
Articles: Choosing the right impact framework
Impact Weighted Accounts Framework (IWAF)
A way to put impact in money next to the normal accounts. So you see profit and harm to people and planet on the same line.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When your board or investors want to see impact in the language of finance.
Where Narrate worked with it: Narrate was in the first cohort of the Impact Weighted Accounts Framework.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Expertise & expert panels
True Price
The True Price foundation's method for the true price of a product. That is the shop price plus the costs to people and planet that nobody pays now.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: In food and other chains, when you want to make hidden costs visible.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with the True Price method.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Expertise & expert panels
Social cost-benefit analysis (MKBA)Dutch: Maatschappelijke kosten-batenanalyse
An analysis of all costs and benefits of a plan for society, in money. The Effectenarena is a light Dutch version for the social domain.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When a government has to choose between plans or show that a plan pays off.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with social cost-benefit analysis.
Services: Evaluations, Advice, design & prototype
Integrated Profit & Loss (IP&L)
A profit and loss account from Impact Institute that also counts social and environmental value.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want the value of your company for all stakeholders in one overview.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with the Integrated Profit & Loss.
Services: Advice, design & prototype
Capitals Coalition protocolsDutch: Protocollen van de Capitals Coalition
Three protocols for nature, people and society. You measure how you depend on them and what effect you have on them.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to weigh nature and people in decisions, next to money.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with the natural, social and human capital protocols.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Evaluations
For: CSRD & compliance, Growth & resilience
See also: impact, Impact framework
Value Balancing Alliance (VBA)
A group of companies that builds a method to put a money value on impact. You can then set impact next to your financial figures.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to compare impact with your annual figures.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use parts of the Value Balancing Alliance method.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Expertise & expert panels
For: CSRD & compliance, Financing & capital
See also: Impact report
Outcomes-based finance and social impact bonds (SIB)Dutch: Resultaatfinanciering en social impact bonds
A funder only pays once agreed results are reached. In a social impact bond, an investor puts up the money first.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to pay for results instead of activities.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with outcomes-based finance and social impact bonds.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Monitoring and evaluation
For: Financing & capital, Public & institutional
See also: outcome, impact, Indicator set, Impact measurement
Evaluation methods
OECD-DAC criteriaDutch: OECD-DAC-criteria
Six questions for every evaluation: is it relevant, coherent, effective and efficient, what is the impact and does it last.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: In evaluations for governments, the EU and development aid.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use the OECD-DAC criteria in our evaluations.
Services: Evaluations, Second opinion & peer review
See also: Evaluation
Articles: From M&E to MEALP
Contribution analysisDutch: Contributieanalyse
A method that shows your work contributed to a change. It works even when you cannot measure the effect on its own.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When many parties work on the same change together.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use contribution analysis when many parties work together.
Services: Evaluations, Monitoring and evaluation
For: Public & institutional, Ecosystem partners
See also: contribution, impact, Evaluation
Outcome harvesting
You collect afterwards what has changed. Then you work out how your work contributed.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you could not know in advance what would change.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use outcome harvesting in evaluations afterwards.
Services: Evaluations
For: Impact-driven organisations, Public & institutional
See also: outcome, contribution, Evaluation
Most significant change (MSC)
People tell which change mattered most to them. Together you choose which stories say the most, and why.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to hear what people find important, not just what you measure.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use most significant change to collect people's stories.
Services: Evaluations, Impact stories & reports
For: Impact-driven organisations
See also: story, rights-holders, Evaluation, Impact story
Articles: How impact management shapes democracy, Engaging stakeholders: from having a say to deciding together, Collecting data without drowning in it
Realist evaluation
An evaluation that asks: what works, for whom, in what circumstances and why.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When an approach works in one place and not in another.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use realist evaluation in evaluations.
Services: Evaluations, Second opinion & peer review
See also: Evaluation
Lean Data
An approach from 60 Decibels: short questions to the people it is about, often by phone. You only ask what you will really use.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to hear quickly and cheaply what your work gives people.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use parts of the Lean Data approach in short measurements.
