# Resources and insights > Practical guides, tools and insights on impact measurement, theory of change, stakeholder engagement and choosing the right framework. Source: https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights Language: English (Nederlands: https://narrate.works/tools-en-inzichten) Publisher: Narrate (Narrate B.V.), https://narrate.works # Resources & insights Practical guidance, tools, and thinking on impact management We believe in sharing knowledge openly. Explore our collection of resources designed to help you strengthen your impact approach. Find an article that fits you ForPerspective Also filter by phase, challenge, sector, framework, technology or keyword PhaseChallengeSectorFrameworks and methodsTechnologyKeywords Long read 8 min read ## [How impact management shapes democracy](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/impact-management-and-democracy) Measuring can make democracy stronger, and quietly hollow it out. On accountability, having a say, who sets the yardstick and what happens when a figure replaces the debate. democracy accountability participation [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/impact-management-and-democracy) Long read 7 min read ## [How measuring shapes decisions](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/how-measuring-shapes-decisions) We measure to make better decisions, we say. Yet the decision is often made somewhere else. On how monitoring and evaluation really shape decisions, and what helps. decision-making evaluation learning [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/how-measuring-shapes-decisions) Long read 6 min read ## [In praise of pidgin](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/pidgin-in-monitoring-and-evaluation) In monitoring and evaluation, partners often want to agree on their words first. Guest writer Ad Korf shows that a shared language grows out of collaboration, and why a makeshift pidgin is a sign of progress. monitoring and evaluation collaboration learning [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/pidgin-in-monitoring-and-evaluation) Long read 16 min read ## [Seventy years of impact management](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/history-of-impact-management) From a question about good intentions to European rules that are now being cut back. The history of impact management, the practices that meet in it, where its standards come from and why setting norms chafes. With a source at every step. history frameworks [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/history-of-impact-management) Guide 7 min read ## [Do the standards finally speak one language?](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/do-the-standards-speak-one-language) The ISSB, the ESRS, GRI, the VSME and the new B Corp requirements are growing towards one another. What that harmonisation is, which principles it rests on, and what it still leaves open. ISSB ESRS GRI [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/do-the-standards-speak-one-language) Practice story 3 min read ## [From crickets to a stadium: seven years with Impact Hub Amsterdam](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/impact-hub-amsterdam-seven-years) Since 2018 Jeroen Wilms of Narrate has been resident impact expert at Impact Hub Amsterdam. He worked there in local and global programmes. Startups, SMEs, corporates and regenerative entrepreneurs came through. What they had in common, and what we learned. accelerators theory of change startups [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/impact-hub-amsterdam-seven-years) Opinion 1 min read ## [Are funders part of the problem?](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/funders-part-of-the-problem) Grantees sometimes spend more time reporting to a funder than doing their work. What we see, and what we do differently together with funders. funders grant reporting trust-based funding [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/funders-part-of-the-problem) Opinion 2 min read ## [The system rewards not measuring](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/system-rewards-not-measuring) Two organisations apply to the same funder. One measures nothing and tells a good story. The other measures, and sees what falls short. Who gets the money? monitoring and evaluation funding learning [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/system-rewards-not-measuring) Opinion 3 min read ## [The myth of clean data](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/myth-of-clean-data) If you work on impact, you rarely get a neat dataset. Usually it is a pile of emails with attachments. How we work with that, and why we don’t make it look better than it is. data quality evidence monitoring and evaluation [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/myth-of-clean-data) Guide 4 min read ## [Your funder asks for results. Where do you start?](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/funder-asks-for-results) Many organisations only start measuring when a funder asks. This is how we approach it: small, and with the people it is about. getting started funders theory of change [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/funder-asks-for-results) Guide 3 min read ## [You don’t have to measure everything to start](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/you-dont-have-to-measure-everything) Many organisations never start, because measuring looks big and expensive. This is how we start small, with what is already there. getting started impact measurement indicators [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/you-dont-have-to-measure-everything) Guide 3 min read ## [Grant reporting without weeks of copy and paste](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/accounting-for-a-grant) The final report is due and it feels like starting from scratch. Here is how we write it from what is already there. grant reporting accountability getting started [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/accounting-for-a-grant) Guide 3 min read ## [The CSRD after the Omnibus: what changed, and for whom](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/csrd-after-the-omnibus) The European reporting duty will apply to far fewer companies. What changed, for whom, and which questions remain. CSRD VSME Omnibus [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/csrd-after-the-omnibus) Guide 3 min read ## [Your customer sends a sustainability questionnaire. Where do you start?](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/customer-sends-sustainability-questionnaire) A large customer wants figures about your company, with a deadline. This is how we approach it: answer honestly, and keep the work for the next customer. supplier questionnaire VSME getting started [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/customer-sends-sustainability-questionnaire) Guide 3 min read ## [Monitoring, evaluation, impact management: what is the difference?](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/monitoring-evaluation-impact-management) Three words that get mixed up. What they mean, when you need which, and why you can start small. monitoring evaluation impact management [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/monitoring-evaluation-impact-management) Guide 3 min read ## [A theory of change in an afternoon](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/theory-of-change-in-an-afternoon) A funder, investor or proposal asks for a theory of change. Here is how we make a first version in one afternoon, with your own team. theory of change getting started workshop [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/theory-of-change-in-an-afternoon) Guide 1 min read ## [The basics of impact measurement](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/impact-measurement-basics) What impact measurement is, why it matters, and where it often goes wrong. impact measurement getting started best practices [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/impact-measurement-basics) Guide 1 min read ## [Theory of change: how you think change happens](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/theory-of-change-101) What a theory of change is, when you make one, and which mistakes we often see. theory of change frameworks planning [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/theory-of-change-101) Guide 2 min read ## [Engaging stakeholders: from having a say to deciding together](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/stakeholder-engagement-best-practices) Why engaging is more than consulting, how to map stakeholders, and which forms of participation work. stakeholder engagement participation co-design [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/stakeholder-engagement-best-practices) Guide 2 min read ## [Choosing the right impact framework](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/choosing-the-right-framework) There is no best framework. What the common forms can do, what they can’t, and how to choose. frameworks decision-making methodology [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/choosing-the-right-framework) Guide 2 min read ## [Collecting data without drowning in it](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/data-collection-without-overwhelm) Collect only what you use, and ask less of the people it is about. data collection lean data systems [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/data-collection-without-overwhelm) Opinion 3 min read ## [Is an AI answer a source?](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/is-an-ai-answer-a-source) More and more impact reports are now drafted with AI. They are written for funders, but also for participants, residents and partners. A few thoughts on what counts as a source, and on how we are still working this out ourselves. AI tools evidence accountability [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/is-an-ai-answer-a-source) Guide 3 min read ## [Using AI for your report without losing your sources](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/using-ai-for-your-report) AI can help you write a report faster. Here is how to keep track of where every figure comes from. Then you are ready when a participant, a partner, a funder or an auditor asks. AI tools evidence data quality [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/using-ai-for-your-report) Guide 3 min read ## [Say where every figure comes from](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/say-where-every-figure-comes-from) In a press release or position paper, a figure without a source is easy to dismiss. Here is how to show where each figure comes from and how reliable it is. evidence communication data quality [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/say-where-every-figure-comes-from) Opinion 4 min read ## [Does impact come off the peg?](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/does-impact-come-off-the-peg) Standards such as the CSRD, the VSME and IRIS+ make reports comparable. That is useful, and at times necessary. But whatever does not fit the size gets trimmed away. frameworks CSRD VSME [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/does-impact-come-off-the-peg) Opinion 2 min read ## [Why slowing down first gets you there faster](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/slow-down-to-speed-up) A pilot is under pressure to show results quickly. So measuring often starts too early and thinking too late. On slowing down as a way to speed up, and what the private sector already knows about it. planning learning decision-making [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/slow-down-to-speed-up) Practice story 4 min read ## [The glass ceiling of a self-managing team](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/glass-ceiling-self-managing-teams) At a large public organisation we set up an Impact & Insights team. We saw how far a team gets when it manages its own work by its impact. And where it gets stuck: not on people, but on fear, and on meetings that turn into an arena. impact management learning decision-making [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/glass-ceiling-self-managing-teams) Long read 4 min read ## [The space in between](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/the-space-in-between) Between what ends and what has yet to begin lies a space without a fixed shape. What that space in between is, why organisations rush to fill it, and what you can learn there. learning strategy trust-based funding [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/the-space-in-between) Long read 3 min read ## [The go-betweens](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/the-go-betweens) Between a neighbourhood and the town hall there is often one person who knows both sides. This story is about the people who connect two worlds, what it costs them and how to make their work visible. participation stakeholder engagement mapping [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/the-go-betweens) Long read 3 min read ## [From M&E to MEALP](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/from-m-and-e-to-mealp) For fifty years, monitoring and evaluation has kept gaining letters: an L, an A, a P, an R. The history of an acronym that keeps growing, and what each letter says about who was forgotten at first. monitoring and evaluation accountability learning [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/from-m-and-e-to-mealp) Opinion 4 min read ## [Who measures, who judges, who learns?](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/who-measures-who-judges) One person often holds every role in monitoring, evaluation, accountability, learning and participation. Role purity and role integrity help you see where that clashes, and what to do about it. monitoring and evaluation accountability learning [Read article](https://narrate.works/resources-and-insights/who-measures-who-judges) Web + PDF Interactive ## [Stakeholder mapping AI cheatsheet](https://narrate.works/resources/stakeholder-mapping-cheatsheet) Ready-to-copy AI prompts for stakeholder mapping, materiality assessment, and impact communication. Includes context-based materiality focus and confidence rating frameworks. stakeholder mapping AI tools materiality [Open the cheatsheet](https://narrate.works/resources/stakeholder-mapping-cheatsheet) Quiz Interactive ## [Alphabet soup quiz](https://narrate.works/alphabet-soup-quiz) CSRD, SDG, ToC, SROI? Test your knowledge of sustainability and impact acronyms in a quick quiz and share your score. frameworks learning [Take the quiz](https://narrate.works/alphabet-soup-quiz) ## Need specific guidance? Get in touch for personalised support with your impact management question.