Services: Monitoring and evaluation, Evaluations
For: Impact-driven organisations, Financing & capital
See also: rights-holders, measurement, Impact measurement, Monitoring plan
Articles: Collecting data without drowning in it
Outcome mapping
You follow changes in the behaviour of the parties you work with directly. You do not control the big impact yourself.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you work through partners and want to see what changes for them.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use outcome mapping to follow changes among partners.
Services: Monitoring and evaluation, Evaluations
For: Ecosystem partners, Public & institutional
See also: outcome, contribution, Monitoring plan, Evaluation
Articles: From M&E to MEALP
Ripple effects mapping
Participants draw together how the effects of a programme spread. That includes effects nobody expected.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to see afterwards what a programme set in motion, together with the people themselves.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use ripple effects mapping in evaluations with participants.
Services: Evaluations, Workshops
For: Impact-driven organisations, Ecosystem partners
See also: impact, participants, Evaluation, Workshop
Developmental evaluation
An evaluator works inside the team while an approach is still taking shape. You learn and adjust as you go.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: In innovation, or when the situation changes fast.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work as evaluators inside teams that build something new.
Services: Evaluations, Monitoring and evaluation, Coaching & guidance
For: Impact-driven organisations, Growth & resilience
See also: Evaluation
Articles: How measuring shapes decisions
Utilization-focused evaluationDutch: Gebruiksgerichte evaluatie
An evaluation that starts with the question who will use the findings, and for what.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want an evaluation to really lead to decisions.
Where Narrate worked with it: We start our evaluations with the question who will use the findings.
Services: Evaluations, Second opinion & peer review
For: Public & institutional, Impact-driven organisations
See also: Evaluation
Participatory evaluation and action researchDutch: Participatieve evaluatie en actieonderzoek
The people it is about take part themselves. They set the questions, collect data and draw conclusions together.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want ownership, or when their knowledge is needed to understand it well.
Where Narrate worked with it: We evaluate together with the people it is about.
Services: Evaluations, Workshops
For: Impact-driven organisations, Public & institutional
See also: rights-holders, participants, Evaluation
Articles: How impact management shapes democracy, How measuring shapes decisions
Process tracing
You follow the chain from cause to effect step by step. At each step you test the evidence.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to show how one particular change came about.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use process tracing to test how a change came about.
Services: Evaluations, Second opinion & peer review
See also: contribution, impact, Evaluation
RCTs and quasi-experimentsDutch: RCT en quasi-experimenten
You compare a group that takes part with a group that does not. In an RCT, chance decides who is in which group.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you need strong evidence of the effect, and you can compare the groups fairly.
Where Narrate worked with it: We design and review RCTs and quasi-experiments.
Services: Evaluations, Monitoring and evaluation
For: Public & institutional, Financing & capital
See also: impact, measurement, Impact measurement, Baseline study
Kirkpatrick modelDutch: Kirkpatrick-model
Four levels to evaluate a training: reaction, learning, behaviour and results.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: For trainings and learning programmes.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use parts of the Kirkpatrick model for trainings.
Services: Evaluations, Training
For: Ecosystem partners, Impact-driven organisations
See also: participants, Evaluation
Results-Based Accountability (RBA)
An approach with two kinds of questions. How is the whole group or neighbourhood doing? And how well does your programme do?
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: For municipalities and partners who work together on results for a group or neighbourhood.
Where Narrate worked with it: We use parts of RBA in programmes with public partners.
Services: Monitoring and evaluation, Advice, design & prototype
See also: Indicator set, Monitoring plan
AMEC Integrated Evaluation Framework
A framework for evaluating communication, from aim and effort to effect and impact. It builds on the Barcelona Principles.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you want to know what a campaign or film really changed, not just who saw it.
Services: Strategic communication, Impact stories & reports, Evaluations
For: Ecosystem partners, Impact-driven organisations
See also: impact, story, Campaign, Film, Evaluation
Laws and regulation
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
The European law that makes large companies report on sustainability. An auditor checks the report.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When the law covers you, or when customers it covers ask you for data.
Where Narrate worked with it: We do CSRD analyses and help with the report.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Training, Second opinion & peer review
For: CSRD & compliance, Growth & resilience
See also: Annual report, Impact report
Articles: How impact management shapes democracy, How measuring shapes decisions, Do the standards finally speak one language?, The CSRD after the Omnibus: what changed, and for whom, Your customer sends a sustainability questionnaire. Where do you start?, Does impact come off the peg?
European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS)
The standards under the CSRD. They say exactly what you report on, from climate to workers and the chain.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: In every CSRD report. There is also a voluntary version for SMEs.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with the ESRS in CSRD projects.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Training
For: CSRD & compliance
See also: Annual report, Indicator set
Articles: Do the standards finally speak one language?, The CSRD after the Omnibus: what changed, and for whom, Does impact come off the peg?
Double materiality assessmentDutch: Dubbele materialiteitsanalyse
You decide which topics really matter. You look both ways: your effect on the world and the world's effect on you.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: As the first step of a CSRD report, and in every sustainability strategy.
Where Narrate worked with it: We run materiality assessments for sustainability reports.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Workshops
For: CSRD & compliance, Growth & resilience
See also: stakeholders, Impact maturity scan, Impact strategy
Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)
The European law on harm to people and planet in the chain. Large companies have to find and tackle that harm.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you are a large company, or a supplier to one.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with the CSDDD and what it asks of the chain.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Expertise & expert panels
For: CSRD & compliance
See also: rights-holders
EU TaxonomyDutch: EU-taxonomie
A European list that says which economic activities are green. Companies and investors report which share of their work fits it.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: In CSRD reports and for investors who want to show green money.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with the EU Taxonomy.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Expertise & expert panels
Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR)
The European rules for funds and investors on how sustainable their products are.
Narrate has worked with it.
When to use it, our experience and services
When: When you manage a fund or sell financial products in the EU.
Where Narrate worked with it: We work with the SFDR.
Services: Advice, design & prototype, Expertise & expert panels
For: Financing & capital
Not sure which framework fits you? You almost never pick just one. Read how to choose: Choosing the right impact framework
All those acronyms mixed up? Test yourself in the alphabet soup quiz
This list is also readable for machines: raamwerken.json
Frameworks and services
These are 70 frameworks in 6 groups, with the 13 services in which we work with them. Advice, design & prototype has the highest count: 47.
Each point is one framework. The thicker the path, the more frameworks from that group belong to that service. A framework counts for every service it fits.
Source: the frameworks on this page, with the services listed for each one.
The figures as a table
| Service | Frameworks | Per group |
|---|---|---|
| Advice, design & prototype | 47 | Mapping your impact logic 7 · Shared agreements on impact 10 · Standards and indicators 14 · Putting a value on impact 9 · Evaluation methods 1 · Laws and regulation 6 |
| Evaluations | 23 | Mapping your impact logic 1 · Shared agreements on impact 1 · Standards and indicators 2 · Putting a value on impact 4 · Evaluation methods 15 |
| Coaching & guidance | 17 | Mapping your impact logic 6 · Shared agreements on impact 4 · Standards and indicators 6 · Evaluation methods 1 |
| Expertise & expert panels | 16 | Shared agreements on impact 1 · Standards and indicators 9 · Putting a value on impact 3 · Laws and regulation 3 |
| Second opinion & peer review | 14 | Mapping your impact logic 1 · Shared agreements on impact 4 · Standards and indicators 2 · Putting a value on impact 2 · Evaluation methods 4 · Laws and regulation 1 |
| Monitoring and evaluation | 11 | Standards and indicators 4 · Putting a value on impact 1 · Evaluation methods 6 |
| Workshops | 11 | Mapping your impact logic 7 · Shared agreements on impact 1 · Evaluation methods 2 · Laws and regulation 1 |
| Training | 7 | Mapping your impact logic 1 · Shared agreements on impact 2 · Standards and indicators 1 · Evaluation methods 1 · Laws and regulation 2 |
| Impact maturity discovery | 6 | Mapping your impact logic 4 · Shared agreements on impact 1 · Standards and indicators 1 |
| Impact stories & reports | 5 | Shared agreements on impact 1 · Standards and indicators 2 · Evaluation methods 2 |
| Teams and workflows | 2 | Mapping your impact logic 2 |
| Speaking and moderation | 1 | Shared agreements on impact 1 |
| Strategic communication | 1 | Evaluation methods 1 |
Which framework fits you?
Tell us what you want to know or have to show. Then we find the approach that fits together, with the frameworks you really need.
Not sure which form of collaboration fits? Try the collaboration explorer